그리고
geurigo
and / and then (casual additive)
또한
ttohan
also / furthermore (formal additive)
그리고 vs 또한: Casual and Formal Ways to Say "And Also" in Korean
그리고 (geurigo) is the common spoken conjunction meaning "and" or "and then," connecting sentences casually, while 또한 (ttohan) is a formal additive adverb meaning "also" or "furthermore," used mainly in writing.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 그리고 (geurigo) | 또한 (ttohan) | |
|---|---|---|
| Register | Casual to neutral — appropriate in speech and informal writing | Formal — common in essays, reports, official writing |
| Function | Connects two sentences or clauses additively (A, and B) | Adds information with a formal tone (A; furthermore B) |
| Position | Sentence-initial, connecting clauses or full sentences | Sentence-initial or within the clause: 또한 중요합니다 |
| Can Imply Sequence? | Yes — 그리고 나서 means "and after that" | No — 또한 is purely additive, not sequential |
| Spoken Usage | Very natural and common in everyday conversation | Sounds stiff in conversation; reserved for presentations or formal speech |
Examples in Context
Describing your daily routine to a friend — using 그리고
아침에 밥을 먹었어. 그리고 학교에 갔어.
I ate breakfast in the morning. And then I went to school.
Making a shopping list aloud — using 그리고
우유 사야 하고, 그리고 빵도 필요해.
I need to buy milk, and I also need bread.
Writing a formal report on company benefits — using 또한
이 제품은 품질이 우수합니다. 또한 가격도 합리적입니다.
This product is of excellent quality. Furthermore, the price is reasonable.
Academic essay adding a supporting point — using 또한
환경 보호는 미래 세대를 위한 책임입니다. 또한 경제적으로도 중요한 과제입니다.
Environmental protection is a responsibility toward future generations. It is also an economically important task.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Using 또한 in casual conversation — it makes you sound like a news anchor; use 그리고 or 그리고 나서 in speech
- ✗Using 그리고 repeatedly in formal writing — multiple 그리고 in an essay sounds repetitive and childlike; vary with 또한, 뿐만 아니라 (not only that), or 더불어
- ✗Confusing 그리고 (and/and then) with 그래서 (so/therefore) — 그리고 is purely additive with no causal implication
- ✗Using 또한 mid-sentence without proper subject or verb structure — 또한 works best at the start of an independent clause
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 또 the same as 또한?
또 (tto) means "again" or "also" in casual speech — 또 왔어요 (came again) or 또 맞아요 (that's also right). 또한 is the formal written form and carries a more sophisticated additive nuance.
What other formal additive conjunctions exist in Korean?
뿐만 아니라 (not only that, but also), 더불어 (together with / additionally), and 아울러 (along with / in addition) are all formal written alternatives to 또한.
Can I start a Korean sentence with 그리고?
Yes, unlike the English rule against starting a sentence with "and," Korean sentences frequently begin with 그리고 in both speech and writing. It is completely natural.
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