-은/는 comparison/emphasize

I think you already know about 은/는 as topic particle or comparison particle. If you haven’t learned 은/는 topic particle, please click here and learn more.

-은/는 are also used as ’emphasize’ a noun, an adverb or an ending. For example,
내 이름을 보고 그냥 가 버렸어요. (Someone) looked at my name, and then just left.
바빠도 밥 먹어야지요. Even if you are very busy, you should eat food.
한테도 잘못 있어. It is also your fault too.
사랑 따위 없어. There is no such thing, love.
그렇게 빨리 못 가. I can’t go that fast.
너무 멀리 가지 마. Don’t go too far.
너무 힘들어 하지 마. Don’t be too hard.

And -은/는 also often come with partial negation such as 모두/다/항상 + -지는 않다, 지는 못하다, ㄹ 수는 있다/없다, 것은-아니다. For example,
돈이 많다고 해서 모든 사람이 행복한 것 아니다. Not every one is happy even if they are rich.
내가 그것까지 해 줄 수 없어. That is the final straw. (I can do anything but not that one)
그것이 좋은 결과를 가져 오지 않았다. That didn’t bring a good result.
돈이 모든 일을 해결해 주지 않아. Not everything you can solve with money.


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