쪽
the one among several; side
Meaning
쪽 means “side,” but it can also refer to a person or thing distinguished from others in a group. In this use, it naturally translates as “the one,” “the other one,” or “the person who…”
Why this form?
사람 — “person”: directly refers to a human being. 쪽 instead identifies someone by distinguishing them from other people based on a characteristic, action, or position.
편 — “side, camp, party”: often refers to a position someone takes or a group someone belongs to. 쪽 is more suitable when simply identifying a person, option, or party among several, without necessarily implying allegiance or conflict.
Meanings and uses
- Side or direction
Refers to a direction, position, or area in space.
- The one among several
Identifies a person or thing through a characteristic that distinguishes them from others.
When used after a description such as 목소리가 큰 (“having a loud voice”), 쪽 refers to the individual matching that description.
- The other one or the other party
When two people, objects, or groups are contrasted, 다른 쪽 can refer to the other person, the other item, or the other party.
The intended referent depends on context. 쪽 does not always mean “person.”
- Side or party involved
Can refer to one of the parties involved in a situation, relationship, or decision.
Natural usage
A-(으)ㄴ 쪽: the one with a particular characteristic.
E.g. 키가 큰 쪽: the tall one, or the taller one among those being compared.
V-는 쪽: the one performing an action; it can also refer to the option of performing that action.
다른 쪽: the other person, item, side, or party, depending on context.
이쪽 / 그쪽 / 저쪽: this side / that side / over there; these expressions can also refer to people in context.
Forms not to confuse
- 사람
저 사람은 목소리가 커요. — That person has a loud voice.
- 편
저는 당신 편이에요. — I'm on your side.
Examples
목소리가 큰 쪽은 정말 크게 놀란다. — The one with the loud voice is genuinely startled.
반면 다른 쪽은 전혀 영향을 받지 않은 것처럼 보인다. — By contrast, the other person seems completely unaffected.
키가 큰 쪽이 제 형이에요. — The taller one is my older brother.