-는 둥 마는 둥 하다
Used to describe an action done so minimally or carelessly that it's hard to say it was really done at all.
Summary
Equivalent
Barely..., Halfheartedly..., Sort of...
Example
I barely slept, so I'm really tired.
잠을 자는 둥 마는 둥 했더니 너무 피곤해요.
Grammar rules
- It implies 'Did [X] in a half-done / barely-there way — might as well have not done it.' Also has a future-speculation form '-(으)ㄹ 둥 말 둥 하다' to express doubt about whether something will happen.
- Can be used in future speculation: '-(으)ㄹ 둥 말 둥 하다' expresses doubt about whether something will happen.
밤을 새워도 합격할 둥 말 둥 한데 놀고만 있어? (Even if you pull an all-nighter it's iffy whether you'll pass, and you're just playing around?)
Patterns
V (Verbs)
현재 (Present) · -는 둥 마는 둥 하다
V (Verbs)
과거 (Past) · -(으)ㄴ 둥 만 둥 하다
Example sentences
I barely slept, so I'm really tired.
잠을 자는 둥 마는 둥 했더니 너무 피곤해요.
I barely ate breakfast and rushed out.
아침을 먹는 둥 마는 둥 하고 서둘러 나왔어요.
They just barely said hello and then left.
인사를 하는 둥 마는 둥 하고 그냥 가 버렸어요.
Conversation
A: Were you able to concentrate well in class today?
오늘 수업에서 집중이 잘 됐어요?
B: No, I barely slept last night so I only half-listened to the lecture.
아니요, 어젯밤에 거의 못 자서 강의를 듣는 둥 마는 둥 했어요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct 'barely / halfheartedly' phrase.
너무 피곤해서 밥을 제대로 못 먹었어요.
공부를 성의 없이 했어요.