-(이)나 is a versatile particle meaning "or," "about/approximately," or "at least," depending on context.
Formation
나 (After Vowel)
Vowel-ending nouns:
- 커피나 (coffee or)
- 나나 (me or)
- 차나 (tea or / car or)
이나 (After Consonant)
Consonant-ending nouns:
- 물이나 (water or)
- 책이나 (book or)
- 친구나 (friend or)
Core Meanings
1. "Or" (Choice/Alternative)
Presenting options:
- 커피나 차를 마실래요? (Will you drink coffee or tea?)
- 영화나 드라마를 봐요 (Watch a movie or drama)
2. "About/Approximately"
Rough quantity/time:
- 10개나 (about 10 / as many as 10)
- 3시간이나 (about 3 hours / as long as 3 hours)
- 100명이나 (about 100 people / as many as 100)
3. "At Least" (Suggestion)
Suggesting minimum/alternative:
- 물이나 마셔요 (At least drink water)
- 책이나 읽어요 (At least read a book)
Usage 1: "Or" (Choice)
Presenting Options
Choosing between items:
- 사과나 배를 사세요 (Buy apples or pears)
- 오늘이나 내일 만나요 (Meet today or tomorrow)
- 여기나 저기에 앉아요 (Sit here or there)
Questions with Options
- 뭐 마실래요? 커피나 차요? (What will you drink? Coffee or tea?)
- 언제 갈까요? 오늘이나 내일이요? (When shall we go? Today or tomorrow?)
Usage 2: Approximation
Quantity
About/approximately this many:
- 사람이 100명이나 왔어요 (About 100 people came / As many as 100!)
- 돈이 만 원이나 있어요 (I have about 10,000 won / as much as 10,000 won)
Time Duration
About this long:
- 3시간이나 기다렸어요 (Waited about 3 hours / as long as 3 hours)
- 일주일이나 걸렸어요 (It took about a week / as long as a week)
Surprise/Emphasis
Often implies "as much/many as":
- 10개나 먹었어요! (Ate as many as 10!)
- 5번이나 전화했어요! (Called as many as 5 times!)
Usage 3: "At Least"
Suggesting Alternative
Better than nothing:
- 물이나 마셔요 (At least drink water)
- 쉬기나 해요 (At least rest)
- 이것이나 해 봐요 (At least try this)
Minimal Suggestion
Not ideal but acceptable:
- 못 가면 전화나 해요 (If you can't go, at least call)
- 비싸면 이것이나 사요 (If that's expensive, at least buy this)
Politeness Levels
Formal (합니다체)
- 커피나 차를 드십니까? (Will you drink coffee or tea?)
- 10개나 됩니다 (It's about 10)
Polite (해요체)
- 커피나 차를 마셔요? (Will you drink coffee or tea?)
- 10개나 돼요 (It's about 10)
Casual (반말)
- 커피나 차 마셔? (Drink coffee or tea?)
- 10개나 돼 (It's about 10)
Common Patterns
A나 B (Or)
Two options:
- 사과나 배 (apples or pears)
- 오늘이나 내일 (today or tomorrow)
- 여기나 저기 (here or there)
Number + 이나
Approximation/surprise:
- 10개나 (about 10 / as many as 10!)
- 3시간이나 (about 3 hours / as long as 3 hours!)
- 100명이나 (about 100 people / as many as 100!)
Verb + -(으)나
Different pattern - "or":
- 가나 오나 (whether go or come)
- 먹으나 마시나 (whether eat or drink)
Question Forms
Offering Choices
- 뭐 먹을래요? 피자나 치킨이요? (What will you eat? Pizza or chicken?)
- 언제 만날까요? 오늘이나 내일이요? (When shall we meet? Today or tomorrow?)
Negative Forms
With Negation
- 커피나 차도 안 마셔요 (Don't drink even coffee or tea)
- 하나도 없어요, 둘이나 셋도요 (Don't have any, not even 2 or 3)
Special Patterns
-거나 (Or - for verbs)
Connecting verb phrases:
- 가거나 오거나 (go or come)
- 먹거나 마시거나 (eat or drink)
Note: Different from noun -(이)나
-(이)나마 (At Least/Though Little)
At least this much:
- 조금이나마 도와요 (Help at least a little)
- More formal/literary
Common Expressions
Food/Drink
- 커피나 차 (coffee or tea)
- 물이나 주스 (water or juice)
- 밥이나 빵 (rice or bread)
Time
- 오늘이나 내일 (today or tomorrow)
- 아침이나 저녁 (morning or evening)
- 지금이나 나중 (now or later)
At Least Suggestions
- 물이나 마셔요 (At least drink water)
- 이것이나 해요 (At least do this)
- 전화나 해요 (At least call)
Surprise/Emphasis
- 10개나! (As many as 10!)
- 3시간이나! (As long as 3 hours!)
- 100명이나! (As many as 100 people!)
Context Determines Meaning
Same Form, Different Meanings
Context clarifies:
Choice:
- 커피나 차를 주세요 (Please give me coffee or tea)
Approximation:
- 커피를 10잔이나 마셨어요 (Drank as many as 10 cups of coffee!)
At least:
- 커피나 마셔요 (At least drink coffee)
-(이)나 vs 아니면
-(이)나 (Simple Or)
Direct alternative:
- 커피나 차 (coffee or tea)
- Simple, casual
아니면 (Or/Otherwise)
More distinct separation:
- 커피를 마실래요? 아니면 차를 마실래요? (Will you drink coffee? Or will you drink tea?)
- More formal/emphatic
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 커피이나
Double particle
✅ Correct: 커피나
Just 나 after vowel
❌ Incorrect: 책나
Wrong form after consonant
✅ Correct: 책이나
Use 이나 after consonant
Summary Table
| Meaning | Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Or (choice) | A나 B | 커피나 차 | coffee or tea |
| About/As many as | Number + 이나 | 10개나 | about 10 / as many as 10 |
| At least | N이나 V | 물이나 마셔요 | at least drink water |
| After vowel | V + 나 | 커피나 | coffee or |
| After consonant | C + 이나 | 책이나 | book or |