치고 (for, considering) - For, Considering

This grammar pattern acts as a marker.

You attach it directly to a noun.

It functions like "considering" or "for a..." in English.

First, you name a category or group.

Second, you mention a specific member of that group.

Finally, you describe a quality they have.

This quality is usually unexpected for that group.

For example, think about a cheap restaurant.

Usually, cheap food tastes just okay.

But this specific place is delicious.

You would use 치고 to describe this.

It highlights the gap between expectation and reality.

It is a very simple but powerful tool.

1. 1Using 치고 is actually very simple.
2. 2Choose the noun you want to use.
3. 3Attach 치고 directly to the end.
4. 4Do not add any spaces between them.
5. 5It does not matter if it ends in a vowel.
6. 6It does not matter if it ends in a consonant.
7. 7가수 (singer) becomes 가수치고.
8. 8학생 (student) becomes 학생치고.
9. 9겨울 (winter) becomes 겨울치고.
10. 10There are no tricky irregular forms here.
11. 11It is as steady as a rock.
12. 12Just stick it on and you are ready.
13. 13Yes, even native speakers love how easy this is.

Use it when reality defies your expectations.

Imagine you are at a job interview.

The candidate is very young but very skilled.

You can say they are skilled "for their age."

나이치고는 실력이 아주 좋으시네요.

Use it when praising someone's unique talent.

"For a beginner, you play piano well."

You also use it for universal truths.

This happens with negative endings like 없다.

"Among students, there is no one who hates breaks."

학생치고 방학을 싫어하는 사람은 없어요.

This means "Every student loves breaks."

It is a very powerful way to generalize.

Use it when talking about weather or prices.

"For a department store, this shirt is cheap."

It adds flavor to your observations.

Do not use 치고 with verbs or adjectives.

It only likes to hang out with nouns.

If you have a verb, change it first.

Turn the verb into a noun form.

Also, do not use it for obvious things.

"For a human, he has two legs."

This sounds very strange and robotic.

Only use it when there is a surprise.

If the result is expected, do not use it.

"For a fire, it is very hot."

People will look at you funny if you say that.

Keep it for the interesting stuff.

Think of it like a grammar traffic light.

Only go when there is something to report.

The biggest mistake is adding a space.

Remember, 치고 is a particle, not a word.

It must hug the noun tightly.

Another mistake is using it for negative comparisons only.

Many people think it is only for insults.

That is not true at all!

You can use it for high praise too.

"For a student, your Korean is perfect."

Also, do not confuse it with 때문에.

치고 is about expectations, not reasons.

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes.

But you are going to be a pro.

Don't be the person who says 불치고 뜨거워요.

You might know 비해서 which means "compared to."

비해서 is a very neutral comparison.

It just looks at two different things.

치고 carries a much stronger feeling of surprise.

It implies a general rule is being broken.

Then there is 치고는.

치고는 is almost the same as 치고.

However, 치고는 is used more for specific comparisons.

치고 is better for the "Every N..." meaning.

Think of 비해서 as a ruler for measuring.

Think of 치고 as an exclamation point.

They do different jobs in a sentence.

One is for data, one is for feelings.