Hi everyone! This is I-Kets Team, and today, we’re going to explore how to say "or" in Korean using two common grammatical structures.

N+(이)나

The suffix (이)나 is used to express "or" in Korean and is specifically attached to nouns. It has several distinct uses.

Conjugation:

• If the noun ends in a consonant, use ~이나.
• If the noun ends in a vowel, use ~나.

Usage 1:
Use (이)나 to offer a simple choice between two things or to express "or."

Examples:

• 저는 캐나다나 미국에서 일하고 싶어요.
  (I want to work in Canada or America.)

• 내일 영화관이나 박물관에 갈 거예요.
  (Tomorrow, we’re going to either the movie theater or a museum.)

Usage 2:
This usage implies "this or something similar," often suggesting that the speaker is settling for an option they wouldn’t typically choose.

Examples:

• 라면이나 먹자.
  (Let’s have ramen or something.)

• 영화나 볼 거예요.
  (I’ll just watch a movie or something.)

Usage 3:
(이)나 can also emphasize that a number or amount is more than expected.

Examples:

• 기묘한 이야기를 세 번이나 봤어.
  (I watched Stranger Things three times.)

• 커피를 하루에 다섯 잔이나 마셔요?
  (Do you really drink five cups of coffee a day?)

• 집에 친구들이 20명이나 왔어요.
  (Twenty friends came to my house.)

Usage 4:
(이)나 can be added to certain question words to create phrases like:

• 언제나 – Anytime / All the time
• 어디나 – Everywhere
• 무엇이나 – Anything / Whatever
• 누구나 – Everyone (positive connotation)
• 아무나 – Anyone (slightly negative connotation)

This grammar can also take the form “아무 N+(이)나” to express “any N.”

Examples:

• 아무 스포츠나 = Any sport
• 아무 음식이나 = Any food
• 아무 영화나 = Any movie

V-거나

Unlike (이)나, which attaches to nouns, ~거나 is used with verbs to indicate a choice between actions.

Examples:

• 이 문제가 너무 어렵거나 도움이 필요하면 교무실로 오세요.
  (If this problem is too difficult or you need help, come to the office.)

• 내일은 영화를 보거나 등산을 갈 거예요.
  (Tomorrow, I’ll either watch a movie or go hiking.)

• 행복하거나 친구랑 있을 땐 술을 마셔요.
  (When I’m happy or with friends, I drink alcohol.)

• 외로울 때는 책을 읽거나 영화를 봐요.
  (When I’m lonely, I read a book or watch a movie.)

Usage 2:
When combined with question words like 누구, 어디, 무엇, 언제, etc., V-거나 (optionally followed by 간에) highlights the irrelevance of the clause. This structure is similar to using 든지 to express "whatever," "whenever," "whoever," "wherever," and so on.

Examples:

• 무엇을 하건 간에 열심히 해야 돼요.
  (Whatever you do, you have to work hard.)

• 나는 언제 일본에 가건 간에 친구를 만난다.
  (Whenever I go to Japan, I meet my friend.)

Final Usage:
It’s possible to use ~거나 (or ~(이)나) twice in the same sentence, attached to both actions or options. This construction conveys "whether or not."

Example:

• 비가 오거나 안 오거나 중요하지 않아요.
  (It doesn’t matter if it rains or not.)