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)
그렇지 않으면 – otherwise, if not
시키는 대로 해라, 그렇지 않으면 벌을 받을 것이 – Do what I tell you; otherwise you will be punished 앞으로 똑바로 행동해라. 그렇지 않으면 후회할 것이다 – You‘d better behave yourself from now on, or else, you will regret it. 서둘러, 그렇지 않으면 기차를 놓칠 거야 – Hurry up, or we will miss the train.
아니면 – if not
저는 밥을 먹고 싶어요. 아니면 죽을 것 같아요 = I want to eat rice. If not, I will probably die 저는 공부해 야 돼요. 아니면 시험을 떨어질 거에요 = I need to study. If not, I will fail the exam
means similar to “or” when between to nouns.
저는 밥 아니면 사과를 먹고 싶어요 = I want to eat rice or apples. (If not rice then apples)
내일 우리 만날 수 있는지 알고 싶어요 – i want to know whether we can meet tomorrow 너무 맛있었어요! 어떻게 만들었는지 가르쳐 주세요 – It was delicious! Please tell me how you made it. 여자 친구가 있는지 없는지 궁금해요 – I wonder whether he has a girlfriend.| 문제가 있는지 물어보세요 – ask them whether there’s a problem 이거 괜찮은지 봐 주세요 – see if this is okay
whether… or.. (은/는지… 은/는지…)
사기꾼인지 강돈지 – whether he might be a swindler or a burglar
perhaps because
바람에 흔들리는지 -perhaps because they were being shaken by the wind 그래서 그런지 – maybe that’s why 그것도 자기 팔자소간인지 – it may be that this was his fate 만족하는 때문인지 – perhaps it was because of my satisfaction
uncertainty about what/why/when/where
뭐 사고 싶은지 말해 주세요 – tell me what you want to buy 어떻게나 쫓아다니는지 – and how she’s following me around
저는 떡이나 김치를 먹고 싶어요 = I want to eat dduk or kimchi 오락실이나 공원에 갈래요? = Shall we go to the arcade or park? 이 영화나 저 영화를 볼래요? = Shall we see this movie, or that movie? 돈이나 선물을 주세요 = Give me money or a present
with no second noun it becomes “or something
집에 가서 밥이나 먹을 거에요 = I’m going to go home and eat rice (or something…) 저는 공부나 할 거에요 = I’m going to study (or something…)
~거나, ~건 (간에) – (verb) or (verb)
저는 눕거나 앉을 수 없어요 = I can’t lay down or sit down 돈을 주거나 선물을 주세요 = Give me money or give me a present
(verb)~거나 (verb)~거나 – whether (verb) or (verb)…
날씨가 춥거나 덥거나 매일 뛰어요 = Whether the weather is cold or hot, I run everyday. 맛있거나 맛없거나 배 고프면 아무거나 먹어요 = Whether it is delicious or not, we eat anything if we are hungry.
it makes no difference, regardless of
the nearly identical patterns in -든 … -든 (간에) and -든지 … -든지 (간에).
Sutdy-Korean 