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-든지Korean connective · TOPIK 4

-deunji

TOPIK 4 4급Connectives 연결 어미choice 선택2 senses

One connective with 2 distinct uses in the dictionary. Each is below with its own usage rule and examples.

형태Forms

-든지-든

Which one you use is decided by what comes in front of it — see the usage rule under each meaning below.

A connective ending used when choosing one out of two facts.

두 가지 사실 가운데 어느 하나를 선택함을 나타내는 연결 어미.

쓰임Usage

‘-든지 -든지’로 쓸 때는 주로 ‘하다’와 함께 ‘-든지 -든지 하다’로 쓴다.

예문Examples

졸리면 들어가서 자든지 세수를 하든지 해.

If you're sleepy, go inside and sleep or wash your face.

더우면 점퍼를 벗든지 창문을 열든지 하세요.

If you're hot, take off your jacket or open the window.

졸업하면 취직을 하든지 부모님 일을 돕든지 한 가지는 해야지.

After you graduate, you should either get a job or help your parents with their work—pick one.

대화In conversation

네가 방을 치우든지 거실을 치우든지 해.

You clean your room or the living room.

알았어. 내가 방을 치울 테니까 언니는 거실을 맡아.

Okay. I'll clean the room, so you take the living room.

A connective ending used when it does not matter what one chooses from many facts.

여러 사실 중에 어느 것을 선택해도 상관이 없음을 나타내는 연결 어미.

쓰임Usage

뜻을 분명히 할 때는 ‘-든지 (-든지) 간에’, ‘-든지 (-든지) 상관없이’로 쓴다.

예문Examples

시간 있을 때 같이 밥을 먹든지 차를 마시든지 해요.

When you have time, let's have a meal or drink tea together.

무슨 일을 하든지 열심히 하는 게 중요해요.

Whatever you do, doing it diligently is what matters.

어디에 있든지 건강하세요.

Wherever you are, stay healthy.

대화In conversation

주말에 공원에서 자전거를 타든지 산책을 하든지 하자.

On the weekend, let's ride bikes or take a walk in the park.

그래. 우리 둘 다 하자.

Sure. Let's do both.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other connectives you will meet alongside this one, starting with the ones the dictionary names as equivalents.

-거니와 -geoniwa (old-fashioned) A connective ending used to recognize the truth of the preceding statement, while indicating there is another relevant fact. TOPIK 4 -고도 -godo A connective ending used to express a fact or feeling, and add that there is an opposite or another characteristic in the following statement. TOPIK 4 -고서 -goseo -고서는 · -고서야 A connective ending used to emphasize that the preceding statement comes before the following statement, or the preceding statement caused the… TOPIK 4 -고자 -goja A connective ending used when the speaker has a certain purpose, intention, hope, etc. TOPIK 4 -기에 -gie A connective ending referring to the cause or reason of the following statement. TOPIK 4 -는다면 -neundamyeon -ㄴ다면 · -다면 · -라면 A connective ending used when assuming a certain fact or situation. TOPIK 4

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -든지 mean in Korean?

-든지 is a connective introduced at 4급 (TOPIK 4). A connective ending used when choosing one out of two facts. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

What is the difference between -든지 and -든?

None in meaning — they are two shapes of the same connective, and which one appears is decided by the sound in front of it, not by what you want to say.

What TOPIK level is -든지?

4급 — TOPIK 4, upper intermediate. It is one of 67 grammar points at that level.

Definition, usage note, examples and dialogue from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.