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Easy Korean - Level 9, Unit 4: No matter if you do it or not (-(으)나 마나)

When an action is so useless or the result is so obvious that it doesn't matter whether you do it or not, we use the grammar structure -(으)나 마나.

Structure Breakdown

  • -(으)나 = but / or (from -거나)
  • 마나 = comes from 말다 (to not do / to stop) + -(으)나

Literally: "Whether you do it, or you don't do it..." Naturally: "It's no use doing it" or "No matter if you do it or not, the result is the same."

How to Conjugate

1. Vowel stem: Add -나 마나 * 보다 -> 보나 마나 (Whether you look or not / Needless to look) * 가다 -> 가나 마나 (Whether you go or not)

2. Consonant stem: Add -으나 마나 * 먹다 -> 먹으나 마나 (Whether you eat it or not) * 읽다 -> 읽으나 마나 (Whether you read it or not)

3. ㄹ stem: Add -나 마나 (ㄹ drops!) * 만들다 -> 만드나 마나 (Whether you make it or not)

Often used with -예요 (It is)

Koreans often use this as a standalone noun phrase ending with 이다. * "그건 해 보나 마나예요." (Doing that is "whether you do it or not" = It's pointless to even try). * "보나 마나 똑같을 거예요." (Needless to look, it will be the same).

Example Sentences

  1. 이 약은 먹으나 마나 똑같아요. (Whether you take this medicine or not, you will feel the same.)
  2. 지금 출발하면 가나 마나 지각이에요. If we leave now, it's no use going, we will be late anyway.
  3. 그 사람한테는 물어보나 마나 모를 거예요. There's no point in asking him, he won't know.
  4. 보나 마나 뻔해요. (Needless to look, it's obvious.)