TOPIK II · LEVEL 3
-든지
-든지 means 'either … or' or 'whatever / whenever': any of the options is fine.
나열·첨가Listing & addingHan: 언제든지 'any time' goes with an invitation, not a prohibition.
Examples
궁금한 게 있으면 언제든지 연락하세요.If you have questions, contact me any time.
가든지 말든지 마음대로 하세요.Go or don't go — do as you like.
주말에는 영화를 보든지 산책을 하든지 할 거예요.At the weekend I'll either watch a movie or go for a walk.
Don’t mix up
-든지vs-거나Both list options; -든지 also gives the 'whatever, it doesn't matter' feeling, especially with question words.How to build it
V/A+든지 (V/A + 든지)
가다 → 가든지 말든지, 언제든지, 뭐든지
- With question words: 언제든지 'any time', 누구든지 'anyone', 뭐든지 'anything'.
- -든지 말든지 means 'whether you do it or not (I don't care)'.
Classic mistake
Wrong: 언제든지 오지 마세요.
Right: 언제든지 오세요.
언제든지 'any time' goes with an invitation, not a prohibition.
Practise -든지 on real TOPIK questions
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All TOPIK grammar- -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라Use it to say that besides the first fact, a second fact of the same kind is also true: "not only ... but also ...".
- -(으)ㄴ/는 데다가-(으)ㄴ/는 데다가 adds a second fact on top of the first, usually pointing the same way, like "and on top of that…".
- -(느)ㄴ다거나Lists actions or states as examples, 'things like doing A or B'; it comes from -다고 하거나 and gives representative options rather than a full list.
- -기도 하다-기도 하다 adds 'also' or 'sometimes': A is also true, or A happens now and then.
- -(으)ㅁ-(으)ㅁ turns a verb or adjective into a noun; it is used in notes, notices, memos and written records.
- -(으)며-(으)며 is a formal, written 'and' (listing) or 'while' (two actions at once).
- -(이)야-(이)야 emphasizes a topic as obvious or as the only one meant: 'as for N, of course …'.
- -(으)ㄹ 겸-(으)ㄹ 겸 gives one of two or more purposes for a single action: 'partly to …, and also to …'.
- -(으)ㄹ 걸 그랬다-(으)ㄹ 걸 그랬다 expresses regret: 'I should have done …' (but didn't).