How to Say Whether, Whatever, Either in Korean | -든지 -든지 Lesson

KSJ 쌤
9 hours ago
3 min read

안녕하세요 여러분! KoreanStudyJunkie입니다~

TODAYS GRAMMAR IS:

A/N/V-든지 든지 grammar = whether/either …

Usage:

Expressing any choices are fine.

Shortened form: -든 -든

The expression -든지 안 -든지; -든지 말든지; -든지 못 -든지 are also used to emphasize the contrast between 2 choices.

Example Sentences:

볼펜으로 쓰든지 연필로 쓰든지 마음대로 하세요.

You can use whatever you want such as a ballpoint or a pencil.

눈이 오든지 비가 오든지 내일 행사는 예정대로 진행될 겁니다.

Whether it rains or snows, tomorrow’s event will continue as planned.

이제 한국 음식은 맵든지 짜든지 모두 먹을 수 있어요.

I can now eat all kinds of Korean food, whether spicy or salty.

저는 생일 선물이 크든지 작든지 상관없어요.

I don’t care whether my birthday gift is big or small.

아들이든지 딸이든지 상관없습니다.

I don’t care whether a son or a daughter.

네가 가든지 말든지 나는 상관없으니까 마음대로 해.

It doesn’t matter to me whether you go or not, do as you wish.

그 사람이 키가 크든지 안 크든지 일단 한번 만나 보세요.

Whether he is tall or short, just meet him first.

CONJUGATIONS:

No need to conjugate, just take off the -다

Adjectives

-든지, -든지

Negative form:

-든지 안 adj - 든지

Verbs

Present Tense

-든지, -든지

Negative form:

-든지 말든지

Past Tense

-았든지, 었든지, 했든지

Nouns

-이든지 -이든지

Negative form:

-이든지 -아니든지

PRACTICE TIME!

Translate these Sentences

1). I don’t care whether it’s expensive or cheap.

2). Whether we watch a movie or go out to eat, I don’t care.

3). 버스든지 택시든지 아무거나 타고 와라.

4). Either you or I have to go

5). 시간 있을 때 같이 밥을 먹든지 차를 마시든지 해요.

6). Let’s ride a bike or take a walk in the park on the weekend.

Answers will be revealed at the end of the lesson!

ANOTHER WAY 든지 GETS USED

You can attach -든지 to question words to transform them.

Showing indifference with regards what, who, when and where can be expressed by attaching 든지 to the familiar words 뭐, 누구, 언제 and 어디.

뭐든지 = Whatever /It doesn’t matter what

The long form 무엇이든지 can also be used.

누구든지 = Whoever/It doesn’t matter who

언제든지 = Whenever/It doesn’t matter when

어디든지 = Wherever/It doesn’t matter where

어떻게든지 = However, somehow

Examples:

Homin is a good friend. He can come to our house anytime (whenever).

호민이는 좋은 친구예요. 우리 집에 언제든지 갈 수 있어요.

We can eat whatever /anything. I don’t mind.

우리는 뭐든지 먹을 수 있어요. 상관 없어요.

That’s all for this lesson! I have a hard time making grammar lessons, so I don’t have as many as I’d like, but I’m going to try to make more.

Comment below any grammar you’d like me to make a lesson on! If you’re searching for other lessons, you can use the search bar on my website to look for it!

ANSWER KEY

4). 너든지 나든지 가야 해 / 저든지 당신이든지 가야 합니다

1). 이거 비싸든지 싸든지 상관 없어요.

2). 영화를 보든지 밥을 먹으러 가든지 상관 없어요.

5). When you have time, we can either eat or drink tea.

3). Whether it’s the bus or a taxi, just take anything and come here.

6). 주말에는 자전거를 타든지 산책을 하든지 해요. / 하자.

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