든지 (deunji) means "whatever, either … or".
No matter what/who/when/where.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- 이든지 ideunji after a consonant, 든지 deunji after a vowel. In speech it often shrinks to 든 deun.
Build it
When to use it
Any at all
With a question word.
Either one
Repeat it: "A or B, whichever".
With verbs
Stem + 든지 deunji: "either do this or that".
Watch out
든지 deunji means "any". 던지 deonji is a different ending about the past.
For "nobody" in a negative sentence, use 아무도 amudo.
In context
8 examples- 1
무엇이든지 물어보세요.
Mueosideunji mureoboseyo.
Ask anything.
- 2
어디든지 갈 수 있어요.
Eodideunji gal su isseoyo.
I can go anywhere.
- 3
필요하면 언제든지 전화해.
Piryohamyeon eonjedeunji jeonhwahae.
Call me any time you need me.
- 4
누구든지 참가할 수 있어요.
Nugudeunji chamgahal su isseoyo.
Anyone can take part.
- 5
저는 뭐든지 잘 먹어요.
Jeoneun mwodeunji jal meogeoyo.
I'll eat just about anything.
- 6
가든지 말든지 네가 결정해.
Gadeunji maldeunji nega gyeoljeonghae.
Go or don't, it's your call.
- 7
사과든지 배든지 아무거나 사 와.
Sagwadeunji baedeunji amugeona sa wa.
Pick up apples or pears, whichever.
- 8
어떤 일이든지 최선을 다해요.
Eotteon irideunji choeseoneul dahaeyo.
Whatever the job, I give it my best.
Practice
8 questions어떤 일 + (이)든지
든지 vs (이)나
With question words, the two are close: 누구나 nuguna and 누구든지 nugudeunji both mean "anyone". 든지 leans harder on "no matter who".
Between two nouns, the difference is clearer. (이)나 is a plain "or". 든지 says you don't care which:
- 커피나 차 마실래요? keopina cha masillaeyo "Would you like coffee or tea?"
- 커피든지 차든지 아무거나 주세요. keopideunji chadeunji amugeona juseyo "Coffee, tea, whatever's easy."
든지 vs 던지
These two look alike and even Korean speakers mix them up in writing. 던지 deonji has nothing to do with choice. It looks back on something you experienced, usually with surprise:
- 어제 얼마나 춥던지 손이 얼 뻔했어요. eoje eolmana chupdeonji soni eol ppeonhaesseoyo "It was so cold yesterday my hands nearly froze."
If you mean "any" or "whichever", it's always 든지.
Hanja in this lesson
Words from the examples that are written with Chinese characters. Tap a character to see its page.
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 든지 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
