-든지
No Matter What/who/how, Etc.
-든지 shows that it doesn't matter which option is chosen from a list of possibilities. It's like saying 'whether A or B, it's all the same' or 'no matter what you do'.
How It Works
-든지 is a versatile ending used to express that any choice among two or more options is acceptable, or that an outcome is not affected by the choice. It carries a nuance of indifference or non-exclusivity.
1. Listing Options (A든지 B든지)
It's commonly used to connect two or more contrasting or alternative actions or states, meaning 'whether A or B...'.
- 먹든지 마시든지 마음대로 하세요. (Whether you eat or drink, do as you please.)
- 비가 오든지 눈이 오든지 우리는 출발할 거예요. (Whether it rains or snows, we are going to depart.)
2. Attachment Rules
- Verbs/Adjectives: Attach
-든지directly to the stem.
- 가다 → 가든지 (whether one goes)
- 좋다 → 좋든지 (whether it's good) - Nouns: Attach
-(이)든지. Use-이든지after a consonant and-든지after a vowel.
- 학생 → 학생이든지 (whether a student)
- 의사 → 의사든지 (whether a doctor)
3. With Question Words
A very common usage is with interrogative words (question words) to mean 'any-' or '-ever'.
- 누구든지: whoever, anyone
- 언제든지: whenever, anytime
- 어디든지: wherever, anywhere
- 뭐든지 / 무엇이든지: whatever, anything
- 어떻게든지: however, in any way
4. Short Form: -든
In both spoken and written Korean, -든지 is often shortened to -든 with no change in meaning. For example, 가든지 말든지 is the same as 가든 말든.
5. Comparison with -거나
While both can mean 'or', -든지 implies that the choice doesn't matter. -거나 is a more neutral connector for listing alternative actions.
- 주말에 영화를 보거나 책을 읽을 거예요. (I'll watch a movie or read a book this weekend. - A simple choice.)
- 영화든지 책이든지 아무거나 괜찮아요. (A movie or a book, anything is fine. - Expressing indifference.)
Examples (5)
- 사과든지 배든지 다 괜찮아요.
Apples or pears, either is fine.
Word by Word: Apple whether pear whether all is okay.
This shows that between the two choices (apples, pears), any option is acceptable.
- 가든지 말든지 마음대로 하세요.
Whether you go or not, do as you please.
Word by Word: Go whether not go whether as you please do.
This is a very common phrase expressing indifference to someone else's action. '말든지' is the negative counterpart, formed from 말다 (to not do).
- 언제든지 도움이 필요하면 전화하세요.
Call me whenever you need help.
Word by Word: Whenever help is needed if call.
Here,
-든지is attached to the question word 언제 (when) to mean 'anytime' or 'whenever'. - 학생이든지 선생님이든지 모두 환영입니다.
Whether you're a student or a teacher, everyone is welcome.
Word by Word: Student whether teacher whether all are welcome.
This example shows
-든지used with nouns. Since 학생 ends in a consonant,-이든지is used. - 뭐든지 잘 먹어서 건강해요.
I'm healthy because I eat anything well.
Word by Word: Whatever well eat because healthy.
뭐 (what) + -든지 creates 'whatever' or 'anything'.
Common Mistakes
Using -든지 for a simple choice of plans instead of -거나.
Different Meaning내일은 쇼핑하든지 영화를 볼 거예요.Better내일은 쇼핑하거나 영화를 볼 거예요.The incorrect sentence sounds like 'I'll go shopping or watch a movie, it doesn't matter which.' While possible, it's unnatural for stating a simple plan. -거나 is the standard way to list alternative plans or actions. Use
-든지when you want to emphasize that any of the options are acceptable or the choice is unimportant.
Learn This First
To express 'no matter what', you need to understand verb attachment.
Related Patterns
- -거나Or
Both present choices, but
-든지adds a strong nuance of 'it doesn't matter which one,' expressing indifference or that any option is acceptable. -거나 is a more neutral 'or' for simply listing alternatives. - -아/어도Even if, Regardless
Similar to
-든지, -아/어도 can express that a situation remains unchanged regardless of a condition. For example, '비가 오든지 갈 것이다' (Whether it rains or not, I will go) is very similar in meaning to '비가 와도 갈 것이다' (Even if it rains, I will go). - -더라도Even if, Although
Like -아/어도, this pattern expresses a concession.
-든지often presents a choice between two or more options, while -더라도 typically concedes a single hypothetical or actual condition. '네가 반대하더라도 나는 할 것이다' (Even if you object, I will do it). - -거나 말거나Whether or Not
This is a fixed expression that means 'whether one does it or not'. It's conceptually very similar to the common pairing
-든지 말든지and is used to show strong indifference to someone's action.