Lesson 7
In this lesson, let’s take a look at the Korean expression 어차피. 어차피 can mean many things in English; it does not translate very well. In most cases, it is used as part of a sentence, but it can be used on its own very often as well.
Various translations of 어차피:
- anyway
- one way or another
- not even... to begin with
- in any case
- after all
The basic meaning of 어차피 is “whether you choose this or choose that” or “no matter what choice you make”. You use 어차피 when you have an expected result in your mind or to show your skepticism for someone’s worries or expectations.
The multiple usages of 어차피 can be best explained through examples.
Examples
1. 다시 올 거예요.
= I will come back.
= I will come again.
= They/He/She will come again.
→ 어차피 다시 올 거예요.
= I will come back anyway. (So don’t worry if I forget something. I can take it when I come back.)
= They will come again one way or another. (So don’t even bother asking them to come back.)
2. 제가 할 수 있는 일이 아니에요.
= It is not something that I can do.
→ 어차피 제가 할 수 있는 일이 아니에요.
= Even if I try, it is not something that I can do.
= Don’t bother asking me. It is not something that I can do.
= It is already obvious. I cannot do it.
3. 늦었으니까 빨리 와.
= You are late, so hurry up!
→ 어차피 늦었으니까 천천히 와.
= You are late anyway, so take your time.
= Even if you hurry now, you are already very late, so just take your time.
Sample Sentences
어차피 못 해요.
= It is obvious I cannot do it.
어차피 늦었으니까 오지 마.
= You are already late, so don’t come. (You can say this to a friend who is running late.)
어차피 해야 되는 거니까, 재미있게 해요.
= One way or another, you have to do it anyway, so (you would better) try to have fun while doing it.
어차피 저도 지금 거기 가는 중이에요.
= I am on my way there anyway.
= Even if you had not asked me, I am already in the middle of going there anyway, so don’t worry.