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-거나Korean connective · TOPIK 2

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TOPIK 2 2급Connectives 연결 어미2 senses

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

A connective ending used when one of either the preceding statement or the following statement can be chosen.

앞에 오는 말과 뒤에 오는 말 중에서 하나가 선택될 수 있음을 나타내는 연결 어미.

쓰임Usage

'-거나 -거나'로 쓸 때는 주로 '하다'와 함께 '-거나 -거나 하다'로 쓴다.

예문Examples

민준은 주말에 보통 친구를 만나거나 영화를 본다.

On weekends, Minjun usually meets friends or watches movies.

외모로 봤을 때 그는 경찰이거나 군인인 것 같았다.

Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be either a police officer or a soldier.

여유 있는 주말에는 주로 텔레비전을 보거나 해요.

On a relaxed weekend, I usually watch TV or something.

대화In conversation

막내가 집에 있을 텐데 왜 전화를 안 받지?

The youngest should be home, so why isn't he answering the phone?

밖에 나갔거나 자고 있거나 둘 중 하나지, 뭐.

He's either gone out or sleeping—one of the two.

A connective ending used when even if one out of many things happens, it does not have any relation to the following statement.

여러 가지 중에서 어떤 것이 일어나도 뒤에 오는 말과는 상관이 없음을 나타내는 연결 어미.

쓰임Usage

뜻을 분명히 할 때는 '-거나 (-거나) 간에', '-거나 (-거나) 상관없이'로 쓴다.

예문Examples

막내는 비가 오거나 눈이 오거나 늘 밖에 나가 논다.

The youngest always goes out to play, whether it rains or snows.

아버지는 내 성적이 좋거나 나쁘거나 잘했다고만 하신다.

My father always says I did well, whether my grades are good or bad.

유민은 친구들이 듣거나 말거나 상관없이 자기 하고 싶은 말만 한다.

Yumin only says what she wants, whether her friends listen or not.

대화In conversation

그 화장품이 효과는 정말 좋은데 가격이 너무 비싸서 못 사겠어요.

That cosmetic is really effective, but it's so expensive I can't buy it.

가격이 어떻거나 없어서 못 산다던데요.

Whether the price is high or low, they say it's out of stock, so you can't buy it anyway.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other connectives you will meet alongside this one.

-게 -ge A connective ending used when the preceding statement is the purpose, result, method, amount, etc., of something mentioned in the following statement. TOPIK 2 -는데 -neunde -은데 · -ㄴ데 A connective ending used to talk in advance about a situation to follow. TOPIK 2 -다가 -daga -다 · 다가도 A connective ending used when an action or state, etc., is stopped and changed to another action or state. TOPIK 2 -으면 -eumyeon -면 A connective ending used to assume an uncertain fact. TOPIK 2 -으면서 -eumyeonseo -면서 A connective ending used when more than two actions or states happen at the same time. TOPIK 2

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -거나 mean in Korean?

-거나 is a connective introduced at 2급 (TOPIK 2). A connective ending used when one of either the preceding statement or the following statement can be chosen. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

What TOPIK level is -거나?

2급 — TOPIK 2, elementary. It is one of 45 grammar points at that level.

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