一TOPIK 1-2

N(이)나

or

Joins two nouns and marks a choice between them. Use 이나 after a final consonant and 나 without one. It’s lighter than the written 또는 and is the everyday “or”.

접속 conjugation

  • noun without a final consonant + 나: 커피 → 커피나 차
  • noun with a final consonant + 이나: 빵 → 빵이나 밥
  • not for joining verbs or adjectives — use -거나: 쉬다 → 쉬거나 자다

예문

EXAMPLES
회의는 화요일이나 수요일 중에 하루만 잡아 주세요.
Please book the meeting for either Tuesday or Wednesday — just one day.from 2026.09.02 Wed the examples
결제 방식입니다. 계좌 이체나 수표 중에 어느 쪽이 편하신지요?
The payment method. Would a bank transfer or a cheque suit you better?from 2026.09.02 Wed the business dialogue
점심은 김밥이나 라면으로 간단히 때우자.
Let’s just grab gimbap or ramyeon for lunch.from 2026.09.03 Thu the examples
연락은 문자나 메일 중에 편하신 쪽으로 주세요.
Get in touch by text or email, whichever suits you.from 2026.09.03 Thu the examples
그것도 좋지만, 아침에 삼십 분이나 한 시간만 집중해도 결과가 달라.
That’s good too, but thirty minutes or an hour of proper focus in the morning changes the result.from 2026.09.03 Thu the everyday dialogue
※It attaches only to nouns; between verbs and adjectives you need -거나. Note also that (이)나 after a single noun turns into a resigned “or something”: 커피나 마실까? means “shall we just get a coffee then”, not “would you like coffee?”

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