Overview
The particle 마다 means "each" or "every." It attaches directly to a noun and indicates that something applies to every instance of that noun without exception. It is used with time words, people, places, objects, and intervals.
마다 is a straightforward particle with no form variation -- it is always just 마다 regardless of the preceding sound.
Form
마다 attaches directly to any noun with no changes:
| Noun | + 마다 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 날 (day) | 날마다 | every day |
| 사람 (person) | 사람마다 | each person |
| 방 (room) | 방마다 | each room |
| 해/년 (year) | 해마다 / 년마다 | every year |
| 10분 (10 minutes) | 10분마다 | every 10 minutes |
마다 does not change form based on consonants or vowels. It simply attaches.
Function 1: Time -- Every / Each
마다 is very commonly used with time words to express regular repetition:
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 날마다 운동해요. | nalmada undonghaeyo. | I exercise every day. |
| 아침마다 커피를 마셔요. | achimmada keopi-reul masyeoyo. | I drink coffee every morning. |
| 주말마다 등산을 해요. | jumalmada deungsaneul haeyo. | I go hiking every weekend. |
| 해마다 여행을 가요. | haemada yeohaengeul gayo. | I travel every year. |
| 달마다 월급을 받아요. | dalmada wolgeubul badayo. | I receive my salary every month. |
| 겨울마다 눈이 와요. | gyeoulmada nuni wayo. | It snows every winter. |
마다 vs 매 (every)
Korean also has the prefix 매 (every), which attaches before time nouns. They are largely interchangeable:
| 마다 (after noun) | 매 (before noun) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 날마다 | 매일 | every day |
| 주마다 | 매주 | every week |
| 달마다 | 매달 / 매월 | every month |
| 해마다 | 매년 | every year |
Both 날마다 and 매일 are equally correct. 매 + noun is slightly more common in written Korean, while noun + 마다 sounds more natural in speech.
You can even combine them for emphasis, though it is slightly redundant:
매일 아침마다 운동해요. (I exercise every single morning.)
Function 2: Intervals -- Every N Minutes/Hours
마다 expresses regular intervals with numbers + time units:
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 10분마다 버스가 와요. | sipbunmada beoseuga wayo. | A bus comes every 10 minutes. |
| 30분마다 알림이 울려요. | samsipbunmada allimi ullyeoyo. | A notification sounds every 30 minutes. |
| 2시간마다 약을 먹어요. | 2siganmada yageul meogeoyo. | I take medicine every 2 hours. |
| 3일마다 운동해요. | samilmada undonghaeyo. | I exercise every 3 days. |
| 5년마다 면허를 갱신해요. | onyeonmada myeonheoreul gaengsinaeyo. | I renew my license every 5 years. |
Function 3: Groups -- Each Person/Thing
마다 can apply to groups, meaning "each" individual member:
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 사람마다 생각이 달라요. | sarammada saenggagi dallayo. | Each person thinks differently. |
| 학생마다 실력이 달라요. | haksaengmada sillyeogi dallayo. | Each student has different ability. |
| 가족마다 전통이 있어요. | gajongmada jeonttongi isseoyo. | Each family has traditions. |
| 회사마다 규칙이 달라요. | hoesamada gyuchigi dallayo. | Each company has different rules. |
Function 4: Places -- Every Place
마다 works with locations to mean "each/every" place:
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 방마다 에어컨이 있어요. | bangmada eeokkeoni isseoyo. | Each room has an air conditioner. |
| 나라마다 문화가 달라요. | naramada munhwaga dallayo. | Each country has a different culture. |
| 도시마다 특색이 있어요. | dosimada teuksaegi isseoyo. | Each city has its own character. |
| 역마다 정차해요. | yeongmada jeongchahaeyo. | It stops at every station. |
| 층마다 화장실이 있어요. | cheungmada hwajangsiri isseoyo. | There is a restroom on every floor. |
Function 5: Objects or Categories
마다 can apply to any category of things:
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 과일마다 맛이 달라요. | gwailmada masi dallayo. | Each fruit tastes different. |
| 책마다 가격이 달라요. | chaengmada gagyeogi dallayo. | Each book has a different price. |
| 음식마다 칼로리가 달라요. | eumsikdamada kallori-ga dallayo. | Each food has different calories. |
마다 with Particles
마다 can appear alongside other particles, though combinations are limited:
| Combination | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 에 + 마다 → 마다 | 주말마다 (not 주말에마다) | every weekend |
| 마다 alone | 사람마다 | each person |
Note: You typically do not stack 에 and 마다 together. 주말마다 is natural; 주말에마다 sounds awkward. However, 곳곳마다 (everywhere) or 집집마다 (every house) use reduplication for emphasis.
Common Expressions with 마다
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 가는 곳마다 | everywhere (one) goes |
| 만나는 사람마다 | every person (one) meets |
| 하는 일마다 | everything (one) does |
| 볼 때마다 | every time (I) see |
| 갈 때마다 | every time (I) go |
Sentence examples
가는 곳마다 사람이 많아요. Everywhere I go, there are many people.
만나는 사람마다 인사해요. I greet every person I meet.
볼 때마다 예뻐요. Every time I see (her), she's beautiful.
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Correction | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 마다 사람 생각이 달라요. | 사람마다 생각이 달라요. | 마다 goes after the noun, not before |
| 주말에마다 쉬어요. | 주말마다 쉬어요. | Don't combine 에 with 마다 |
| 매일마다 운동해요. | 매일 운동해요. / 날마다 운동해요. | 매일 already means "every day" |
Using 매일마다 is technically understood but redundant. Choose one: 매일 or 날마다.
Summary
- 마다 = "each" or "every." Attaches directly to nouns.
- No form variation -- always 마다 regardless of the preceding sound.
- Time: 아침마다, 주말마다, 해마다 (every morning, weekend, year).
- Intervals: 10분마다, 2시간마다 (every 10 minutes, every 2 hours).
- Groups: 사람마다, 나라마다 (each person, each country).
- Places: 방마다, 역마다 (each room, every station).
- Largely interchangeable with the prefix 매~, but don't combine both (avoid 매일마다).