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A Review of 말다 and ~ㄹ/을까
~ㄹ/을까 말까 – Hesitating or Deciding
Vocabulary
Nouns:
전설 = legend
Common Usages:
전설로 내려오다 = to be passed down as a legend
Examples:
근거 없는 전설을 믿지 마세요
= Don’t believe baseless legends
그 섬에 보물이 있다는 전설이 전해져 왔다
= Legend has it that there is treasure on that island
그 전설은 마을 사람들에게 오랫동안 전해 내려왔어요
= The legend has been passed down among the villagers for a long time
금일 = today
Examples:
금일 너무 무리하지 마세요
= Don’t overwork yourself today
금일 회의는 오후 두 시에 시작돼요
= Today’s meeting will start at 2 PM
금일 경매에 참여할까 말까 아직 결정 못 했어요
= I haven’t decided yet whether to participate in the auction today or not
식도 = esophagus
Common Usages:
식도염 = esophagitis
역류성 식도염 = acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
Examples:
뜨거운 음식을 급하게 먹다가 식도를 데었어요
= I burned my esophagus by eating hot food too quickly
뜨거운 음식을 먹으면 식도가 아플 것 같은데 먹을까 말까 고민돼요
= My esophagus might hurt if I eat hot food, so I’m debating whether to eat it or not
열매 = fruit
Common Usages:
열매를 따다 = to pick fruit
열매를 맺다 = to bear fruit (this can also be used as “to achieve results”)
Examples:
이 나무는 가을에 달콤한 열매를 맺는다
= This tree bears sweet fruit in the fall
이 열매가 맛있어 보이긴 하는데 먹을까 말까 고민되네요
= This fruit looks delicious, but I’m debating whether to eat it or not
여든 = eighty
Examples:
여든 살이 된 할아버지는 아직도 건강하셔요
= My grandfather, who is eighty years old, is still healthy
여든 살이 넘었지만 다시 한번 여행을 떠날까 말까 생각 중이에요
= I’m over eighty, but I’m thinking about whether to go on another trip or not
근거 = grounds, basis
Common Usages:
근거없는 소문 = groundless rumor
Examples:
근거 없는 전설을 믿지 마세요
= Don’t believe baseless legends
사람의 주장은 아무런 근거가 없었어요
= The argument of the person had no basis
출혈 = bleeding
Common Usages:
내출혈 = internal bleeding
외출혈 = external bleeding
Examples:
출혈이 멈추지 않으면 병원에 가야 해요
= If the bleeding doesn’t stop, you need to go to the hospital
출혈이 심한데 병원에 갈까 말까 고민하고 있어요
= I’m bleeding a lot, but I’m debating whether to go to the hospital or not
수술 중에 과도한 출혈이 발생해서 수혈이 필요했어요
= Excessive bleeding occurred during the surgery, so a blood transfusion was necessary
내출혈 = internal bleeding
Examples:
의사는 환자에게 내출혈이 의심된다고 말했어요
= The doctor said the patient might have internal bleeding
내성적 = introverted
Common Usages:
내성적인 성격 = introverted personality
Examples:
제가 내성적이라 처음 보는 사람과 말하기 어려워해요
= I am introverted, so I find it hard to talk to people I don’t know (I see for the first time)
저는 원래 내성적인데 오늘은 외형적인 척을 할까 말까 고민중이에요
= I’m usually introverted, but I’m debating whether to act extroverted today or not
외향적 = extroverted
Common Usages:
외향적인 성격 = extroverted personality
Examples:
외향적 성격을 강요하지 마세요
= Don’t force someone to be extroverted
저의 여동생은 매우 외향적이라 누구와도 쉽게 친해져요
= My younger sister is very extroverted and gets along with everyone easily
저는 원래 내성적인데 오늘은 외형적인 척을 할까 말까 고민중이에요
= I’m usually introverted, but I’m debating whether to act extroverted today or not
송별회 = farewell party
Examples:
우리는 친구의 송별회를 위해 작은 파티를 열었어요
= We threw a small party for our friend’s farewell
별로 사이가 안 좋은 친구의 송별회에 갈까 말까 고민 중이에요
= I am debating whether I will go to the party of the friend that I’m not very close with
Verbs:
재생하다 = to relive, to revitalize
Common Usages:
피부를 재생하다 = to regenerate skin
세포를 재생하다 = to regenerate cells
Examples:
이 화장품은 피부를 재생하는데 도움이 돼요
= This cosmetic product helps to revitalize your skin
경매하다 = to auction
Common Usages:
경매장 = auction house
물건 경매 = item auction
Examples:
이 물건을 50억에 경매했어요
= This item auctioned for 5 billion won
소중한 물건을 너무 쉽게 경매하지 말자
= Let’s not auction off valuable things too easily
사용하지 않는 물건을 경매할까 해요
= I’m thinking about auctioning off things I don’t use
금일 경매에 참여할까 말까 아직 결정 못 했어요
= I haven’t decided yet whether to participate in the auction today or not
이 물건을 경매할까 말까 아직 결정을 못 내렸어요
= I haven’t decided yet whether to auction this item or not
금주하다 = to give up drinking
Examples:
건강을 위해 이번 달부터 금주할까 해요
= I’m thinking about giving up drinking starting this month for my health
건강을 위해 그는 금주하기로 결심했어요
= He decided to give up drinking for his health
건강을 위해 금주할까 말까 고민 중이에요
= I’m debating whether to quit drinking for my health or not
송별하다 = to depart, to leave
Common Usages:
송별회 = farewell party
Examples:
친구는 멀리 여행을 떠나 송별했어요
= The friend departed on a long journey and said her farewells
제가 이사가는 친구를 내일 송별할 거예요
= Tomorrow I will be bidding farewell to my friend who is moving
Adjectives:
붉다 = to be red
Examples:
노을이 지며 하늘이 붉게 물들었어요
= As the sun set, the sky turned red
이 옷이 너무 붉은데 입을까 말까 고민되네요
= This outfit is too red, so I’m debating whether to wear it or not
색다르다 = to be different/unconventional
Examples:
그 식당은 인테리어가 색다르고 분위기가 좋아요
= The restaurant has an unconventional interior and a nice vibe
색다른 머리 스타일로 바꿀까 말까 고민 중이에요
= I’m debating whether to change my hairstyle to something different or not
김치와 빵을 같이 먹는 것이 색달랐어요
= Eating bread and kimchi together was different
신비롭다 = to be marvelous/mysterious
Examples:
보석의 색깔이 아주 신비했어요
= The color of the jewel was amazing
보랏빛은 신비로움을 느끼게 해요
= Violet light evokes a sense of mystery
그 동굴은 신비로운 분위기로 가득했어요
= The cave was filled with a mysterious atmosphere
이곳은 정말 신비로운데 사진을 찍을까 말까 고민 중이에요
= This place is really mysterious, so I’m debating whether to take a picture or not
상쾌하다 = to be refreshing
Examples:
산속의 공기는 상쾌하고 맑았어요
= The mountain air was refreshing and clear
바람이 불어서 공기가 아주 상쾌하다
= It’s windy, so the air is very fresh
이 향기는 은은하고 상쾌해서 마음이 편안해져요
= This scent is light and refreshing, making you feel relaxed
날씨가 좋아서 바다로 가서 상쾌한 바람을 맞을까 해요
= The weather is nice, so I’m thinking about going to the beach to enjoy the refreshing breeze
이 바람이 정말 상쾌한데 창문을 더 열까 말까 고민돼요
= The breeze is really refreshing, so I’m debating whether to open the window more or not
Introduction
In this lesson, you will begin a deep-dive into the verb 말다 to see how it can be used in a variety of situations. Specifically, in this lesson, you will learn how ~ㄹ/을까 말까 is used. Let’s get started!
A Review of 말다 and ~ㄹ/을까
In Lesson 40, you first learned about 말다 as the main way to indicate an action be stopped or avoided. In that lesson, you saw how it is often used as a command. For example:
근거 없는 전설을 믿지 마세요
= Don’t believe baseless legends
금일 너무 무리하지 마세요
= Don’t overwork yourself today
외향적 성격을 강요하지 마세요
= Don’t force someone to be extroverted
In Lesson 44, you saw how you can suggest an action be stopped or avoided. For example:
소중한 물건을 너무 쉽게 경매하지 말자
= Let’s not auction off valuable things too easily
In Lesson 64, you saw how you can use ~ㄹ/을까 to indicate that one is thinking about doing an action. For example:
사용하지 않는 물건을 경매할까 해요
= I’m thinking about auctioning off things I don’t use
건강을 위해 이번 달부터 금주할까 해요
= I’m thinking about giving up drinking starting this month for my health
날씨가 좋아서 바다로 가서 상쾌한 바람을 맞을까 해요
= The weather is nice, so I’m thinking about going to the beach to enjoy the refreshing breeze
This lesson will look at combining 말다 and ~ㄹ/을까.
~ㄹ/을까 말까 – Hesitating or Deciding
In addition to what was described previously, 말다 can also be used to indicate that one is hesitating or deciding to do an action. To start this type of construction, you can place ~ㄹ/을까 말까 after an action that one is hesitating or deciding to do. For example:
건강을 위해 금주할까 말까…
As the speaker is hesitating or trying to decide what to do, these types of sentences typically end with some variation of 고민하다. For example:
건강을 위해 금주할까 말까 고민 중이에요
= I’m debating whether to quit drinking for my health or not
Although these sentences can be directed to a listener, it is common for these sentences to be somewhat directed to the speaker themselves. That is, ~ㄹ/을까 말까 is a common type of “self-speech” where the speaker is talking to themselves. In a way, the speaker is mulling it over in their head, thinking about what to do and hesitating to make a decision. It is difficult to know whether a speaker is directing their speech at a listener themselves from just one sentence, but keep this idea in mind in this lesson and when you hear ~ㄹ/을까 말까 in your Korean studies.
Below are a few more examples of sentences ending in 고민 중:
일을 마무리할까 말까 아직 고민 중이에요
= I’m still debating whether to finish the work or not
색다른 머리 스타일로 바꿀까 말까 고민 중이에요
= I’m debating whether to change my hairstyle to something different or not
이곳은 정말 신비로운데 사진을 찍을까 말까 고민 중이에요
= This place is really mysterious, so I’m debating whether to take a picture or not
별로 사이가 안 좋은 친구의 송별회에 갈까 말까 고민 중이에요
= I am debating whether I will go to the party of the friend that I’m not very close with
저는 원래 내성적인데 오늘은 외형적인 척을 할까 말까 고민중이에요
= I’m usually introverted, but I’m debating whether to act extroverted today or not
Below are some examples of ~ㄹ/을까 말까 with 고민 used in a different way than 고민 중:
이 옷이 너무 붉은데 입을까 말까 고민되네요
= This outfit is too red, so I’m debating whether to wear it or not
출혈이 심한데 병원에 갈까 말까 고민하고 있어요
= I’m bleeding a lot, but I’m debating whether to go to the hospital or not
그 용의자를 심문할까 말까 경찰이 고민하고 있어요
= The police are debating whether to interrogate the suspect or not
이 바람이 정말 상쾌한데 창문을 더 열까 말까 고민돼요
= The breeze is really refreshing, so I’m debating whether to open the window more or not
이 열매가 맛있어 보이긴 하는데 먹을까 말까 고민되네요
= This fruit looks delicious, but I’m debating whether to eat it or not
뜨거운 음식을 먹으면 식도가 아플 것 같은데 먹을까 말까 고민돼요
= My esophagus might hurt if I eat hot food, so I’m debating whether to eat it or not
Although common, it is not necessary to end a sentence with some form of 고민 when using ~ㄹ/을까 말까. It is also possible to use words that can indicate one is thinking, deciding or hesitating about an action. For example:
여든 살이 넘었지만 다시 한번 여행을 떠날까 말까 생각 중이에요
= I’m over eighty, but I’m thinking about whether to go on another trip or not
금일 경매에 참여할까 말까 아직 결정 못 했어요
= I haven’t decided yet whether to participate in the auction today or not
이 물건을 경매할까 말까 아직 결정을 못 내렸어요
= I haven’t decided yet whether to auction this item or not
That’s it for this lesson!