Key Facts
- Hangul: 똑같다 (ttokgatda)
- Meaning: identical
- Level: A2
- Part of speech: adjective
- Stem: 똑같
- Conjugation class: regular
- Dictionary form sounds like: [똑깓따]
- Grammar: Descriptive word; the compared thing takes 이/가 and the other 과/와 or 하고 (이것이 저것과 똑같아요).
- Usage: Common in daily talk. The adverb is 똑같이 (똑같이 나누다). Opposite is 다르다.
What Does 똑같다 Mean?
똑같다 means identical. It is stronger than 같다: where 같다 says two things are the same or alike, 똑같다 says there is no difference at all. The compared thing takes 이/가 and the other thing takes 과/와 or 하고, as in 이것이 저것과 똑같아요. As a modifier it gives 똑같은 옷, which is how 우리는 똑같은 옷을 입었어요 says that we wore identical clothes.
How Do You Pronounce 똑같다?
The dictionary form is [똑깓따]. The final ㅌ of 같 is a stop before 다, and the 다 is tensed. After the ㄱ of 똑, the ㄱ of 같 also sounds tensed, which is why the second syllable is written 깓 in the brackets. Before a vowel the ㅌ moves across and is heard clearly: 똑같아요 is [똑까타요], and 똑같은 is [똑까튼]. The formal 똑같습니다 sounds like [똑깓씀니다].
How Do You Use 똑같다 in a Sentence?
이 가방은 제 것과 똑같아요.
This bag is identical to mine.
제 것과 means with mine: 과 marks the thing the bag is compared with.
똑같은 옷을 샀어요.
I bought the same clothes.
똑같은 is the present modifier and 옷을 is the object of 샀어요.
맛이 어제와 똑같았어요.
The taste was the same as yesterday.
어제와 sets yesterday as the point of comparison, and 똑같았어요 puts the sameness in the past.
Together they show the comparison with 과/와, the modifier 똑같은 and the past 똑같았어요.
How Does Ttokgatda Conjugation Work?
똑같다 is regular: the stem 똑같 never changes. Its last vowel is ㅏ, so the endings take 아: 똑같아요, 똑같았어요 and 똑같아서. With a consonant ending the stem stays the same, as in 똑같습니다 and 똑같지 않아요. The if-form is 똑같으면, the present modifier is 똑같은 and the future modifier is 똑같을. The rule behind this class is in the polite present recipe lesson.
똑같다
| Form | Korean | Romanization | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 똑같아요 | ||
| Polite past | 똑같았어요 | ||
| Polite future (plan) | 똑같을 거예요 | ||
| Polite future (intention or guess) | 똑같겠어요 | ||
| Formal present | 똑같습니다 | ||
| Formal past | 똑같았습니다 | ||
| Formal future | 똑같을 것입니다 | ||
| Casual present | 똑같아 | ||
| Casual past | 똑같았어 | ||
| Casual future | 똑같을 거야 | ||
| Honorific polite | 똑같으세요 | ||
| Because / and then | 똑같아서 | ||
| If (conditional) | 똑같으면 | ||
| Present modifier (before a noun) | 똑같은 | ||
| Past modifier (before a noun) | 똑같았던 | ||
| Future modifier (before a noun) | 똑같을 | ||
| Negative with 안 (short) | 안 똑같아요 | ||
| Negative (long form) | 똑같지 않아요 |
No want-to row: -고 싶다 suits verbs.
Sound Changes
| Form | Korean | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 똑같아요 | [똑까타요] |
| Polite past | 똑같았어요 | [똑까타써요] |
| Polite future (plan) | 똑같을 거예요 | [똑까틀꺼예요] |
| Polite future guess | 똑같겠어요 | [똑깓께써요] |
| Formal present | 똑같습니다 | [똑깓씀니다] |
| Formal past | 똑같았습니다 | [똑까탇씀니다] |
| Formal future | 똑같을 것입니다 | [똑까틀꺼심니다] |
| Casual present | 똑같아 | [똑까타] |
| Casual past | 똑같았어 | [똑까타써] |
| Casual future | 똑같을 거야 | [똑까틀꺼야] |
| Honorific polite | 똑같으세요 | [똑까트세요] |
| Because / and then | 똑같아서 | [똑까타서] |
| If (conditional) | 똑같으면 | [똑까트면] |
| Present modifier | 똑같은 | [똑까튼] |
| Past modifier | 똑같았던 | [똑까탇떤] |
| Future modifier | 똑같을 | [똑까틀] |
| Negative with 안 (short) | 안 똑같아요 | [안 똑까타요] |
| Long negative | 똑같지 않아요 | [똑깓찌 아나요] |
Common Mistake with 똑같다
Wrong: ✗ 똑같해요
Correct: ✓ 똑같아요
Why: 똑같다 is a regular adjective ending in ㅌ, not a 하다 adjective. Do not add 해요; attach 아요 to the stem to get 똑같아요.
똑같이, 다르다 and the Sense of 'No Difference'
The adverb is 똑같이, as in 똑같이 나누다, which means to divide something equally. The opposite of 똑같다 is 다르다, and the two are the pair to learn first. It is common in daily talk: use it when a bag, a taste or a plan matches another exactly. 맛이 어제와 똑같았어요 is a typical way to say that something tasted just as it did before.
What Is Easy to Confuse with 똑같다?
| Word | How to tell it from 똑같다 |
|---|---|
| 같다 | 같다 means the same or like; 똑같다 is stronger, exactly identical. |
| 비슷하다 | 비슷하다 means similar but not identical; 똑같다 means no difference. |
비슷하다 leaves room for differences; 똑같다 emphasizes an exact match or a very strong resemblance. Use 같다 when 'the same' is enough.
Shopping with a Friend: Matching Bags
Two friends notice that they have chosen the same bag. They compare the color and remember a similar purchase.
Mina
우리 가방이 똑같아요.
Uri gabangi ttokgatayo.
Our bags are identical.
Jisu
색도 똑같아요?
Saekdo ttokgatayo?
Is the color the same too?
Mina
네, 똑같은 색이에요.
Ne, ttokgateun saegieyo.
Yes, it’s the same color.
Jisu
지난번에도 똑같았어요.
Jinanbeonedo ttokgatasseoyo.
They were the same last time too.
똑같아요 compares the bags now, 똑같은 modifies 색, and 똑같았어요 recalls an earlier match. 색도 asks specifically about color. Matching bags may have the same design without being the very same physical object: each friend still owns a separate bag.
“Exactly the Same” in Real Comparisons
가격이 똑같다 means the prices are exactly the same. 모양이 똑같다 means the shapes or appearances match. Naming the feature makes the claim precise. Two products can have identical prices while differing in quality, color or size; the adjective applies to the feature you name.
똑같은 옷 usually means matching clothes, such as two copies of the same design. It need not mean that two people share one garment. When ownership or identity matters, describe whose item it is as well. The existing bag example uses 제 것과, “with mine”, to keep the two items separate in the comparison.
똑같은 실수 means the same mistake again. The emphasis falls on repetition. 매일 똑같은 생활 describes an unchanging daily routine and may suggest boredom in context. These uses concern repeated behavior or a lack of novelty, rather than two objects laid side by side.
Where Will You Hear 똑같다?
In shops, people compare prices, colors and designs. In family conversation, 얼굴이 똑같다 can mean that two people look extremely alike. This is a strong resemblance claim, rather than a claim that they are literally one person. The National Institute of Korean Language’s entry for 똑같다 distinguishes exact sameness, close resemblance, and an unchanging situation.
In an argument, 똑같아요 can sound dismissive if it means “you’re just the same” or “there’s no difference”. The word itself is neutral; the object of comparison and the tone create the criticism. With a positive context, the same adjective can reassure someone that a familiar taste or quality has stayed consistent.
Comparison Words to Learn Next
| Korean | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 가격 | price | Identical prices say nothing about matching quality. |
| 모양 | shape; appearance | Names the visual feature being compared. |
| 차이 | difference | Useful when explaining what does or does not match. |
| 똑같이 | equally; in the same way | Describes how an action happens. |
The shopping vocabulary lesson teaches words for comparing purchases. Use a feature such as 가격 when “the same” could otherwise leave your listener guessing.
Keep 똑같은 and 똑같이 Separate
똑같은 goes before a noun: 똑같은 옷. 똑같이 goes with an action: 똑같이 나누다, to divide equally. The spelling of 똑같이 preserves ㅌ, even though the adverb’s sound differs from the spelling. For a complete description at the end of a sentence, use 똑같아요.
Mini Drill: Choose the Right Form
- Complete “identical clothes”: ____ 옷.
- Change 똑같아요 to the polite past.
- Choose the adverb in “divide equally”: 똑같은 or 똑같이?
- Complete the comparison: 제 것____ 똑같아요.
Show drill answers
- 똑같은 옷.
- 똑같았어요.
- 똑같이: 똑같이 나누다.
- 제 것과 똑같아요.
Quick Self-Test
- Can two bags be 똑같다 while belonging to different people?
- Does 가격이 똑같다 guarantee the same quality?
- Which word allows small differences: 비슷하다 or 똑같다?
Show answers
- Yes. They can be matching copies.
- No. It only compares the prices.
- 비슷하다 means similar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Say 'This Bag Is Identical to Mine'?
이 가방은 제 것과 똑같아요. The thing compared with takes 과 or 와.
Is 똑같해요 Correct?
No. 똑같다 is regular, so the polite present is 똑같아요.
What Is the Difference between 같다 and 똑같다?
같다 means the same or like; 똑같다 is stronger and means exactly identical.
How Is 똑같아요 Pronounced?
It is spoken [똑까타요]. The ㅌ of 같 moves across to the vowel of 아요.
What Is the Opposite of 똑같다?
The opposite is 다르다, which means different.
Which Words Are Related to 똑같다?
What Should You Learn Next?
Next, learn 같다 and 비슷하다 to cover the full range from alike to identical, then 다르다 for the opposite. Once you know how to say "identical", put another word through the Korean verb conjugator to compare the pattern, or browse more entries in the Korean verb dictionary.