Like/As Particles: 처럼 and 같이

Overview

Korean has two main particles for expressing "like" or "as" in comparisons:

Particle	Meaning	Example
처럼	like, as	아이처럼 (like a child)
같이	like, as	아이같이 (like a child)

Both mean the same thing when used for comparison and are largely interchangeable. However, 같이 has an additional meaning of "together" (as an adverb), so context matters.

Form

Both particles attach directly to nouns with no variation:

Noun	+ 처럼	+ 같이
아이 (child)	아이처럼	아이같이
물 (water)	물처럼	물같이
천사 (angel)	천사처럼	천사같이
꿈 (dream)	꿈처럼	꿈같이
한국 사람 (Korean person)	한국 사람처럼	한국 사람같이

Function: Drawing Comparisons

Both 처럼 and 같이 create similes -- comparing one thing to another:

처럼 examples

Korean	Romanization	English
아이처럼 웃었어요.	aicheoreom useosseoyo.	I laughed like a child.
한국 사람처럼 말해요.	hanguk saramcheoreom malhaeyo.	You speak like a Korean person.
물처럼 맑아요.	mulcheoreom malgayo.	It's as clear as water.
별처럼 빛나요.	byeolcheoreom binnayo.	It shines like a star.
어제처럼 오늘도 바빠요.	eojecheoreom oneuldo bappayo.	Like yesterday, today is busy too.
영화처럼 멋있어요.	yeonghwacheoreom meosisseoyo.	It's cool like a movie.
꿈처럼 빨리 지나갔어요.	kkumcheoreom ppalli jinagasseoyo.	It passed quickly like a dream.

같이 examples (comparison meaning)

Korean	Romanization	English
아이같이 순수해요.	aigachi sunsuhaeyo.	You're innocent like a child.
천사같이 착해요.	cheonsagachi chakaeyo.	You're kind like an angel.
꿈같이 아름다워요.	kkumgachi areumdawoyo.	It's beautiful like a dream.
모델같이 키가 커요.	modelgachi kiga keoyo.	You're tall like a model.
어제같이 오늘도 추워요.	eojegachi oneuldo chuwoyo.	Like yesterday, today is cold too.

같이 as "Together" (Different Meaning)

Be careful: 같이 also functions as an adverb meaning "together":

Usage	Meaning	Example
[noun] + 같이	like (comparison)	천사같이 착해요. (Kind like an angel.)
같이 (standalone adverb)	together	같이 가요. (Let's go together.)
[person] + 와/과/하고/랑 + 같이	together with	친구랑 같이 가요. (I go with a friend.)

How to tell them apart

Sentence	Meaning	Why
친구같이 지내요.	We get along like friends.	Comparison: "like"
친구랑 같이 가요.	I go together with a friend.	Accompaniment: "together"
같이 먹어요.	Let's eat together.	Adverb: "together"

Key: If 같이 follows a noun directly (with no comitative particle like 랑/와/하고 before 같이), it means "like." If 같이 stands alone or follows a comitative particle, it means "together."

처럼 vs 같이: Choosing Between Them

When meaning "like," they are mostly interchangeable:

처럼	같이	Meaning
아이처럼 웃어요.	아이같이 웃어요.	I laugh like a child.
꿈처럼 행복해요.	꿈같이 행복해요.	I'm happy like a dream.
별처럼 빛나요.	별같이 빛나요.	It shines like a star.

Slight differences

Feature	처럼	같이
Formality	Slightly more literary	Slightly more casual
Written Korean	Preferred	Less common
Spoken Korean	Common	Common
Ambiguity	None (always "like")	Can mean "together"
Poetry/Songs	Very common	Common

In written Korean and formal speech, 처럼 is slightly preferred because it avoids the ambiguity of 같이. In casual speech, both are equally natural.

Common Simile Expressions

Korean has many fixed simile expressions:

Korean	Meaning	Usage
눈처럼 하얀	white like snow	describing something pure white
꿀처럼 달콤한	sweet like honey	describing something very sweet
바람처럼 빠른	fast like the wind	describing great speed
돌처럼 단단한	hard like a stone	describing firmness
거울처럼 맑은	clear like a mirror	describing clarity
아이처럼 순수한	pure like a child	describing innocence

같은 as Modifier (Like + Noun)

When modifying a noun (acting as an adjective), use 같은 (the modifier form of 같다):

Pattern	Example	Meaning
[noun] + 같은 + [noun]	천사 같은 사람	a person like an angel
[noun] + 같은 + [noun]	꿈 같은 시간	a dreamlike time
[noun] + 같은 + [noun]	영화 같은 인생	a life like a movie

처럼 does not have a direct modifier form. To modify a noun, use 같은.

만큼: Another Comparison Particle

만큼 means "as much as" and is related but distinct:

Particle	Meaning	Example
처럼/같이	like (quality/manner)	아이처럼 웃어요. (Laughs like a child.)
만큼	as much as (degree)	저만큼 키가 커요. (As tall as me.)

처럼/같이 compares manner; 만큼 compares degree or amount.

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Correction	Why
아이를 처럼 웃어요.	아이처럼 웃어요.	No 를 before 처럼
친구같이 같이 갔어요.	친구랑 같이 갔어요.	Two different functions of 같이
천사처럼 사람이에요.	천사 같은 사람이에요.	Use 같은 to modify nouns

Summary

처럼 and 같이 both mean "like/as" for comparisons.
They attach directly to nouns: 아이처럼, 아이같이.
They are largely interchangeable; 처럼 is slightly more formal/literary.
같이 also means "together" -- context determines which meaning.
To modify a noun ("a dreamlike time"), use 같은: 꿈 같은 시간.
만큼 is a related but different particle meaning "as much as."
Do not add 을/를 before 처럼 or 같이.