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Lesson 189: ~(으)나: Irrelevance Among Options



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Vocabulary
Introduction

~(으)나: Irrelevance Among Options

 

Vocabulary

Nouns:
깊이 = depth

Examples:
다방면으로 아나 한 가지만 아나 깊이는 중요해요
= Whether you know many fields or only one, depth is what matters

그의 말에는 세월의 깊이가 느껴져 쉽게 잊을 수가 없었어요
= His words carried a depth of experience that couldn’t easily be forgotten

선사 = prehistory

Common Usages:
선사 시대 = prehistoric era

Examples:
그 박물관에는 선사 시대의 유물이 다양하게 전시되어 있어요
= The museum displays a variety of relics from prehistoric times

선사 시대를 연구하나 현대를 연구하나 인간의 본성은 변하지 않아요
= Whether you study prehistory or modern times, human nature doesn’t change

주한 = the US army in Korea

Common Usages:
주한 미군 = U.S. Forces Korea

Examples:
주한 미군이 있나 없나 안보 불안은 여전해요
= Whether U.S. forces are stationed in Korea or not, the anxiety over national security remains

주한 미군은 한미동맹의 핵심적인 역할을 담당하고 있어요
= The US Forces Korea play a key role in the Korea-US alliance

본성 = innate nature, disposition

Common Usages:
타고난 본성 = innate nature

Examples:
선사 시대를 연구하나 현대를 연구하나 인간의 본성은 변하지 않아요
= Whether you study prehistory or modern times, human nature doesn’t change

인간의 본성은 환경에 따라 어느 정도 변화할 수 있어요고 생각해요
= I believe human nature can change to some extent depending on the environment

안보 = security

Common Usages:
안보 문제 = security issue

Examples:
주한 미군이 있나 없나 안보 불안은 여전해요
= Whether U.S. forces are stationed in Korea or not, the anxiety over national security remains

국가 안보를 위해 정보 보안 시스템이 더욱 강화되어야 해요
= The information security system must be further strengthened for national security

고의 = intention, deliberate act

Examples:
고의로 세금을 안내는 행위를 탈세라고 불러요
= Not paying your taxes on purpose is called tax evasion

은연중에 실수를 하나 고의로 실수를 하나 결과는 같아요
= Whether you make a mistake unconsciously or intentionally, the result is the same

매출을 고의로 누락해서 세금신고를 하면 벌금을 내야 해요
= You intentionally omitted the sales, so when you report your taxes you will have to pay a fine

조준 = aim, targeting

Examples:
저격수는 목표를 정확히 조준한 뒤 방아쇠를 당겼어요
= The sniper carefully aimed at the target before pulling the trigger

총을 먼저 장전하나 후에 장전하나 정확한 조준이 더 중요해요
= Whether you load the gun early or later, accurate aim matters more

대리인 = representative, agent, proxy

Common Usages:
대리인 출석 = proxy attendance

Examples:
직접 매수하나 대리인을 통해 하나 계약 조건은 동일해요
= Whether you purchase it directly or through an agent, the contract terms are the same

대리인은 계약서에 대표 대신 서명할 권한을 가지고 있어요
= The agent has the authority to sign the contract on behalf of the representative

다방면 = many sided

Common Usages:
다방면에서 뛰어나다 = to excel in many fields

Examples:
다방면으로 아나 한 가지만 아나 깊이는 중요해요
= Whether you know many fields or only one, depth is what matters

그는 다방면에 능통해서 어떤 주제에도 유창하게 이야기할 수 있어요
= He’s well-versed in many fields and can speak fluently on almost any topic

홍보실 = public relations department

Common Usages:
홍보 실장 = PR director
홍보팀 = PR team

Examples:
홍보실에서 말하나 다른 부서에서 말하나 내용은 같아요
= Whether it’s said by the PR department or another department, the content is the same

홍보실에서는 새 제품 출시를 위한 광고 전략을 세우고 있어요
= The PR department is developing an advertising strategy for the new product launch

은연중 = without realization

Examples:
은연중에 실수를 하나 고의로 실수를 하나 결과는 같아요
= Whether you make a mistake unconsciously or intentionally, the result is the same

그는 은연중에 자신의 진짜 감정을 드러내고 말았어요
= He unintentionally revealed his true feelings

최소한 = at least

Common Usages:
최소한의 생활비 = minimum living expenses
최소한의 도리 = minimum decency, minimum moral duty

Examples:
대령이 되기 위해서는 최소한 10년의 시간이 필요해요
= If you want to become a colonel, you need at least ten years

최소한의 노력으로 최대한의 효과를 내는 것이 목표예요
= The goal is to achieve maximum results with minimal effort

최대한 = at most

Examples:
아이들에게 미디어 노출은 최대한 늦게 하는 게 좋아요
= It’s best to expose kids to media as late as possible

최대한 준비를 하나 급히 하다 보나 실수는 생겨요
= Whether I prepare as much as I can or rush through it, mistakes still happen

현재 유행하는 제품을 최대한 많이 생산하기 위해 가속해서 공장을 돌렸다
= In order to produce the product that is a hit these days the factory accelerated its production

작년에도 자동차 정기점검을 받지 못해서 최대한 빨리 점검 가능한 날로 예약해 주세요
= Last year as well I didn’t get a regular check-up on my car, so please reserve an appointment for a check-up as early as possible

Verbs:
녹화하다 = to record

Common Usages:
사전 녹화하다 = to prerecord

Examples:
현장에서 보나 녹화해서 보나 감동은 같아요
= Whether you watch it live or recorded, the emotion is the same

오늘 강연은 영상으로 녹화되어 온라인에서도 시청할 수 있어요
= Today’s lecture is being recorded and will be available online

매수하다 = to purchase

Common Usages:
매수자 = buyer
매수인 = buyer
돈으로 매수하다 = to bribe with money

Examples:
직접 매수하나 대리인을 통해 하나 계약 조건은 동일해요
= Whether you purchase it directly or through an agent, the contract terms are the same

그 회사는 경쟁 업체를 매수하기 위해 막대한 자금을 투자했어요
= The company invested a large amount of money to purchase a competing firm

장전하다 = to load a gun

Examples:
그는 총을 장전하고 침착하게 목표를 향해 걸어갔어요
= He loaded the gun and calmly walked toward his target

총을 먼저 장전하나 후에 장전하나 정확한 조준이 더 중요해요
= Whether you load the gun early or later, accurate aim matters more

진출하다 = to enter into

Common Usages:
세계로 진출하다 = to expand globally

Examples:
국내 시장에 진출하나 해외에 진출하나 경쟁은 치열해요
= Whether entering the domestic or overseas market, the competition is fierce

국내 기업들이 해외 시장으로 활발히 진출하고 있어요
= Domestic companies are actively entering foreign markets

Adjectives:
빤하다 = to be clear, to be obvious, to be evident

Common Usages:
안봐도 빤하다 = to be obvious without looking
결과가 뻔하다 = the result is obvious

Examples:
결과가 빤하나 불확실하나 준비는 해야 돼요
= Whether the outcome is obvious or uncertain, preparation is necessary

그의 속셈은 빤해서 모두가 이미 알고 있었어요
= His intentions were so obvious that everyone already knew

크나크다 = to be very big

Examples:
그 산은 멀리서 봐도 크나큰 위엄을 느끼게 해요
= Even from afar, the mountain gives off an overwhelming sense of grandeur

여전하다 = to remain the same, to be unchanged

Examples:
우리 엄마의 상태가 여전해요
= Our mother’s condition is still the same

주한 미군이 있나 없나 안보 불안은 여전해요
= Whether U.S. forces are stationed in Korea or not, the anxiety over national security remains

 

 

Introduction

In this lesson, you will continue to learn about ~(으)나. In this lesson, you will add to the ways you saw ~(으)나 used by learning about two more meanings for it. Let’s get started!

 

~(으)나: Irrelevance Among Options

In the previous lesson, you saw many uses of ~나 and we discussed the purpose of ~(으)나. There are more uses for ~(으)나 that will be introduced in this lesson.

In this usage, ~(으)나 is usually attached to two words (verbs, adjectives or 이다) in a sentence. This usage of ~(으)나 indicates that the outcome doesn’t change, no matter which option occurs. Let’s look at a simple example:

집에서 쉬나 공원에서 쉬나 피로는 풀리지 않아요
= Whether I rest at home or in the park, the fatigue doesn’t go away

Here, the speaker is not indicating that they need to choose between resting at home or going to the park. Rather, whether they go to the park or stay home, the situation is the same. This is really the key to this usage of ~(으)나. It is a grammatical principle that indicates it doesn’t matter which one is chosen among various options.

In my mind, this is similar to ~거나, which was introduced in Lesson 58. ~거나 is more about options that need to be chosen. For example, the first example using ~거나 in Lesson 58 is the following:

여자 친구를 위해 편지를 쓰거나 선물을 사 줄 거예요
= I will write a letter, or buy a present for my girlfriend

The use of ~거나 indicates that the speaker will either write a letter or buy a present. They will choose between one or the other. In this meaning is a feeling that they will choose the best option, whatever that may be. Conversely, using ~(으)나 is for when there is no difference in what happens. A different ending to the sentence might make it a bit more relevant to that situation. For example:

여자 친구를 위해 편지를 쓰나 선물을 사 주나 마음은 같아요
= Whether I write a letter or buy her a present, my heart is the same

With the use of ~(으)나, the speaker isn’t indicating that they need to choose. Rather, both options are viable and the ending indicates that it doesn’t matter which occurs.

This usage of ~(으)나 is more likely to appear in formal writing, presentations, or analytical commentary, rather than in casual everyday speech.

Below are many examples:



결과가 빤하나 불확실하나 준비는 해야 돼요
= Whether the outcome is obvious or uncertain, preparation is necessary

현장에서 보나 녹화해서 보나 감동은 같아요
= Whether you watch it live or recorded, the emotion is the same

주한 미군이 있나 없나 안보 불안은 여전해요
= Whether U.S. forces are stationed in Korea or not, the anxiety over national security remains

다방면으로 아나 한 가지만 아나 깊이는 중요해요
= Whether you know many fields or only one, depth is what matters

최대한 준비를 하나 급히 하다 보나 실수는 생겨요
= Whether I prepare as much as I can or rush through it, mistakes still happen

국내 시장에 진출하나 해외에 진출하나 경쟁은 치열해요
= Whether entering the domestic or overseas market, the competition is fierce

홍보실에서 말하나 다른 부서에서 말하나 내용은 같아요
= Whether it’s said by the PR department or another department, the content is the same

은연중에 실수를 하나 고의로 실수를 하나 결과는 같아요
= Whether you make a mistake unconsciously or intentionally, the result is the same

직접 매수하나 대리인을 통해 하나 계약 조건은 동일해요
= Whether you purchase it directly or through an agent, the contract terms are the same

총을 먼저 장전하나 후에 장전하나 정확한 조준이 더 중요해요
= Whether you load the gun early or later, accurate aim matters more

선사 시대를 연구하나 현대를 연구하나 인간의 본성은 변하지 않아요
= Whether you study prehistory or modern times, human nature doesn’t change

That’s it for this lesson!

Okay, take me to the next lesson.

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