One usually considers a few factors before passing judgment or forming an opinion on a certain matter. In Korean, this is expressed with the grammar pattern N(으)로 보나 N(으)로 보나.
가격으로 보나 양으로 보나 스테이크보다 삼겹살이 더 좋을 것 같아.If you look at the price and the amount, I think samgyeopsal is better than steak.
장소로 보나 거리로 보나 약속 장소는 종로로 정하는 게 좋겠어요.Taking into account place and distance, choosing Jongro as the meeting place would be good.
그 사람은 능력으로 보나 외모로 보나 뛰어난 사람이에요. If you consider his abilities and his appearance, he’s an exceptional person.
This is a contrastive ending with multiple usages. Some of its usages overlap with ~지만, or ~거나/~든지.
In the first use, ~(으)나 is applied exactly like ~지만 to express a contrast between two different states of affairs. Both forms are used in both writing and speaking, but more often in formal writing.
값은 좀 비싸나 음식 맛은 좋아요. It’s a bit expensive, but it tastes good.
어제 술집에 갔으나 술은 마시지 않았어요. I went to a bar yesterday, but I didn’t drink any alcohol.
의견에 따르긴 하겠으나 결과는 책임지지 않겠습니다. I’ll follow your decision, but not take responsibility for the result.
좋은 약은 입에 쓰나 몸에 이롭다. Good medicine is bitter to the mouth but good for the body.
In the second use, ~(으)나 is used twice in the same sentence to give the meaning of “whether… or…”. Its usage implies that the state of affairs given in the final clause will occur regardless of the two choices given in the first clause. Its function here is similar to ~거나 or ~든지.
그 사람은 자나 깨나 술만 마셔요. Whether awake or asleep, he always drinks.
앉으나 서나 허리가 앞아요. Whether sitting or standing, my back hurts.
좋으나 싫으나 해야 해요. You have to do it whether you like it or not.
In the third usage, ~(으)나 can be used in clauses containing question words like ‘무엇’, ‘어디’, ‘누구’, ‘언제’, and ‘어떻게’ to imply that whatever is expressed in this clause is of no consequence. These constructions usually translate as “whoever”, “whenever, “wherever”, etc.
내가 어디 가나 상관하지 마. Wherever I go, just mind your own business.
뭘 먹으나 살이 안 쪄요. Whatever I eat, I don’t gain weight.
In the fourth usage, ~(으)나 can be used to link two identical adjectives, in order to give emphasis to the adjective in a similar way as adding “very”/“really” or using a superlative.
크나 큰 죄인이 되고 말았어요. S/he ended up becoming a really big criminal.
작으나 작은 피해도 없게 하는 것이 행정의 원칙이다. The principle of administration is to avoid even the smallest damages.
In the fifth usage, it is combined with the verb 말다 (to desist) in the form ~(으)나 마나 to give the meaning of “whether… or not…”, and shows that the final result will occur whether or not the first clause happens. Sometimes, ~(으)나마나 is simply followed by ~이다 in the form ~(으)나마나예요.
학생들은 혼내주나 마나 마찬가지예요. It’s all the same whether or not you give students a hard time.
시험은 보나 마나 그 학생은 떨어질 거예요. The student will probably fail whether he takes the exam or not.
그런 회의는 하나 마나 예요. It won’t do any good whether or not we hold that kind of conference.
(Info and examples taken from Korean: A Comprehensive Grammar and Using Korean: Guide to Contemporary Use)
This form is primarily used in formal writing, and acts in the same way as ~지만 to mark a contrast between two states of affairs.
NOTE: This form is irregular because ~으되 is only used after the verbs 있다/없다 and past and future tense markers ~았/었~ and ~겠~. In all other cases, ~되 is used, even for verbs ending in a consonant (eg. 먹되 ‘to eat’).
Examples:
제 발표는 한국어로 하되 영어로 된 요약문을 준비하겠습니다. My presentation will be in Korean, but I’ll prepare a summary in English.
음식은 자주 먹되 적게 먹는 것이 좋아요. Eat regularly, but make sure you only eat small amounts.
기간은 짧았으되 많은 것을 배웠습니다. The time was short, but I have learned a lot.
그 선수는 재능은 있으되 재능을 살리지 못한다. That athlete has talent, but he can’t apply it.
가기는 가되 너무 일찍 가지 마. You can go, but don’t go too early.
마시긴 마시되 적항히 마셔라. You can drink, but drink moderately.
(Info and examples from Korean: A Comprehensive Grammar and Using Korean: Guide to Contemporary Use)
~(으)나 = But, however
(This is the same as ~지만, but more often used in formal writing.)
가고 싶으나 시간이 없다 = I shouldliketo go, but I haveno time.
나는 그녀를 보았으나, 무시하고 지나갔다 = I saw her but I just ignored her and walked past. 밥을 많이 먹었으나 여전히 배가 고팠다 = I ate a lot but I was just as hungry as before. 내일 날씨는 대체로 맑겠으나, 경남지역은 한때 비가 오겠다 = The weather will be clear tomorrow, but it will rain once in the Gyeongnam area. 나폴레옹은 비록 전투에서 승리했으나 보상은 보잘 것 없었다 = Napolean won the battle, but the rewards were poor.
Both words translate to “always” in English, but their meanings are slightly different.
언제나 has more of a meaning of something that is continuous; there is not a time when it is not happening.
Ex. 그녀가 언제나 예뻐요. She is always pretty.
항상 has more of a meaning of something that happens repeatedly.
Ex. 항상 도서관에서 공부해요. I always study in the library.
~(으)나 마나 = whether you do it or not, no use, no point, not worth doing (the result is fixed)
가나 마나. 우리는 늦어서 그 영화는 못 봐 = There is no use going. We’re late so we can’t see the movie. 그 약은 먹으나 마나였다 = The medicine was no use. 경주에게 말해보나 마나 안 간다고 할 거야 = There is no point asking Kyungju; she’ll say she won’t go. 물어보나마나 안 된다고 할 거예요
= Whether you ask them or not, they will certainly say no. 하나마나 똑같아요
= No matter whether you do it or not, the result is the same.이야기를 하나마나 하나도 달라지는 게 없어요 = No matter whether you talk to him or not, nothing changes. 보나마나 제가 일등이에요 = No need to see. I’m the 1st place winner. 이 책은 읽으나마나예요 = This book is worthless to read.
아무 noun~(이)나 – any (noun)
방학동안에 아무 일이나 하겠어요 = During vacation, I’ll do any kind of work. 아무 거나 주세요 = Please give me any colour. 아무 영화나 볼래 = I’ll watch any movie.
아무나, 누구나 – anyone, everyone, whoever 무엇이나 – anything, everything, whatever 어디나 – anywhere, any place, everywhere, wherever 언제나 – any time, every time, whenever
누구나 시를 쓸 수 있다 = Anyone can write a poem. 미국은 무엇이나 발달됐다 = In the United States, everything is developed 봄에는 어디나 꽃이 핀다 = In the spring, flowers bloom everywhere. 언제나 바다에 가면 배들을 볼 수 있다 = Whenever you go to the ocean, you can always see boats.
~든지 (말든지)
(간에) = whether – or, either – or
네가 나를 사랑하든지 안 하든지 나는 너랑 헤어져야 돼 = Whether you love me a lot or not, I need to break up with you
우리가 가든지 말든지 나는 신경을 안 써 = I don’t care if we go or not 시험이 있든지 말든지 간에 학교에 가야 돼요 = It doesn’t matter if there is an exam or not, you have to go to school
경기에서 이기든지 지든지 간에 열심히 해야 됩니다 = Whether you win or lose the game, you should try hard
Question word ~든지 = Every/anything/one/where/time/way
언제든지 = anytime, everytime, whenever
뭐든지, 무엇이든지 = anything, everything, whatever 누구든지 = everyone, whomever, anyone 어디든지 = everywhere, anywhere 어떻게든지 = however, no matter how
영구씨는 누구든지 싫어해요 = 영구 hates everyone 민수씨는 언제든지 늦게 와요 = 만수 comes late everytime 어디든지 갈 수 있어요 = we can go anywhere
Question word + Verb ~든지 상관없다 = Doesn’t matter
우리가 언제 가든지 상관없어요 = It doesn’t matter when we go 운전면허를 언제 받든지 상관없어요 = It doesn’t matter when you get your driver’s license 학생들이 어떻게 반응하든지 상관없어요 = It doesn’t matter how the students react
anyone, anything, anywhere
아무 – any 아무나 – anyone 아무거나 – anything (아무 + 것이나) 아무데나 – anywhere, any place
아무나 올 수 있어요 – Anybody can come 아무나 올 수 없어요 – not everybody can come 아무거나 주세요 – Give me just anything 아무거나 먹으면 안 돼요 – You shouldn’t eat just anything 아무데나 좋아요 – any place is good 아무데나 가고 싶지 않아요 – I don’t want to go just about anywhere
아무때나 – anytime, just anytime 아무 말도, 아무 아야기도 – no word, no mention 아무렇지도 않다 – to be alright, to be okay, to be unaffected by 아무렇게나 – just in any way, however you like it
아무때나 오세요 – Just come anytime 아무 말도 안 했죠? – you didn’t tell them anything, right? 저는 아무렇지도 않아요 – I’m okay 아무렇게나 해도 돼요 – You can do it whatever way you want
Sutdy-Korean 