이든
이든: Whether It's A or B — Noun Options Open
Whether it's… — particle listing noun options with no preference among them.
How to form it
| When | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Batchim noun | 이든 | 책이든 / 물이든 |
| Open noun | 든 | 커피든 / 차든 |
| Full form | 이든지 / 든지 | 누구든지 / 어디든지 |
이든 (and 든) keeps noun options open — whether A or B, any is fine.
Gloss: whether it’s — listing options in the written register. 우리말샘 이든 「001」: short form of 이든지. 이든지 「001」 (보조사): list two or more items where whichever is chosen makes no difference.
Noun lists
책이든 신문이든 읽어요.
버스든 지하철이든 빨리만 가면 돼요.
물이든 차든 주세요.
누구든 올 수 있어요.
휴일이든 평일이든 열어 있어요.Pair with -든지 on verbs: 가든지 말든지 vs 버스든 지하철이든.
Forms
| Environment | Shape |
|---|---|
| Batchim noun | 이든 / 이든지 |
| Open noun | 든 / 든지 |
| Correlative | A든 B든 |
Dictionary treats 이든 as the shortened particle, not a separate mystery lemma.
Neighbours
| Form | Host |
|---|---|
| 이든 / 든 | nouns |
| -든지 | verbs / adjectives |
| 이나 | noun ‘or / about’ |
커피나 차 주세요. soft or
커피든 차든 주세요. either is fine (open)
마시든지 말든지요. verb pathWhen to use it
Use 이든 when the noun list itself is the open set.
Use -든지 when the open set is actions or states.
Supplementary slot — learn it beside the verb pattern so noun lines stop looking broken.
Do not confuse it with
Taught alongside this
On the jabi learning path, this appears in 물에 빠진 사람을 발견한다면 주위에 알리세요 (If you see someone drowning, let people know) — Intermediate Korean 2, Unit 13, on the theme of disaster and rescue. These come with it:
Words used above
Quick check
No sign-up, no score saved — just see if it stuck.
1. 책이든 신문이든 읽어요 means…
2. Dictionary 이든?
3. vs -든지?
Common questions
Full form?
이든지 / 든지. 우리말샘 이든지 「001」: list two or more where any choice makes no difference.
Supplementary?
Yes — Intermediate 4 add-on beside -어 버리다 / -는다면.
vs 이나?
ina often ‘or / about.’ 이든 stresses open indifference among options.
Written feel?
Curriculum gloss notes written-register listing. Speech also uses 든/든지 freely.