Lesson 4

In this lesson, we are going to learn how to use the grammar point -(이)나 to suggest or choose an option that is perhaps not the most desirable. We will also cover how -(이)나 differs from -(이)라도.

-(이)나

Conjugation

Noun ending with a consonant + -이나
Noun ending with a vowel + -나

In Level 6 Lesson 18, we introduced -(이)나 as a way to say “either A or B”. Let us recap briefly.

커피나 우유 = coffee or milk
밥이나 빵 = rice or bread
집이나 사무실 = home or office

In these examples, you are not actually choosing between A and B, but rather saying that either A or B will suffice or be applicable. This is the basic usage of -(이)나. Now, we will learn another way to use -(이)나.

When to use -(이)나

You can use -(이)나 to suggest or choose an option that is perhaps not the most desirable or the most interesting at the time. With this usage, the meaning of -(이)나 is similar to “just” in English. If what you really want is a proper 5-course meal, but all you have time for right now is a sandwich, you can say, “I will just have a sandwich (because that is all that is available to me now even though it is not the best option).” Or if your friend has a big test coming up but wants to join you at a party, you can tell them, “Just prepare for your test (and do not think about partying even though partying is what you want).” -(이)나 can be used in these situations.

Sample Sentences

저는 피자나 먹을게요.
= I will just eat pizza.
* Potential hidden meaning: I know pizza is not what I want to eat the most, and there are better things to eat if I go out to eat with you, but I will compromise and just eat this pizza because I have something to do now or am feeling lazy.

저는 그냥 청소나 할게요.
= I will just do some cleaning.
* Potential hidden meaning: There are other things I would rather do, but I cannot do them right now so I will clean the house, at least for now, until the situation becomes more favorable for me.

저는 집에서 TV나 볼게요.
= I will just watch TV at home.
* Potential hidden meaning: I know watching TV at home is probably not the most productive activity I can do now, but all my plans have been canceled, the weather is not so great, and I am feeling lazy on top of that. So I guess I will just stay at home and watch TV.

숙제나 빨리 해.
= Just hurry up and do your homework.
* Potential hidden meaning: You probably do not want to do your homework now, and there are more exciting things you have in mind, but you should just do what you have to do.

빨리 라면이나 끓여.
= Stop wasting time and just make some ramyeon noodles.
* Potential hidden meaning: You were going to make some ramyeon, but then you were distracted by something more exciting to talk about. Making ramyeon is probably not the most attractive activity for you right now, but just do it.

More Sample Sentences

빨리 앉기나 해.
= Just sit down.

빨리 오기나 해.
= Just come over here.

이거나 보고 말해.
= Just look at this before saying anything.

다른 이야기 그만하고 이거나 빨리 결정합시다.
= Let’s stop talking about other things, and just decide this one thing.

휴대폰 새로 사려고 생각하지 말고 지금 쓰는 거나 잘 써.
= Do not think about buying a new phone, and just use your current one.

내일 주말인데 영화나 볼까요?
= It is the weekend tomorrow. Shall we watch a movie?

내일은 집에서 그냥 게임이나 할 거예요.
= I will just play video games at home tomorrow.

When to use -(이)라도

In Level 5 Lesson 15, we introduced -(이)라도 as a way to suggest that something is not the best option out of all the available choices. Let us compare this with -(이)나 to see how these two expressions are different.

1.피자나 먹을게요.
= I will just eat pizza (even though there are other options).

피자라도 먹을게요.
= I would be willing to eat pizza (if there is nothing else available because I am really hungry).

* In both cases, you are implying that pizza is not the first thing you want to eat. Using 피자나 indicates that you could find other options if you tried, but using 피자라도 implies that pizza is really the only option you have, and you need to be happy with it.

2.청소나 할게요.
= I will just clean.

청소라도 할게요.
= I will even clean or something.

* In both cases, you do not necessarily want to clean. Using 청소나 indicates that you could find other things to do if you tried, but using 청소라도 implies that cleaning is not what you want to do most, but you will do it because there is no better option.

3.TV나 볼게요.
= I will just watch TV.

TV라도 볼게요.
= If there is nothing else I want to do, I will at least watch TV or something.

* TV라도 more strongly implies that watching TV is not a fun activity and is something that you have to resort to because there is nothing else to do.

4.이거나 결정합시다.
= Let’s just decide this.

이거라도 결정합시다.
= Let’s at least decide this.

* 이거나 carries the meaning of, “Let’s not talk about other things. This is the priority now.” On the other hand, 이거라도 has the meaning of, “We cannot decide anything else so let’s decide this one thing at least.”