안녕하세요! Today, you'll learn how to say "or" in Korean. There are many versions of "or" depending on what you connect like nouns, verbs, and phrases. Today, we'll start the lesson with an easy one. I'll show you how to connect nouns!
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1. N or N: (이)나
When you connect nouns with "or," you will use the conjunctive marker (이)나. It is used between nouns and shows one of them can be selected. You must attach this (이)나 to the first noun, put a space, and put the second noun.
빨간색이나 파란색 | red or blue | |
빵이나 쿠키 | bread or cookies |
2. Conjugation Information
It has two forms; 이나 or 나. That is why we write this grammar as "(이)나" during lessons. To decide which one to use, you have to look at the last syllable of the noun. Does it have the final consonant(받침) or not? If it ends with a final consonant, please attach 이나. If it ends without a final consonant, you will add 나.
받침 O +이나: 연필이나 지우개 pencil or eraser
연필 ends with the syllable 필. 필 has the final consonant ㄹ. That's why we need to use "이나".
받침 X +나: 지우개나 연필 eraser or pencil
지우개 ends with the syllable 개. It doesn't have the final consonant. So, we'll need to use "나".
3. Sentence Information
The basic meaning of (이)나 is or, but it has some extended usages. If you are a beginner, it is okay to skip this part. If you are curious, of course, you can continue reading it!
1. N(이)나 N(이)나
You can use the structure "N(이)나 N(이)나" to mean all the same and there is no difference. It can show "either/or" and "both" depending on context.
펜이나 연필이나 상관없어요. It doesn't matter, either pen or pencil.
상관없어요 came from the adjective 상관없다. It means "doesn't matter." So, when either pen or pencil is okay, you can connect nouns with 이나.
진 씨는 춤이나 노래나 다 잘해요. Jin is good at both dancing and singing.
다 is an adverb. It means "all" or "everything". 잘해요 came from the verb 잘하다. It means "do well."
2. Pronouns
It can be attached with indefinite pronouns to show things don't matter. It works like "ever" in English. Take a look at those words.
누구 who → 누구나 whoever
무엇 what → 무엇이나 whatever
어디 where → 어디나 wherever
언제 when → 언제나 whenever
3. Adverbs
(이)나 can be attached to some adverbs to emphasize the meaning! Since it is to emphasize, even if you erase (이)나, the sentence will still make sense. Those adverbs are 무척, 가뜩, 퍽, 꽤, etc. See how the forms change with (이)나 grammar.
무척(very) → 무척이나
이 빵은 무척이나 맛있다. This bread is very tasty.
가뜩(already bad but) → 가뜩이나
가뜩이나 피곤한데 아직도 일이 많아요. I'm already tired but I still have lots of work.
퍽(very much) → 퍽이나
저는 그 뉴스에 퍽이나 놀랐어요. I was shocked very much by the news.
꽤(quite, pretty) → 꽤나
이 식당은 꽤나 비싸요. This restaurant is quite expensive.
4. Examples
Here are some examples using "(이)나." You can listen to them by clicking the speaker buttons. Please listen and repeat!
사과나 포도를 먹어요. | I eat apples or grapes. | |
빵이나 쿠키가 있어요? | Do you have bread or cookies? | |
연필이나 펜을 주세요. | Please give me a pencil or pen. | |
다섯 시나 여섯 시에 만나요. | Let's meet either 5 or 6. | |
서울이나 부산에 가고 싶어요. | I want to go to Seoul or Busan. |
You can continue adding using this (이)나. Unlike English, where you can add "or" only once in a sentence, you add (이)나 for each word.
사과나 포도나 빵을 먹어요. | I eat apples, grapes, or bread. | |
피자나 햄버거나 치킨을 먹을까요? | Do you want to eat pizza, hamburger, or chicken? |
5. Wrap-up&Worksheets: Or in Korean
How was the lesson? It wasn't that difficult, right? Here is the important summary for you!
(이)나 means "or" and it is used to connect nouns.
You use 이나 or 나 depending on the last syllable of the noun.
Noun with a final consonant + 이나
Noun without a final consonant + 나
Don't forget to download the worksheets to practice! First, practice the conjugation of (이)나. Then, you can solve the quiz worksheet! It includes the answer sheet, so please make sure you wrote the correct answer.
N or N practice worksheet
N or N quiz worksheet with answer
In the next lesson, you'll learn about the irregular ㅡ & 르 rule. See you next time! (다음 시간에 만나요!)
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