3 · Particles
Or, as many as, or something: (이)나
the particle of choice and estimate
(이)나 offers a choice between nouns, stresses a surprisingly large number, and softens a suggestion — "coffee or something".
이나 follows a consonant and 나 a vowel: 빵이나 밥, 커피나 차. Between two nouns it means "or": 주말에 영화나 연극을 봐요, "at weekends I see a film or a play". The last noun takes whatever particle the sentence needs. Between two clauses, "or" is a different form, -거나.
On a single noun in a suggestion, (이)나 means "or something", "for instance": 커피나 마실까요?, "shall we have a coffee or something?" — coffee is offered without insisting on it. The same use can sound like "for lack of anything better": 집에서 잠이나 잘래요, "I think I will just stay home and sleep".
After a number, it means "as many as", "a whole": 세 시간이나 기다렸어요, "I waited a whole three hours". It is the opposite of 밖에: the same number is presented as more than expected. In a question it asks for an estimate: 몇 명이나 왔어요?, "how many people came, roughly?".
After question words, and after 아무, it makes the "any-" words: 누구나, "anyone, everyone", 언제나, "always", 어디나, "anywhere", 아무거나, "anything". The traps for English speakers are the shape after a consonant — 저녁이나, with the extra syllable — and using it for "and", which belongs to 하고.
The form
| or, after a consonant | 빵이나 밥 |
| or, after a vowel | 커피나 차 |
| or something, in a suggestion | 영화나 볼까요? |
| as many as | 두 시간이나 기다렸어요. |
| any-, with a question word | 아무거나, 누구나, 언제나 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
이나 follows a consonant and 나 a vowel; between two nouns it means "or".
점심에는 김밥이나 라면을 먹어요.For lunch I have gimbap or ramyeon.
On a single noun in a suggestion, it means "or something" and makes the offer lighter.
날씨도 좋은데 산책이나 할까요?The weather is nice — shall we go for a walk or something?
After a number, it means "as many as": more than expected.
친구를 한 시간이나 기다렸어요.I waited a whole hour for my friend.
After question words it makes the "any-" words.
이 수업은 누구나 들을 수 있어요.Anyone can take this class.
A closer look
Two opposite feelings about one number
열 명이나 왔어요 and 열 명밖에 안 왔어요 count the same ten people. With (이)나 the speaker expected fewer and is pleased or surprised; with 밖에 and a negative, the speaker expected more and is disappointed. Korean puts the attitude into the particle, where English uses tone or words like "whole" and "only".
In a question about a number, (이)나 asks for a rough figure and often hints that it might be large: 한국에 몇 번이나 가 봤어요?, "how many times have you been to Korea?" — the speaker suspects it has been quite a few.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the "or" is between two verbs or clauses
use -거나, not (이)나.
주말에는 책을 읽거나 음악을 들어요.At weekends I read or listen to music.
(이)나 is a particle and attaches to nouns. A verb needs an ending, and the ending for "or" is -거나.
How to spot it
- 이나
- 나
- 아무거나
- 누구나
- 언제나
- 이나 … 할까요?
Example sentences
주말에 영화나 연극을 봐요.At weekends I see a film or a play.
목마른데 주스나 마실까요?I'm thirsty — shall we have a juice or something?
사람이 백 명이나 왔어요.As many as a hundred people came.
아무거나 괜찮아요.Anything's fine.
저는 하루에 커피를 다섯 잔이나 마셔요.I drink as many as five cups of coffee a day.
펜이나 연필 있어요?Do you have a pen or a pencil?
8 more example sentences
편지나 이메일로 연락하세요.Get in touch by letter or email.
회의가 세 시간이나 걸렸어요.The meeting took a whole three hours.
주말에는 보통 청소나 빨래를 해요.At weekends I usually clean or do the laundry.
우리 할머니는 언제나 웃으세요.My grandmother is always smiling.
피곤한데 집에서 잠이나 잘래요.I'm tired; I think I'll just stay home and sleep.
이 책을 세 번이나 읽었어요.I have read this book no fewer than three times.
이 노래는 누구나 알아요.Everyone knows this song.
빨간색이나 파란색 중에서 하나 골라 주세요.Please choose either red or blue.
Worth knowing (1)
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"Or something" can sound off-hand
Because (이)나 on a single noun can mean "for lack of anything better", it may sound casual when you offer something to a guest. To someone senior, 커피 드실래요? is warmer; among friends, the off-hand tone is exactly what makes it friendly.
심심한데 영화나 보자.I'm bored — let's watch a film or something. (to a friend)
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
저녁 ends in a consonant, so it takes 이나. The rule is the same as for 이랑 and 이에요: the extra 이 appears only after a consonant.
Ina after a consonant, na after a vowel: "or", "or something", and "a whole …".
Your turn
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