-거나 말거나
Whether or Not
Used to say 'whether (someone) does something or not,' expressing that the outcome of the main clause is unaffected. It shows indifference or irrelevance.
How It Works
The expression -거나 말거나 is a fixed pattern used to show that a particular action or state is irrelevant to the speaker or to the main point of the sentence. It translates to 'whether... or not' and carries a strong nuance of indifference.
Structure:
It attaches directly to the stem of a verb or an adjective.
- 가다 (to go) → 가거나 말거나 (whether one goes or not)
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹거나 말거나 (whether one eats or not)
- 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁘거나 말거나 (whether one is pretty or not)
The pattern is a shortened form of a longer structure: V/A-거나 V/A-지 않거나. The verb 말다, meaning 'to stop' or 'to not do', is used as the negative counterpart, creating the fixed phrase.
This expression is often used to show that the speaker's plans or feelings will not change, regardless of what someone else does or what the situation is. It can sometimes sound dismissive or defiant, depending on the context and tone.
For example:
네가 오거나 말거나 나는 갈 거야.
This means 'Whether you come or not, I'm going.' The speaker's decision to go is firm and is not influenced by the other person's choice.
Examples (4)
- 네가 오거나 말거나 나는 파티를 시작할 거야.
Whether you come or not, I'm going to start the party.
Word by Word: You come or not I the party will start.
- 비가 오거나 말거나 우리는 등산을 갈 거예요.
Whether it rains or not, we are going to go hiking.
Word by Word: Rain comes or not we hiking will go.
- 그 사람이 사과를 하거나 말거나 저는 용서할 마음이 없어요.
Whether that person apologizes or not, I have no intention of forgiving them.
Word by Word: That person an apology does or not I to forgive intention don't have.
- 숙제를 하거나 말거나 그건 네 책임이야.
Whether you do your homework or not, that's your responsibility.
Word by Word: Homework do or not that is your responsibility.
Common Mistakes
Using past tense inside the -거나 말거나 clause.
Different Meaning네가 왔거나 말거나 나는 이미 시작했어.Better네가 오거나 말거나 나는 이미 시작했어.The -거나 말거나 pattern attaches to the verb stem and does not get conjugated for tense. The tense of the entire sentence is determined by the final verb. The correct sentence means 'Whether you came or not, I had already started.'
Confusing it with a simple choice using -거나.
Different Meaning저는 밥을 먹거나 말거나 빵을 먹을 거예요.Better저는 밥을 먹거나 빵을 먹을 거예요.-거나 말거나 expresses indifference about a single action. The incorrect sentence illogically means 'Whether I eat rice or not, I will eat bread.' The correct sentence uses a simple -거나 to present two choices: 'I will eat rice or bread.'
Learn This First
To express indifference 'whether or not', you need the 'or' conjunction and conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -든지No Matter What/who/how, Etc.
Like -거나 말거나, -든지 can express indifference (e.g., 가든지 말든지 is very similar to 가거나 말거나). However, -든지 is broader and can be used with question words like 누구 (who), 언제 (when), etc., to mean 'no matter who/when,' which -거나 말거나 cannot do.
- -(으)ㄹ까 말까Whether to or Not
This pattern expresses the speaker's own indecision or contemplation about an action ('should I do it or not?'). In contrast, -거나 말거나 expresses the speaker's indifference to someone else's action or an external situation.
- -나 마나Whether or Not, Pointless
This pattern means an action is pointless because the result will be the same regardless. For example, '보나 마나' means 'it's not worth looking' or 'the outcome is obvious.' While it shares the idea of irrelevance with -거나 말거나, -나 마나 implies futility, whereas -거나 말거나 implies personal indifference.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.