Korean word

통

Pronunciation

Romanizationtong

Meaning

  • adverbat all

Example

나는 통 몰라.na neun tong mol la

I don't know anything at all.

Illustration for 통 (at all)

More examples

그 일은 통 믿을 수가 없어.keu i reun tong mi deul ssu ga eop sseo

I can't believe that at all.

Core concept

It treats the whole situation as absent, making a negative statement completely emphatic.

Common phrases

  • 통 모르다tong mo reu da

    not know at all

  • 통 믿을 수 없다tong mi deul ssu eop tta

    not believe at all

Similar words

전혀cheonhyeo: Strongly emphasizes that not even a small amount or part exists in a negative statement.
아예aye: Emphasizes that an action or state is ruled out from the very beginning.
도무지tomuji: Strongly expresses that something cannot be understood or achieved at all.
하나도hanado: Shows that the amount or number is zero in a spoken negative statement.

Definition in Korean

일상 회화에서 주로 쓰이며, 부정문에서 동사 앞에 와서 부정의 강도를 높이는 부사이다.il sang hoe hwa e seo chu ro sseu i myeo pu jeong mu ne seo tong sa a pe wa seo pu jeong ui kang do reul no pi neun pu sa i da

Word origin

The origin of adverbial 통 (tong, "all") is uncertain, but its sense of treating something as a whole helps explain its strong negative force.

Usage tips

  • English at all usually follows the verb, whereas this Korean adverb comes before it in a negative sentence, making word order a useful reading cue.

Other meanings

  • counter for lettersnoun
  • tubenoun

Opposites

  • 부분적으로pubunjeogeuropartlyadverb
  • 조금chogeuma littleadverb

Related words

Word lists with this word