-(으)ㄹ까 말까
Whether to or Not
-ㄹ까 말까 is used when you're undecided about doing something, like thinking, 'Should I do this, or should I not?'
How It Works
This pattern expresses indecision or contemplation about a single course of action. It's formed by attaching -ㄹ까 말까 to a verb stem.
Conjugation:
- Verb stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: Add -ㄹ까 말까
- 가다 (to go) → 갈까 말까 (whether to go or not)
- 만들다 (to make) → 만들까 말까 (whether to make or not) - Verb stem ends in a consonant (except ㄹ): Add -을까 말까
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹을까 말까 (whether to eat or not)
- 입다 (to wear) → 입을까 말까 (whether to wear or not)
This expression is often followed by verbs like 하다 (to do), 고민하다 (to worry/contemplate), or 생각하다 (to think). For example, '갈까 말까 고민 중이에요' means 'I'm contemplating whether to go or not.'
Examples (4)
- 이 비싼 가방을 살까 말까 계속 고민하고 있어요.
I keep debating whether to buy this expensive bag or not.
Word by Word: This expensive bag buy-shall-I not-shall-I continuously am-worrying.
- 오늘 너무 피곤해서 회사에 갈까 말까 했어요.
I was so tired today that I was debating whether or not to go to work.
Word by Word: Today too tired so to the company go-shall-I not-shall-I did.
- 앞머리를 자를까 말까?
Should I cut my bangs or not?
Word by Word: Bangs cut-shall-I not-shall-I?
This is a common way to ask for an opinion when you are undecided.
- 전화할까 말까 망설이다가 결국 안 했어요.
I hesitated about whether to call or not, and in the end, I didn't.
Word by Word: Call-shall-I not-shall-I while-hesitating in the end did not do.
Common Mistakes
Using it to choose between two different actions.
Not Quite커피를 마실까 주스를 마실까 말까 고민돼요.Better커피를 마실까 주스를 마실까 고민돼요.-ㄹ까 말까 is for contemplating a single action (do X or not do X). To express indecision between two different actions (do A or do B), you should use the structure 'A-ㄹ까 B-ㄹ까'.
Learn This First
To express indecision 'whether to or not', you need the wondering pattern and conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -(으)ㄹ까 하다Wonder if, Think About
Both patterns express a non-finalized thought. -ㄹ까 하다 means 'to think of doing...' and suggests a vague intention. -ㄹ까 말까 is stronger in expressing active hesitation and being torn between two choices (to do or not to do).
- -거나Or
-거나 means 'or' and connects two different options (e.g., 'eat or sleep'). It presents alternatives. In contrast, -ㄹ까 말까 is about the single choice of whether to perform one specific action or refrain from it.
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ지 알다/모르다(Don't) Know If/whether
The pattern -ㄴ/는/ㄹ지 모르다 (I don't know whether/if...) also expresses uncertainty. For example, '갈지 안 갈지 모르겠어요' (I don't know whether to go or not). While similar, this pattern states a lack of knowledge, whereas -ㄹ까 말까 expresses the internal debate or hesitation itself ('Should I go or not?').