N(이)나 ①

or

Explanation

(이)나 means that one of the two or more listed nouns will be chosen. When the preceding noun ends in a vowel, 나 is used, and when the noun ends in a consonant, 이나 is used. In the case of adjectives and verbs, -거나 is added to the verb stem.

Details

When (이)나 is added to a subject or object, the subject or object particle is omitted, leaving only (이)나 in place of 이/가 or 을/를, respectively.

어머니가나 아버지가 요리해요. ✕
→어머니나 아버지가 요리해요. ✓
My mother or father cooks.
빵을이나 밥을 먹어요. ✕
→빵이나 밥을 먹어요. ✓
(I) eat bread or rice.

When (이)나 is used together with the particles 에, 에서 and 에게, (이)나 can either be used alone with the first word(s) in the list while 에, 에서 and 에게 are used with the final word, or (이)나 can be used together with 에, 에서, and 에게 to form 에나, 에서나, 에게나. However, the use of (이)나 by itself is more natural.

토요일에나 일요일에 운동해요. ✓
(I) exercise on Saturday or Sunday.
=토요일이나 일요일에 운동해요. ✓
산에나 바다에 가요. ✓
(I) go to the mountain or sea. / Let's go to the mountain or sea.
=산이나 바다에 가요. ✓
공원에서나 커피숍에서 데이트해요. ✓
(We) date at the park or a coffee shop.
=공원이나 커피숍에서 데이트해요. ✓
선생님에게나 한국 친구에게 질문해요 ✓
(I) ask questions to my teacher or Korean friend.
=선생님이나 한국 친구에게 질문해요 ✓

Kimchi Reader

Can be used to list two or more choices and one of them will be chosen. V+거나 is the same but with verbs.

Details

Usage

  • 이나 is added before a counter ending in a consonant

  • 나 is added before a counter that ends in a vowel

Examples
한가할 때는 책<span class='focus'>이나</span> 영화를 봅니다.
When I have free time, I either read books or watch movies.
학교 갈 때는 버스<span class='focus'>나</span> 전철을 타고 갑니다.
When going to school, I take the bus or subway.
아침에 빵<span class='focus'>이나</span> 밥을 먹어요.
In the mornings, I eat bread or rice.

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