TOPIK II · LEVEL 5
-(으)ㄴ/는 것이나 다름없다
It says that something is not literally X, but in practice it is just the same as X.
정도·비교Degree & comparisonHan: The speaker means the pass is practically already secured, so the completed form 합격한 is needed; 합격하는 does not express 'as good as passed'.
Examples
그는 아무 대답도 하지 않았지만 그건 거절한 것이나 다름없었다.He gave no answer at all, but that was no different from a refusal.
어릴 때부터 저를 키워 주신 이모는 저에게 어머니나 다름없는 분이에요.My aunt, who raised me since I was little, is just like a mother to me.
아무 노력도 하지 않고 기다리기만 하는 것은 포기하는 것이나 다름없다.Just waiting without making any effort is no different from giving up.
계약서에 사인만 하면 되니까 이 일은 끝난 것이나 다름없어요.We only need to sign the contract, so this job is as good as done.
Don’t mix up
-(으)ㄴ/는 것이나 다름없다vs-(으)ㄴ/는 셈이다셈이다 is a conclusion reached by counting or weighing facts ('it works out to'), while 것이나 다름없다 equates the situation with X more strongly: 한 달에 한 번 만나니까 거의 안 만나는 셈이에요.-(으)ㄴ/는 것이나 다름없다vs-(으)ㄴ/는 것과 마찬가지다The meaning is almost identical; the choice is mainly register — 마찬가지다 is more neutral and common in speech: 연락을 안 하는 건 헤어진 것과 마찬가지예요.
How to build it
V+(으)ㄴ/는 것이나 다름없다
A+(으)ㄴ 것이나 다름없다
N+(이)나 다름없다
끝나다 → 끝난 것이나 다름없다 (as good as finished)
- For a result that is practically reached already, use the past form V-(으)ㄴ, even if it has not officially happened yet: 이긴 것이나 다름없다 'as good as won'.
- After a noun, drop 것 and attach (이)나 directly: 가족이나 다름없다, not 가족인 것이나 다름없다.
- Use it when something is effectively, not literally, X; for a plain fact that is literally true, just state the fact.
- It sounds rather formal or written; in conversation Koreans usually say -(으)ㄴ/는 거나 다름없어요 or -(으)ㄴ/는 거나 마찬가지예요.
Classic mistake
Wrong: 이 점수면 시험에 합격하는 것이나 다름없어요.
Right: 이 점수면 시험에 합격한 것이나 다름없어요.
The speaker means the pass is practically already secured, so the completed form 합격한 is needed; 합격하는 does not express 'as good as passed'.
Practise -(으)ㄴ/는 것이나 다름없다 on real TOPIK questions
Hannim plans each day up to your exam date: questions on this pattern, reviews, full mock papers and graded writing. 7 days free, no card.
Start 7-day free trialMore level 5 grammar
All TOPIK grammar- -에 그치다N + 에 그치다 says that a result or level stopped at N and went no further, usually less than hoped for.
- -기 나름이다The result is not fixed; it depends on how someone does the action or looks at things.
- -에 불과하다N에 불과하다 says that something is only N and no more, and stresses that it is small, unimportant or less than expected.
- -(이)란N(이)란 picks out a concept that you are about to define or explain the essence of: "N is (by its nature)…", "what we call N is…".
- -(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다Use -(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다 when the situation makes it plain to you that something, usually something bad, will happen or has happened.
- -(으)ㄴ 끝에Shows that a result was finally reached after a long or difficult process of doing something.
- -(으)ㄹ 망정-(으)ㄹ망정 means 'even if I have to accept this bad situation, I still won't give up something more important,' or 'although X is true, Y still holds.'
- -(으)ㄹ 즈음-(으)ㄹ 즈음 means "around the time when something happens": it marks an approximate time, not an exact moment.
- -(으)ㄹ 테다Declares the speaker's firm will or determination: 'I will … (no matter what)'. In a question to the listener it asks about their intention, often bluntly. Plain style: -(으)ㄹ 테야 in speech, -(으)ㄹ 테다 in self-talk and narration.