-라든지
Whether/or
Use -라든지 to list nouns as examples, implying that other options also exist.
How It Works
This pattern is used to list nouns as examples, suggesting that the list is not exhaustive. It's a way of saying 'things like...' or 'whether it's... or...'.
Conjugation:
- Nouns ending in a vowel: Noun + -라든지 (e.g., 피자 + 라든지 → 피자라든지)
- Nouns ending in a consonant: Noun + -이라든지 (e.g., 책 + 이라든지 → 책이라든지)
Usage:
1. Listing Multiple Examples (A라든지 B라든지): This form is used to present two or more items as representative examples from a category.
• 주말에는 영화 감상이라든지 독서라든지 하면서 쉬어요. (On weekends, I rest by doing things like watching movies or reading books.)
2. Suggesting a Single Example (A라든지): When used with just one noun, it has the meaning of 'A or something similar'.
• 목마른데 주스라든지 뭐 마실 것 좀 있어요? (I'm thirsty, is there something to drink, like juice or anything?)
Comparison with similar patterns:
Examples (4)
- 저녁으로 피자라든지 치킨이라든지 시켜 먹을까요?
For dinner, shall we order something like pizza or chicken?
Word by Word: For dinner pizza or something like that chicken or something like that order and eat shall we?
Here, '피자라든지 치킨이라든지' lists pizza and chicken as examples of what could be ordered for dinner, implying other options are also possible.
- 궁금한 게 있으면 이메일이라든지 메시지라든지 보내 주세요.
If you have any questions, please send an email or a message.
Word by Word: Curious thing if there is email or something like that message or something like that please send.
This suggests 'email' and 'message' as examples of ways to get in touch.
- 시간 있을 때 취미로 그림이라든지 악기 연주라든지 배우고 싶어요.
When I have time, I want to learn a hobby like painting or playing an instrument.
Word by Word: Time when there is as a hobby painting or something like that instrument performance or something like that want to learn.
'그림' (painting) and '악기 연주' (instrument performance) are presented as examples of hobbies the speaker is interested in.
- 여행 선물로 화장품이라든지 작은 액세서리라든지 괜찮을 것 같아요.
For a travel souvenir, something like cosmetics or small accessories would be good.
Word by Word: As a travel gift cosmetics or something like that small accessories or something like that I think will be okay.
Common Mistakes
Using -라든지 with verbs instead of nouns.
Different Meaning주말에 영화를 보라든지 책을 읽으라든지 해요.Better주말에 영화를 보거나 책을 읽어요.-라든지 attaches to nouns to list them as examples. To list alternative actions or states (verbs/adjectives), you must use the pattern -거나.
Related Patterns
- -거나Or
While -라든지 lists nouns as examples (e.g., 'pizza or chicken'), -거나 lists alternative actions or states (e.g., 'to eat or to sleep').
- -나 (선택)Or, About
Both are used with nouns to mean 'or'. However, -라든지 often carries a stronger nuance of 'for example' or 'such as', implying the list is not exhaustive, whereas -나 can present a more direct choice.
- -든지No Matter What/who/how, Etc.
The shared '-든지' can be confusing. -든지 is a broader particle used with question words (e.g., 언제든지 - whenever, 누구든지 - whoever) to mean 'no matter...'. In contrast, -라든지 is specifically for listing noun examples.
- -하고And
-하고 is a simple conjunction for 'and', creating a definitive list (A and B). -라든지 lists items as non-exhaustive examples ('such as A or B'), suggesting other possibilities exist.