-(으)랴 -(으)랴

Lists two (or more) tasks a person is juggling at the same time to stress that they are extremely busy or worn out.

나열·첨가Listing & adding

Han: Past tense is not attached to -(으)랴; the past is shown only in the final verb 바빴어요.

Examples

요즘 직장 다니랴 아이 키우랴 정신이 하나도 없어요.These days, what with going to work and raising a child, I'm completely frazzled.

시험 기간에는 보고서 쓰랴 발표 준비하랴 잘 시간도 없었어요.During exam period, what with writing reports and preparing presentations, I didn't even have time to sleep.

어머니는 가게 보시랴 살림하시랴 늘 바쁘셨다.My mother was always busy, what with running the shop and keeping the house.

명절에는 음식 장만하랴 손님 맞으랴 하루가 어떻게 가는지 몰라요.On holidays, what with preparing food and receiving guests, the day flies by before I know it.

V1+(으)랴 V2+(으)랴+바쁘다 / 정신없다 / 힘들다 / 시간이 없다

일하다 + 공부하다 → 일하랴 공부하랴 바빠요 (받침 있음: 읽다 → 읽으랴)

Do not put tense markers (-았/었-, -겠-) before -(으)랴; the tense is shown only in the final verb.
Use it with action verbs, and all the tasks belong to the same person as the subject of the main clause.
The main clause usually describes busyness, exhaustion or lack of time; it is not used with commands or suggestions.

Wrong: ~~어제는 청소했으랴 빨래했으랴 바빴어요.~~

Right: 어제는 청소하랴 빨래하랴 바빴어요.

Past tense is not attached to -(으)랴; the past is shown only in the final verb 바빴어요.

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