beginner
Joins two verbs or adjectives with "or": 자거나 쉬어요 (jageona swieoyo), "I sleep or rest".
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- Same form after any stem. Between nouns, use (이)나 instead.
- Two choices often end in 하다: 자거나 쉬거나 해요 jageona swigeona haeyo.
Build it
When to use it
Choices
One thing or another.
Listing with 하다
A few things you might do.
No matter which
Repeated, for "either way".
Watch out
Between nouns, use (이)나 (i)na. 거나 goes on verbs and adjectives.
In context
9 examples- 1
저녁에는 보통 운동하거나 책을 읽어요.
Jeonyeogeneun botong undonghageona chaegeul ilgeoyo.
In the evening I usually work out or read.
- 2
궁금한 게 있으면 전화하거나 문자 주세요.
Gunggeumhan ge isseumyeon jeonhwahageona munja juseyo.
If you have any questions, call or text me.
- 3
피곤하면 좀 자거나 쉬세요.
Pigonhamyeon jom jageona swiseyo.
If you're tired, get some sleep or rest a bit.
- 4
주말에는 친구를 만나거나 집에서 쉬어요.
Jumareneun chingureul mannageona jibeseo swieoyo.
On weekends I meet friends or relax at home.
- 5
너무 춥거나 더우면 말씀하세요.
Neomu chupgeona deoumyeon malsseumhaseyo.
Let me know if it's too cold or too hot.
- 6
비가 오거나 눈이 오면 버스를 타요.
Biga ogeona nuni omyeon beoseureul tayo.
When it rains or snows, I take the bus.
- 7
시간이 있으면 산책하거나 음악을 들어요.
Sigani isseumyeon sanchaekageona eumageul deureoyo.
When I have time, I go for a walk or listen to music.
- 8
맛이 없거나 비싸면 다시 안 갈 거예요.
Masi eopgeona bissamyeon dasi an gal geoyeyo.
If it's bad or overpriced, I won't go back.
- 9
그 사람은 의사이거나 간호사인 것 같아요.
Geu sarameun uisaigeona ganhosain geot gatayo.
I think he's a doctor or a nurse.
Practice
8 questions듣다 + 거나
거나 or (이)나?
Both mean "or", and the difference is what they join. 거나 goes on verbs and adjectives, while (이)나 goes on nouns:
- 영화를 보거나 책을 읽어요. yeonghwareul bogeona chaegeul ilgeoyo "I watch a movie or read a book."
- 영화나 책을 봐요. yeonghwana chaegeul bwayo "I watch a movie or read a book." Same idea, with nouns.
"Whatever happens": 거나 and 든지
When 거나 is repeated to mean "no matter which", it's close to 든지: 좋거나 싫거나 jokeona silkeona and 좋든지 싫든지 joteunji silteunji both mean "like it or not".
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 거나 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.