이라든가
이라든가: Options That Would All Work
Particle: enumerates items any of which would be fine — ‘things of that sort’.
How to form it
| When | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun with batchim | 이라든가 | 차이라든가 / 책이라든가 |
| Noun without batchim | 라든가 | 커피라든가 / 영화라든가 |
| Listing frame | N이라든가 N이라든가 | 차이라든가 커피라든가 주세요 |
이라든가 / 라든가 opens a menu of options that would all work — tea or coffee or something in that family.
우리말샘 이라든가 「001」 / 라든가 「001」: enumerates items any of which may be selected; implies things of that sort, not only the named ones. That “and the like” colour is the whole point of the page.
Why this is hard
English or covers exclusive choice, open lists, and “something like X.” Korean splits those jobs. Learners often treat 이라든가 as a fancy twin of 이나 and then get stuck when a textbook wants a verb choice instead — that seat belongs to -거나, not this particle.
The other trap is stacking forms: *커피이라든가. Batchim decides 이라든가 vs 라든가. Vowel-final nouns take 라든가 only.
What it does
You are not locking the listener into A-xor-B. You are saying “pick from this neighbourhood.”
차이라든가 커피라든가 주세요.
책이라든가 잡지를 가져오세요.
영화라든가 드라마를 볼까요?
주말이라든가 저녁에 만나요.One item alone is fine: 차이라든가 주세요 still means “tea — or something in that line.”
Forms (batchim only)
| After | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Batchim noun | 이라든가 | 차이라든가, 책이라든가 |
| Vowel-final noun | 라든가 | 커피라든가, 영화라든가 |
커피라든가. ✅
*커피이라든가. ❌When not to use it
Do not glue it onto verb stems to mean “do A or do B.” That is -거나 (가거나 오거나), not *가다라든가.
Do not force an exclusive logic-puzzle reading. If you need “exactly one of two, and the other is out,” plain 이나 or a clearer exclusive frame is often cleaner than leaning on 이라든가’s “and such” haze.
Do not use it as a softener for refusing everything — the particle still offers options; it does not cancel the request.
Neighbours — and why they differ
| Form | Why it is not this slot |
|---|---|
| 이나 | Also lists noun choices, but usually tighter; less “따위 / that sort.” |
| -거나 | Clause/verb alternation, not a noun particle. |
| -든지 | “Whatever / either way” freer choice on stems; different attachment. |
Ask: am I naming noun options that would all be acceptable, with room for “that kind of thing”? If yes, 이라든가. If you are alternating actions, switch to -거나.
Do not confuse it with
Taught alongside this
On the jabi learning path, this appears in 조사 (inspection) — Advanced Korean 1, Unit 1, on the theme of inspection. These come with it:
Words used above
Quick check
No sign-up, no score saved — just see if it stuck.
1. Tea or coffee — either sort is fine. Which line opens that option menu?
2. Which line uses the vowel-final forms-table shape 커피라든가?
3. Same drinks menu — which keeps the open-ended 이라든가 list, not bare 이나?
Common questions
What does the dictionary say?
우리말샘 이라든가 「001」 / 라든가 「001」: lists items any of which may be chosen; implies ‘that sort of thing,’ not only the named items.
Is it the same as -거나?
-거나 connects clauses/verbs. 이라든가 is a noun particle for option lists.
Can I use it once without a pair?
Yes — 차이라든가 주세요 still works, with a ‘something like tea’ feel.
Register?
Fine in careful speech and writing. Not as stiff as legal 내지.