KoreaTOPIKCenter
Lv 3Grammar expressionSeen on past TOPIK papersIntermediate · TOPIK II

-나 마나

whether or not ~, it makes no difference

Attaches to a verb stem to say that doing an action or not doing it leads to the same, already-predictable result, implying the action is pointless; casual spoken register.

Examples

  • 그 사람은 물어보나 마나 안 된다고 할 거예요.

    Whether you ask him or not, he'll say no anyway.

  • 이렇게 어두우니 사진을 찍으나 마나다.

    It's so dark that taking a picture is pointless.

  • 날씨가 이런데 소풍은 가나 마나예요.

    With weather like this, going on a picnic is pointless either way.

Examples written by Korea TOPIK Center.

Quick check

  1. 1. What does ‘-나 마나’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “whether or not ~, it makes no difference”?