아니면 is a conjunction meaning "or," "or else," "if not," or "otherwise." It's used to present alternatives, often in complete sentences or when offering a different suggestion.
Structure
Sentence/Clause + 아니면 + Sentence/Clause
Breakdown:
- 아니다: To not be
- -면: If (conditional)
- Literal: "If not" → "Or else" / "Otherwise"
Usage: Standalone word connecting sentences or clauses
Basic Usage
Presenting Alternatives
Offering two options:
- 커피를 마실까요, 아니면 차를 마실까요? (Shall we drink coffee, or shall we drink tea?)
- 영화를 볼까요, 아니면 집에 있을까요? (Shall we watch a movie, or stay home?)
- 지금 갈까요, 아니면 나중에 갈까요? (Shall we go now, or go later?)
Pattern: Option A, 아니면 Option B?
Alternative Suggestions
If not the first option:
- 이거 먹을래요? 아니면 저거 먹을래요? (Will you eat this? Or will you eat that?)
- 오늘 만날까요? 아니면 내일 만날까요? (Shall we meet today? Or shall we meet tomorrow?)
- 버스로 갈까요? 아니면 지하철로 갈까요? (Shall we go by bus? Or shall we go by subway?)
Core Meaning: If Not/Otherwise
Expressing "If Not"
Literal conditional meaning:
- 좋으면 사세요. 아니면 그냥 보세요. (If you like it, buy it. If not, just look.)
- 시간 있으면 오세요. 아니면 전화하세요. (If you have time, come. If not, call.)
- 괜찮으면 먹어요. 아니면 버려요. (If it's okay, eat it. If not, throw it away.)
"Or Else"/"Otherwise"
Alternative consequence:
- 서두르세요. 아니면 늦을 거예요. (Hurry up. Or else you'll be late.)
- 지금 공부하세요. 아니면 시험에 떨어질 거예요. (Study now. Or else you'll fail the exam.)
- 우산을 가져가세요. 아니면 비를 맞을 거예요. (Take an umbrella. Or else you'll get rained on.)
Common Usage Patterns
Making Suggestions
Offering alternatives politely:
- 이 식당에 갈까요? 아니면 다른 곳에 갈까요? (Shall we go to this restaurant? Or somewhere else?)
- 이거 어때요? 아니면 저거 어때요? (How about this? Or how about that?)
- 내일 할까요? 아니면 모레 할까요? (Shall we do it tomorrow? Or the day after?)
Decision Making
Presenting choices clearly:
- 빨간색으로 할까요, 아니면 파란색으로 할까요? (Shall we do red, or shall we do blue?)
- 여기서 먹을까요, 아니면 포장할까요? (Shall we eat here, or get takeout?)
- 걸어갈까요, 아니면 택시를 탈까요? (Shall we walk, or take a taxi?)
Asking for Preferences
What do you prefer?:
- 뭐 마실래요? 커피요? 아니면 차요? (What will you drink? Coffee? Or tea?)
- 뭐 먹을래요? 한식이요? 아니면 양식이요? (What will you eat? Korean food? Or Western food?)
- 언제 갈래요? 오늘이요? 아니면 내일이요? (When will you go? Today? Or tomorrow?)
Question Forms
Choice Questions
A or B?:
- 이거예요, 아니면 저거예요? (Is it this, or is it that?)
- 맞아요, 아니면 틀려요? (Is it right, or is it wrong?)
- 좋아요, 아니면 싫어요? (Do you like it, or dislike it?)
Offering Options
Shall we A or B?:
- 갈까요, 아니면 안 갈까요? (Shall we go, or not go?)
- 살까요, 아니면 그냥 볼까요? (Shall we buy it, or just look?)
- 시작할까요, 아니면 기다릴까요? (Shall we start, or wait?)
Politeness Levels
Formal Context
Business or formal settings:
- 이 방법으로 하시겠습니까, 아니면 저 방법으로 하시겠습니까? (Will you do it this way, or that way?)
- 회의를 오전에 할까요, 아니면 오후에 할까요? (Shall we have the meeting in the morning, or afternoon?)
Polite Context
Everyday polite conversation:
- 커피 드릴까요, 아니면 차 드릴까요? (Shall I give you coffee, or tea?)
- 지금 갈까요, 아니면 나중에 갈까요? (Shall we go now, or later?)
Casual Context
Friends and family:
- 이거 먹을래, 아니면 저거 먹을래? (Want to eat this, or that?)
- 갈래, 아니면 안 갈래? (Want to go, or not?)
아니면 vs Similar Patterns
아니면 vs -(이)나
-(이)나: For nouns, casual
- 커피나 차 (coffee or tea - short, casual)
아니면: Full sentences, more formal
- 커피를 마실까요, 아니면 차를 마실까요? (Shall we drink coffee, or tea?)
아니면 vs -거나
-거나: Connects verb stems directly
- 먹거나 마시다 (eat or drink - compact)
아니면: Separates complete clauses
- 먹을까요, 아니면 마실까요? (Shall we eat, or drink?)
아니면 vs -든지
-든지: Emphatic, any option fine
- 먹든지 마시든지 (whether eat or drink - indifferent)
아니면: Neutral, seeking decision
- 먹을까요, 아니면 마실까요? (Shall we eat, or drink? - neutral)
Tense Usage
Present Tense
Current decisions:
- 지금 먹어요, 아니면 나중에 먹어요? (Eat now, or eat later?)
- 이거예요, 아니면 저거예요? (Is it this, or that?)
Past Tense
Past situations:
- 갔어요, 아니면 안 갔어요? (Did you go, or didn't you go?)
- 좋았어요, 아니면 나빴어요? (Was it good, or bad?)
Future Tense
Future plans:
- 내일 갈 거예요, 아니면 모레 갈 거예요? (Will you go tomorrow, or the day after?)
- 살 거예요, 아니면 안 살 거예요? (Will you buy it, or not?)
Special Expressions
아니면 그냥 (Or just...)
Alternative simple option:
- 먹을래요? 아니면 그냥 있을래요? (Want to eat? Or just stay like this?)
- 갈래요? 아니면 그냥 집에 있을래요? (Want to go? Or just stay home?)
Clarifying Questions
Making sure:
- 맞아요? 아니면 틀렸어요? (Is it right? Or is it wrong?)
- 이거예요? 아니면 저거예요? (Is it this? Or is it that?)
- 오늘이에요? 아니면 내일이에요? (Is it today? Or tomorrow?)
Negative Context
With Negation
Negative alternatives:
- 안 갈래요? 아니면 갈래요? (Don't want to go? Or do you want to go?)
- 안 좋아요? 아니면 좋아요? (Don't like it? Or do you like it?)
Neither Option
Rejecting both:
- A: 이거 먹을래요, 아니면 저거 먹을래요? (Want to eat this, or that?)
- B: 둘 다 싫어요 (I don't like either)
Common Situations
At Restaurants
Food choices:
- 여기서 먹을까요, 아니면 포장할까요? (Shall we eat here, or get takeout?)
- 밥 먹을래요, 아니면 면 먹을래요? (Want to eat rice, or noodles?)
Making Plans
Scheduling:
- 오늘 만날까요, 아니면 내일 만날까요? (Shall we meet today, or tomorrow?)
- 영화 볼까요, 아니면 쇼핑할까요? (Shall we watch a movie, or go shopping?)
Shopping
Purchase decisions:
- 이거 살까요, 아니면 저거 살까요? (Shall we buy this, or that?)
- 빨간색으로 할까요, 아니면 파란색으로 할까요? (Shall we get red, or blue?)
Perspective and Usage
When to Use 아니면
Use when:
- Presenting clear alternatives in full sentences
- Being polite or formal about choices
- Asking for someone's preference
- Offering different suggestions
Tone:
- More formal than -(이)나
- Clearer than -거나 for distinct options
- Polite and considerate
- Common in questions
Sentence Position
Typically in the middle:
- Option A, 아니면 Option B
- Question A? 아니면 Question B?
Can start sentence for emphasis:
- 아니면 다른 방법이 있어요? (Or is there another way?)
Summary Table
| Pattern | Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choice | A, 아니면 B? | A or B? | 커피, 아니면 차? |
| If not | A. 아니면 B. | A. If not, B. | 오세요. 아니면 전화하세요. |
| Or else | A. 아니면 C. | A. Or else C. | 서두르세요. 아니면 늦어요. |
| Alternative | A? 아니면 B? | Is it A? Or B? | 맞아요? 아니면 틀려요? |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Full sentences: Connects complete clauses
- ✅ Clear alternatives: Presents distinct options
- ✅ Formal tone: More polite than -(이)나
- ✅ Versatile: Works in all contexts
- ✅ Decision making: Essential for choices
- ✅ If not meaning: Can express "otherwise"
아니면 is essential for presenting clear alternatives and making polite suggestions in Korean, especially when you want to give someone a proper choice between two complete options.