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-나Korean sentence ending · TOPIK 4

-na

TOPIK 4 4급Sentence Endings 종결 어미question 의문2 senses

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

형태Forms

-나-나요

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

(formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to a question.

(예사 낮춤으로) 물음을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Usually attaches after verbs, the honorific -으시-, the past -었- or the future -겠-.

주로 동사 또는 ‘-으시-’, ‘-었-’, ‘-겠-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

요즘 일이 그렇게 많나?

Are you that busy these days?

장 군은 올해 졸업하나?

Are you graduating this year, Jang?

자네는 바둑을 둘 줄 아나?

Do you know how to play Go?

대화In conversation

선생님, 그동안 안녕하셨습니까?

Teacher, how have you been?

그래. 자네 소식은 들었네. 얼마나 고생이 많았나?

Yes, I heard about you. How much have you been through?

(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when asking or assuming something.

(두루낮춤으로) 물음이나 추측을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Usually used as -나 하다, -나 싶다 or -나 보다. Also used when talking to oneself.

주로 ‘-나 하다', '-나 싶다', '-나 보다’로 쓴다. 혼잣말로도 쓴다.

예문Examples

이제 이 일을 어떡하나?

What should I do now?

어제 무슨 일이 있었나?

What happened yesterday?

오늘 그 사람이 오나?

Is he coming today?

대화In conversation

어제 내가 민준이한테 화를 냈는데 좀 심했나 봐.

I got angry at Minjun yesterday, and I think I was too harsh.

그래서 오늘 민준이가 너한테 한마디도 안 하는구나?

That's why he's not saying a word to you today, right?

관련 문법Related grammar

Other sentence endings you will meet alongside this one.

-게 -ge -게요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to guess what the following statement would be like, if the preceding statement is such,… TOPIK 4 -고 -go -고요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending usually used when answering, omitting the question that should follow and finishing the… TOPIK 4 -는다니 -neundani -ㄴ다니 · -다니 · -라니 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when asking again or admiring an unexpected fact in surprise. TOPIK 4 -는다면서 -neundamyeonseo -ㄴ다면서 · -다면서 · -라면서 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when the speaker confirms and asks questions about a fact that he/she heard. TOPIK 4 -다니 -dani -다니요 · -라니 · -라니요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to ask again or admire an unexpected fact in surprise. TOPIK 4 -더군 -deogun -더군요 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to convey a newly learned fact from a past personal experience, and indicate that the… TOPIK 4

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -나 mean in Korean?

-나 is a sentence ending introduced at 4급 (TOPIK 4). (formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to a question. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

When do you use -나?

Usually attaches after verbs, the honorific -으시-, the past -었- or the future -겠-. The other shape is -나요 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -나 and -나요?

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

What TOPIK level is -나?

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.