Beginner Estimated read: 3 mins

(이)나

Used to link two or more nouns to mean 'or' (indicating a choice). When attached to numbers or quantities, it expresses surprise that the quantity is much higher than expected ('as many/much as').

Summary

Equivalent

Or / As much as

Also: 또는 (or - formal noun)

Example

I eat bread or kimbap in the morning.

아침에 빵이나 김밥을 먹어요.

Grammar rules

  • Attach '나' if the noun ends in a vowel (e.g., 사과나 배).
  • Attach '이나' if the noun ends in a consonant (e.g., 수박이나 딸기).
  • When indicating quantity, it translates to 'Wow, that many?' (e.g., 10시간이나 잤어요 - I slept for as many as 10 hours!).
  • For expressing 'or' between VERBS, use '-거나' instead.

    먹거나 마셔요. (Eat or drink.)

Patterns

1

Nouns ending in a vowel

N/A · Noun + 나

2

Nouns ending in a consonant

N/A · Noun + 이나

Example sentences

Nouns ending in a consonant · N/A · Noun + 이나

I eat bread or kimbap in the morning.

아침에 빵이나 김밥을 먹어요.

Nouns ending in a consonant · N/A · Noun + 이나

I want to go to the mountains or the sea on the weekend.

주말에는 산이나 바다에 가고 싶어요.

Nouns ending in a consonant · N/A · Noun + 이나

I drank as many as 5 cups of coffee!

커피를 5잔이나 마셨어요.

Conversation

A: What should we eat for lunch?

점심에 뭐 먹을까요?

B: How about pizza or hamburgers?

피자나 햄버거 어때요?

Practice

Fill in the blank

Select the correct particle for 'or/quantity'.

Choice.

Surprise quantity.