Or in Korean
This chapter will cover two ways to say or in Korean.
Or is often used when deciding between more than one choice. But it can also be used when there is no choice.
Saying or using 아니면
Section titled “Saying or using 아니면”The 아니면 form is used whenever there is a choice to be made. It can be used between two nouns or at the beginning of a sentence. It literally means “if it is not” and comes from 아니다 (“to not be”).
바닷가 아니면 산도 괜찮아요.
The beach or the mountains are okay.
Usually it’s used at the beginning of a sentence.
바닷가에 갈까요? 아니면 산에 갈까요?
Shall we go to the beach, or the mountains?
Since 아니면 is used for making a choice it’s most often used for asking a question, such as asking someone to make a choice.
Example sentences:
치즈 피자를 먹을 거예요? 아니면 소시지 피자를 먹을 거예요?
Are you going to eat a cheese pizza, or a sausage pizza?
젓가락을 쓰고 싶어요? 아니면 포크를 쓰고 싶어요?
Do you want to use chopsticks, or a fork?
조금 더 기다릴까요? 아니면 그냥 갈까요?
Shall we wait a little more, or shall we just go?
Saying or using (이)나
Section titled “Saying or using (이)나”(이)나 is another common way to say or. (이)나 is used when listing more than one option. (이)나 is not used when making a choice. So using it means that the options do not matter, any of them is fine, or none of them is fine as well. A literal translation for it would be something like “or something”.
(이)나 is used between two nouns. Attach 이나 after a noun that ends in a consonant, or attach 나 after a noun that ends in a vowel.
Example sentences:
영화나 드라마를 볼 거예요.
I will watch a movie or drama. (This means that you might watch a movie or drama, or something. In fact, you might not watch anything and that's okay too.)
옷이나 모자를 살 거예요.
I'll buy clothes or a hat.
서울이나 부산에 여행 가고 싶어요.
I want to go on a trip to Seoul or Busan.
따뜻한 커피나 우유를 드릴까요?
Shall I give you some warm coffee or milk?