Do it or don't (-deunji maldeunji)
~든지 말든지 to show that a choice or outcome makes absolutely no difference to you.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use -든지 -든지 to express that it doesn't matter which option is chosen because the result remains the same.
- Attach -든지 to the verb stem: 가든지 말든지 (Whether you go or not).
- Use it for neutral choices: 먹든지 마시든지 (Whether you eat or drink).
- The final clause often expresses indifference: 상관없어요 (It doesn't matter).
Overview
In Korean, expressing indifference to a choice is a nuanced act, and the -(으)든지 말든지 (-(eu)deunji maldeunji) pattern is the primary tool for this purpose. At its core, this connective ending presents a binary choice—doing an action or not doing it—and then declares that choice irrelevant to the speaker or to a stated outcome. It is the grammatical embodiment of the sentiment "whether you do X or not, it doesn't matter."
This structure is far more than a simple statement of apathy. Its function ranges from a calm, empowering declaration of flexibility to a sharp, dismissive expression of frustration. Understanding -(으)든지 말든지 is to understand how Korean speakers establish boundaries, express resolve, and navigate social dynamics where a decision's outcome is less important than the principle that follows.
For example, in the sentence 네가 오든지 말든지 나는 예정대로 출발할 거야 (nega odeunji maldeunji naneun yejeongdaero chulbalhal geoya), meaning "Whether you come or not, I will depart as planned," the speaker's departure is framed as an unchangeable fact, completely independent of the listener's decision. This demonstrates the pattern's power to separate an action from its potential conditions. Mastering this B2-level grammar moves you beyond simply stating facts into the realm of expressing complex attitudes and stances.
How This Grammar Works
-(으)든지 말든지 is the interplay between the particle -든지 (-deunji) and the negative verb 말다 (malda). Understanding their individual roles is key to grasping the entire structure.-든지:-든지 is fundamentally used to list two or more options or possibilities without committing to any of them. It signifies choice and non-exclusivity. When you see -든지, think "this or that, or whatever from this category." For instance, 사과든지 배든지 (sagwadeunji baedeunji) means "apples or pears," implying a choice is available and the speaker is open to either.말다:말다 means "to stop," "to cease," or "to refrain from doing." It is the standard verb used in negative commands (-지 마세요, -ji maseyo) and other grammatical patterns requiring a negation of will or action. In -(으)든지 말든지, the 말든지 portion is a grammaticalized chunk that functions as the universal "or not" for the preceding verb. It represents the negative half of the binary choice.Verb-든지 말든지 creates a complete, self-contained logical pair: "(the choice of) doing the verb, or (the choice of) not doing the verb." By presenting this pair as the premise of a sentence, you are effectively stating that the entire spectrum of choice, from action to inaction, has been considered and is ultimately inconsequential to the main clause. The linguistic principle at work is concession followed by overriding assertion. The speaker concedes that either action is possible but then asserts that this possibility has no bearing on the subsequent reality.그가 돈을 내든지 말든지, 우리는 이 프로젝트를 시작해야 합니다 (geuga doneul naedeunji maldeunji, urineun i peurojekteureul sijakaeya hamnida) — "Whether he pays or not, we must start this project." The concession is his choice to pay; the overriding assertion is the necessity of starting the project.Formation Pattern
-(으)든지 말든지 is consistent and applies to action verbs, descriptive verbs (adjectives), and the copula (이다). The rule depends on whether the verb stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.
-든지 말든지 | 가다 (to go) | 가 + -든지 말든지 | 가든지 말든지 |
-든지 말든지 | 예쁘다 (to be pretty) | 예쁘 + -든지 말든지 | 예쁘든지 말든지 |
-든지 말든지 | 먹다 (to eat) | 먹 + -든지 말든지 | 먹든지 말든지 |
-든지 말든지 | 좋다 (to be good) | 좋 + -든지 말든지 | 좋든지 말든지 |
주말에 영화를 보든지 말든지 아직 못 정했어요. (Jumare yeonghwareul bodeunji maldeunji ajik mot jeonghaesseoyo.)
음식이 맵든지 말든지 저는 다 잘 먹어요. (Eumsigi maepdeunji maldeunji jeoneun da jal meogeoyo.)
이다 (to be)
Noun + -(이)든지 말든지. However, it is far more natural and common to use 아니든지 (from 아니다, to not be) for the negative part. While 말든지 is grammatically possible, it sounds awkward to most native speakers in this context.
-든지 아니든지 | 의사 (doctor) | 의사 + -든지 아니든지 | 의사든지 아니든지 |
-이든지 아니든지| 학생 (student) | 학생 + -이든지 아니든지 | 학생이든지 아니든지 |
그 사람이 한국 사람이든지 아니든지, 의사소통에는 문제가 없을 거예요. (Geu sarami hanguk saramideunji anideunji, uisasotongeneun munjega eopseul geoyeyo.)
-았-/-었-).
어제 거기에 갔든지 말든지 이제 와서 그게 무슨 상관이야? (Eoje geogie gatdeunji maldeunji ije waseo geuge museun sanggwaniya?)
-시- is inserted before -든지.
사장님께서 회의에 오시든지 마시든지 우리는 정해진 시간에 시작하겠습니다. (Sajangnimkkeseo hoeui-e osideunji masideunji urineun jeonghaejin sigane sijakagetseumnida.)
말다 also conjugates to 마시다 after -시-).
When To Use It
- Casual (between friends):
네가 파티에 가든지 말든지 나는 상관없어. 피곤하면 쉬어.(Nega patie gadeunji maldeunji naneun sanggwaneopseo. Pigonhamyeon swieo.) — "I don't care if you go to the party or not. Rest if you're tired." Here, the tone is permissive and understanding. - Annoyed (parent to child):
게임을 하든지 말든지 마음대로 해라. 숙제 안 하면 네 손해지.(Geimeul hadeunji maldeunji maeumdaero haera. Sukje an hamyeon ne sonhaeji.) — "Play your game or don't, do as you please. It's your loss if you don't do your homework." The indifference here is a warning.
날씨가 춥든지 말든지 저는 매일 아침에 조깅을 합니다.(Nalssiga chupdeunji maldeunji jeoneun maeil achime jogingeul hamnida.) — "Whether the weather is cold or not, I jog every morning." The speaker's routine is non-negotiable.다른 사람들이 뭐라고 하든지 말든지, 저는 제 꿈을 포기하지 않을 거예요.(Dareun saramdeuri mworago hadeunji maldeunji, jeoneun je kkumeul pogihaji aneul geoyeyo.) — "Regardless of what other people say, I will not give up on my dream." This shows strong resolve against social pressure.
자료를 이메일로 보내주시든지 말든지 편하신 방법으로 하세요.(Jaryoreul imeillo bonaejusideunji maldeunji pyeonhasin bangbeobeuro haseyo.) — "Whether you send the documents by email or not, please do it in the way that is most convenient for you." This empowers the other person.내일 회의에 참석하든지 말든지 괜찮습니다. 결정은 팀장님께 맡기겠습니다.(Naeil hoeui-e chamseokadeunji maldeunji gwaenchanseumnida. Gyeoljeongeun timjangnimkke matgigetseumnida.) — "It is fine whether you attend the meeting tomorrow or not. I will leave the decision to you, team leader." This is a respectful way of deferring a choice.
-(으)든지 말든지 have become fixed expressions in the Korean language.믿든지 말든지...(Mitdeunji maldeunji...) — "Believe it or not..." This is used to preface a surprising or hard-to-believe fact.믿든지 말든지, 어제 길에서 유명한 배우를 봤어.(Believe it or not, I saw a famous actor on the street yesterday.)
Common Mistakes
든지 (deunji) vs. 던지 (deonji) Spelling and Usage Error가든지 오든지 마음대로 해. (Go or come, do as you please.) | *얼마나 춥든지 손이 얼었다. |얼마나 춥던지 손이 다 얼었다. (It was so cold, I remember, that my hands froze.) | *가던지 오던지 마음대로 해. |가던지 말던지 is grammatically incorrect for expressing choice. You are unintentionally trying to say something like, "I recall you went, or I recall you didn't..." which is not the intended meaning of indifference. Always remember: Choice is ㅡ (eu), Recollection is ㅓ (eo).안 or -지 않다 patterns, which is not natural for this specific structure.- Incorrect:
*네가 오든지 안 오든지 나는 갈 거야.(Nega odeunji an odeunji naneun gal geoya.) - Incorrect:
*네가 오든지 오지 않든지 나는 갈 거야.(Nega odeunji oji anteunji naneun gal geoya.) - Correct:
네가 오든지 말든지 나는 갈 거야.(Nega odeunji maldeunji naneun gal geoya.)
말든지. This is a set grammatical phrase, not a verb you can swap out freely with other negative forms.-든지 말든지 clause is the same as the main clause, you do not need to repeat it. Doing so sounds redundant.- Redundant:
*제가 가든지 말든지, 저는 제 결정을 바꿀 수 없어요.(Jega gadeunji maldeunji, jeoneun je gyeoljeongeul bakkul su eopseoyo.) - Natural:
제가 가든지 말든지 제 결정을 바꿀 수 없어요.(Jega gadeunji maldeunji je gyeoljeongeul bakkul su eopseoyo.) — "Whether I go or not, I can't change my decision."
Real Conversations
Contextual examples show how the tone of -(으)든지 말든지 shifts dramatically in real-world scenarios.
Scenario 1
> 지민 (Jimin): 내일 스터디 그룹 올 거야? (Naeil seuteodi geurup ol geoya?)
> Are you coming to the study group tomorrow?
> 수호 (Suho): 아직... 과제가 너무 많아서. 아마 못 갈 듯. (Ajik... gwajega neomu manaseo. Ama mot gal deut.)
> Not sure yet... I have too many assignments. Probably can't go.
> 지민 (Jimin): 오든지 말든지 알아서 해. 근데 이번에 다루는 내용 시험에 꼭 나온대. (Odeunji maldeunji araseo hae. Geunde ibeone daruneun naeyong siheome kkok naondae.)
> Come or don't, it's up to you. But they say the material we're covering this time is definitely on the exam.
- Analysis: Jimin's 오든지 말든지 알아서 해 is casual and establishes a friendly boundary. It's not truly indifferent; the follow-up sentence is a classic persuasive tactic, implying "It's your choice, but you'll be missing out." This is a very common, socially savvy use of the pattern.
Scenario 2
> Subject: 프로젝트 제안서 관련 (Re: Project Proposal)
> Body:
> 김 대리님,
> 제안서에 통계 자료를 추가하는 것이 좋을까요?
> 박 사원 드림
> (Manager Kim,
> Would it be good to add statistical data to the proposal?
> Sincerely, Intern Park)
> Reply:
> 박 사원님,
> 통계 자료를 추가하든지 말든지 최종 결과물에 큰 영향은 없을 겁니다. 일단 제안서 초안을 내일까지 마무리하는 데 집중해주세요.
> 김 대리 드림
> (Intern Park,
> Whether you add statistical data or not will not have a major impact on the final deliverable. For now, please focus on finishing the proposal draft by tomorrow.
> Sincerely, Manager Kim)
- Analysis: Manager Kim uses the formal 합니다 style to maintain politeness. The -(으)든지 말든지 structure serves as a professional way to dismiss a minor detail and redirect focus to the more critical priority: the deadline. It communicates, "That choice is not important; this deadline is."
Quick FAQ
-(으)든지 말든지 inherently rude?No, it is not inherently rude, but it is inherently dismissive of the choice. Therefore, its politeness depends entirely on social context and tone. Using it with a superior about their instructions would be insubordinate (*사장님께서 지시하시든지 마시든지...). Using it about an objective condition like the weather is perfectly neutral (비가 오든지 말든지...). With friends, it is casual. Its perceived rudeness is a function of whether you have the social standing to dismiss the choice in question.
-(으)든지 and -(으)나?Both -든지 (deunji) and -거나 (geona) are used to list options and can often be interchanged. 가든지 말든지 and 가거나 말거나 are frequently used synonymously. However, there is a subtle distinction rooted in their origins. -든지 carries a stronger nuance of selection from a set of possibilities. -거나 is a more neutral conjunction for linking alternative actions or states. Because of this, -든지 말든지 can feel slightly more emphatic in its dismissal of the choice itself. For most practical purposes, they are interchangeable, but recognizing this subtle difference is a mark of an advanced learner.
말든지 part?You can, but it changes the meaning. 말든지 specifically provides the "or not" part of the choice. If you drop it and replace it with another verb, you are simply presenting a choice between two different actions. For example, 주말에 쉬든지 여행을 가든지 하고 싶어요 (Jumare swideunji yeohaengeul gadeunji hago sipeoyo) — "I want to either rest or go on a trip this weekend." Here, you are listing two desired options, not expressing indifference.
It is less common in questions but can be used to ask about someone else's state of indifference or to confirm a rule. For example: 제가 가든지 말든지 정말 상관없어요? (Jega gadeunji maldeunji jeongmal sanggwaneopseoyo?) — "Does it really not matter to you whether I go or not?" This is asking for confirmation of the other person's indifference.
Formation Table
| Verb | Stem | Form |
|---|---|---|
|
가다
|
가
|
가든지
|
|
먹다
|
먹
|
먹든지
|
|
하다
|
하
|
하든지
|
|
오다
|
오
|
오든지
|
|
자다
|
자
|
자든지
|
|
놀다
|
놀
|
놀든지
|
Meanings
This grammar structure indicates that the speaker is indifferent to the choice between two or more options, as the outcome is unaffected by the decision.
Indifference
Expressing that the choice between options does not change the situation.
“가든지 오든지 마음대로 해.”
“비가 오든지 눈이 오든지 우리는 출발할 거야.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
V1-든지 V2-든지
|
가든지 오든지
|
|
Negative
|
V1-든지 말든지
|
먹든지 말든지
|
|
Question
|
V1-든지 V2-든지 상관없나요?
|
가든지 오든지 상관없나요?
|
Formality Spectrum
하시든지 말든지 상관없습니다. (General indifference)
하시든지 말든지 상관없어요. (General indifference)
하든지 말든지 마음대로 해. (General indifference)
하든 말든 맘대로 해. (General indifference)
Indifference Map
Options
- 가든지 Go
- 오든지 Come
Examples by Level
가든지 말든지 하세요.
Do whatever you want, go or don't go.
먹든지 마시든지 마음대로 해.
Whether you eat or drink, do as you please.
비가 오든지 말든지 우리는 갈 거야.
Whether it rains or not, we are going.
그가 사과하든지 말든지 상관없어요.
Whether he apologizes or not, I don't care.
성공하든지 실패하든지 최선을 다하는 것이 중요합니다.
Whether you succeed or fail, doing your best is what matters.
어떤 선택을 하든지 그 결과는 본인이 책임져야 합니다.
Whatever choice you make, you must take responsibility for the result.
Easily Confused
Sounds similar.
Common Mistakes
가든지 오다
가든지 오든지
가던지 말던지
가든지 말든지
가든지 오든지 해라
가든지 오든지 하세요
가든지 오든지 상관없다
가든지 오든지 상관없습니다
Sentence Patterns
___든지 ___든지 상관없어요.
Real World Usage
오든지 말든지!
Repetition
Smart Tips
Use -든지 -든지.
Pronunciation
Double consonant
The '지' is pronounced clearly.
Flat
가든지 말든지 ↗
Suggests a question or open-endedness.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Den-ji' (Dungeon) where it doesn't matter if you enter or leave, the boss is waiting regardless.
Visual Association
Imagine a fork in the road where both paths lead to the same castle.
Rhyme
Whether you go or stay, it's -든지 anyway.
Story
A king tells his servant: 'Whether you bring me tea or coffee, just bring it fast!' The servant realizes the choice is irrelevant to the king's mood.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences today using -든지 to describe things you don't care about.
Cultural Notes
Used to show that the speaker is not trying to control the listener.
Derived from the verb '하다' (to do) and the connective particle '든지'.
Conversation Starters
오늘 뭐 먹을까요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
가___ 오___ 마음대로 해.
Score: /1
Practice Exercises
1 exercises가___ 오___ 마음대로 해.
Score: /1
Practice Bank
12 exercises피곤하면 ___ 말든지. (If you're tired, sleep or don't.)
What does '사든지 말든지' mean?
춥던지 말던지 나갈 거야.
Match the pairs.
When would you say '믿든지 말든지'?
그가 나를 ___ 말든지. (Like me or not.)
How do you say 'Study or not'?
Which looks wrong?
How do you make '오든지 말든지' polite?
Match stem to form.
보든지 ___ 말든지. (Watch or not)
말든지 / 가든지 / 상관없어 / 네가
Score: /12
FAQ (1)
It can be if used with superiors.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ya sea... o...
Korean uses verb suffixes.
que... ou...
French uses conjunctions.
ob... oder...
German is a conjunction.
～ようが～ようが
Japanese uses different verb forms.
不管...还是...
Chinese uses adverbs.
سواء... أو...
Arabic uses prepositions.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
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