-(이)나 is a versatile particle with multiple meanings. When used with quantities, it means "as many/much as," emphasizing that the amount is unexpectedly large or impressive.
Structure
Noun/Number + -(이)나
With consonant: -이나 With vowel: -나
Meanings:
- As many/much as (emphasis on large quantity)
- Or (alternative choice)
- At least (minimum acceptable)
Emphasis on Large Quantity
Basic Pattern
Number + -(이)나:
- 100명이나 (as many as 100 people)
- 10개나 (as many as 10)
- 3시간이나 (as many as 3 hours)
- 만 원이나 (as much as 10,000 won)
Nuance: Implies the amount is larger than expected or impressive
With People
Emphasizing many people:
- 10명이나 왔어요 (As many as 10 people came)
- 100명이나 참석했어요 (As many as 100 people attended)
- 세 명이나 떨어졌어요 (As many as three people failed)
Implication: More than expected or hoped
With Objects
Emphasizing quantity:
- 사과를 5개나 먹었어요 (Ate as many as 5 apples)
- 책을 10권이나 샀어요 (Bought as many as 10 books)
- 옷을 세 벌이나 입었어요 (Wore as many as three outfits)
With Money
Emphasizing amount:
- 100만 원이나 썼어요 (Spent as much as 1 million won)
- 천 원이나 주었어요 (Gave as much as 1,000 won)
Context determines if amount is "a lot" or "only":
- For expensive item: 100만 원이나 (That much!)
- For cheap item: 천 원이나 (That little!)
Time Expressions
Duration Emphasis
Long time periods:
- 3시간이나 기다렸어요 (Waited as long as 3 hours)
- 일주일이나 걸렸어요 (Took as long as one week)
- 10년이나 살았어요 (Lived as long as 10 years)
Nuance: The duration feels long or excessive
Frequency
Many times:
- 세 번이나 갔어요 (Went as many as three times)
- 다섯 번이나 말했어요 (Said as many as five times)
Distance and Measurement
Distance
Long distances:
- 10km나 걸었어요 (Walked as far as 10km)
- 100m나 떨어져 있어요 (It's as far as 100m away)
Weight/Volume
Large amounts:
- 5kg이나 빠졌어요 (Lost as much as 5kg)
- 10리터나 마셨어요 (Drank as much as 10 liters)
"Or" Meaning (Alternative)
Offering Choices
A(이)나 B(이)나:
- 커피나 차 (coffee or tea)
- 오늘이나 내일 (today or tomorrow)
- 빨간색이나 파란색 (red or blue)
Usage: Presenting alternatives
Examples
Choice contexts:
- 물이나 주스 주세요 (Please give me water or juice)
- 영화나 볼까요? (Shall we watch a movie or something?)
- 밥이나 먹자 (Let's eat or something)
Casual Suggestions
"Or something" meaning:
- 영화나 보자 (Let's watch a movie or something)
- 커피나 마시자 (Let's drink coffee or something)
"At Least" Meaning
Minimum Acceptable
When expecting more:
- 이것이나 먹어 (At least eat this)
- 이것이나 해 봐 (At least try this)
- 물이나 마셔 (At least drink water)
Nuance: Settling for less than ideal but acceptable
Examples
Compromising:
- 돈이 없으면 물이나 마셔 (If no money, at least drink water)
- 바쁘면 전화나 해 (If busy, at least call)
Negative Surprise
Unexpectedly Large (Negative)
More than wanted:
- 3시간이나 기다렸어요 (Had to wait as long as 3 hours - frustrated)
- 10번이나 실패했어요 (Failed as many as 10 times - disappointed)
Positive Surprise
More than expected (Positive):
- 50명이나 왔어요! (As many as 50 people came - happy surprise)
- 만 원이나 받았어요 (Received as much as 10,000 won - pleased)
With Verb Stems
Verb + -기나 하다
At least do [verb]:
- 공부하기나 해 (At least study)
- 청소하기나 해 (At least clean)
- 먹기나 해 (At least eat)
Meaning: Do at minimum this action
Examples
Minimal expectation:
- 놀지 말고 공부하기나 해 (Don't play, at least study)
- 안 먹으면 물이나 마셔 (If not eating, at least drink water)
Comparison with -만 and -밖에
Differences
-만 (only - neutral):
- 10명만 왔어요 (Only 10 people came - neutral)
-(이)나 (as many as - surprise):
- 10명이나 왔어요 (As many as 10 people came - unexpectedly many)
-밖에 (only - disappointment):
- 10명밖에 안 왔어요 (Only 10 people came - fewer than hoped)
Formality Levels
Casual
Informal contexts:
- 10개나 먹었어 (Ate as many as 10)
- 커피나 마시자 (Let's drink coffee or something)
Polite
Polite -요 form:
- 10개나 먹었어요 (Ate as many as 10)
- 커피나 마실까요? (Shall we drink coffee?)
Formal
Formal contexts:
- 100명이나 참석했습니다 (As many as 100 people attended)
Common Expressions
뭐(이)나 (Whatever/Anything)
Anything will do:
- 뭐나 먹자 (Let's eat anything/whatever)
- 뭐나 줘 (Give me anything)
누구(이)나 (Anyone/Whoever)
Anyone is fine:
- 누구나 올 수 있어요 (Anyone can come)
- 누구나 알아요 (Everyone knows)
언제(이)나 (Anytime/Whenever)
Anytime is fine:
- 언제나 좋아요 (Anytime is good)
- 언제나 환영해요 (Always welcome)
어디(이)나 (Anywhere/Wherever)
Anywhere is fine:
- 어디나 좋아요 (Anywhere is good)
- 어디나 갈 수 있어요 (Can go anywhere)
Context-Dependent Interpretation
Same Structure, Different Meaning
Depends on context:
- 천 원이나? (As much as 1,000 won? - if expensive)
- 천 원이나? (Only 1,000 won? - if cheap)
Tone and context determine meaning
Rhetorical Questions
Emphasizing Quantity
With question intonation:
- 10개나 먹었어? (Did you eat as many as 10?)
- 3시간이나 기다렸어? (Did you wait as long as 3 hours?)
Expresses surprise or disbelief
Multiple Uses in Sentence
A(이)나 B(이)나
Both/either choices:
- 사과나 배나 좋아요 (I like both apples and pears)
- 오늘이나 내일이나 괜찮아요 (Either today or tomorrow is fine)
Negative Contexts
With Negative Verbs
Emphasis even with negative:
- 10개나 못 먹었어요 (Couldn't eat even 10)
- 한 번도 안 갔어요 (Didn't go even once)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 하나이나 (with small numbers)
Awkward with "1"
✅ Correct: 하나만 or 하나밖에
Use other particles for "only one"
❌ Incorrect: Confusing meanings
Not distinguishing "or" from "as many as"
✅ Correct: Use context clues
Understand from situation
❌ Incorrect: 물을이나 (adding object particle)
Redundant particle
✅ Correct: 물이나
-(이)나 replaces particles
Summary Table
| Meaning | Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| As many as | Number + (이)나 | 10명이나 왔어요 | As many as 10 people came |
| Or | A(이)나 B | 커피나 차 | Coffee or tea |
| At least | Noun + (이)나 | 물이나 마셔 | At least drink water |
| Whatever | 뭐(이)나 | 뭐나 먹자 | Let's eat whatever |
| Anyone | 누구(이)나 | 누구나 와 | Anyone can come |
| Anytime | 언제(이)나 | 언제나 좋아 | Anytime is good |
| Anywhere | 어디(이)나 | 어디나 가자 | Let's go anywhere |
| Duration | Time + (이)나 | 3시간이나 | As long as 3 hours |