How to use Korean Grammar N + 나 / 이나
Noun, Pronoun + 나 / 이나
나 - if a word ends in a vowel, 이나 - if ends in a consonant
The Korean grammar pattern -나 / -이나 can have multiple functions depending on the context.
-나 / -이나 is used to express a surprised reaction to something that is beyond what typically occurs or is expected.
See examples,
(click on translation and grammar buttons)
저는 이 영화를 스물 다섯 번이나 봤어요.
Korean
저
이
영화
스물
다섯
번
보다
English
I
this
movie
twenty
five
times
to see
I've watched this movie 25 times.
저는 이 영화를 스물 다섯 번이나 보+았+어요.
저는 남동생 여섯 명이나 있어요.
Korean
저
남동생
여섯
명
있다
English
I
younger brother
six
counter word for people
to have
I have six younger brothers.
저는 남동생 여섯 명이나 있+어요.
그는 어제 차를 세 대나 샀어요.
Korean
그
어제
차
세
대
사다
English
he
yesterday
car
three
counter word for cars
to buy
He bought three cars yesterday.
그는 어제 차를 세 대나 사+았+어요.
-나 / -이나 can also be used to say "or".
See examples,
(click on translation and grammar buttons)
연필이나 볼펜을 주세요.
Korean
연필
볼펜
주다
English
pencil
pen
to give
Please give me a pencil or ballpoint pen.
연필이나 볼펜을 주세요.
오늘이나 내일 전화할 게요.
Korean
오늘
내일
전화하다
English
today
tomorrow
to call
I'll call you today or tomorrow.
오늘이나 내일 전화하+ㄹ 게요.
한국어나 중국어를 배우고 싶어요.
Korean
한국어
중국어
배우다
싶다
English
Korean language
Chinese language
to learn
to want
I want to learn Korean or Chinese.
한국어나 중국어를 배우고 싶+어요.
-나 / -이나 can have a meaning of "at least".
See examples,
(click on translation and grammar buttons)
심심한데 영화나 볼 까요?
Korean
심심하다
영화
보다
English
boring
movie
to see
I'm bored. Shall we at least watch a movie?
심심하+ㄴ데 영화나 보+ㄹ 까요?
1000원이나 주세요.
Korean
원
주다
English
won
to give
Please, give me at least 1000 won.
1000원이나 주세요.
And finally, -나 / -이나 can mean "approximately".
See examples,
(click on translation and grammar buttons)
내일은 생일 파티에 몇 명이나 와요?
Korean
내일
생일
파티
몇
명
오다
English
tomorrow
birthday
party
how many
counter word for people
to come
How many people are coming to the birthday party tomorrow approximately?
내일은 생일 파티에 몇 명이나 오+아요?
시간이 얼마나 걸려요?
Korean
시간
얼마
걸리다
English
time
how many
to take time
How much time will it take approximately?
시간이 얼마나 걸리+어요?
Quick reference (click to open)
Vowels: a, e, i, o, u
Consonants: b, c, d, f, g, h, j
Syllable: Bra-zil (2 syllables), Ar-gen-ti-na (4), In-di-a (3), Viet-nam (2), thin-king (2), beau-ti-ful (3), good (1)
Batchim: is a final consonant in a syllable. → Bra-zil (batchim: 'l'), Ar-gen-ti-na (batchims: 'r' and 'n'), In-di-a ('n'), Viet-nam ('t', 'm')
Romanization: is a conversion of text (not pronunciation ! ) from different writing system (Korean, Arabic, Russian, etc.) to the Roman (Latin) alphabet.
IPA: is an alphabetic system of phonetic (pronunciation) notation.
Noun: road, user, sister, table, sky
Pronoun: I, my, we, you, they, her
Verb: to go, to study, to think, to feel
Adjective: cold, kind, hungry, curious, expensive
Adverb: quickly, nicely, never, exactly, urgently
Preposition: from, to, on, in, with, till
Conjuction: and, because, if, but, while
Declarative sentence: I learn Korean.
Interrogative sentence: Do you learn Korean?
Imperative sentence: You must learn Korean!
Exclamative sentence: Wow, you learn Korean!
Verb / Adj. stem in Korean: part of a verb or adj. which is left after removing the last syllable -다 ( e.g. 가다 → 가, 예쁘다 → 예쁘, 듣다 → 듣 ).