Korean Pattern ~든지: How to Say "whether ~ or / no matter"

Question word + 든지. Creates 'any-' words: 뭐든지 (anything), 어디든지 (anywhere), 언제든지 (anytime).

The Rule

~든지 = "whether ~ or / no matter" Question word + 든지. Creates 'any-' words: 뭐든지 (anything), 어디든지 (anywhere), 언제든지 (anytime). This is one of the essential Korean grammar patterns. Mastering it unlocks the ability to express "whether ~ or / no matter" naturally in conversation — something you'll need almost every day.

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

In English, "whether ~ or / no matter" is expressed with separate words (auxiliary verbs, modals). In Korean, ~든지 is a grammatical ENDING attached to the verb stem. You can't just translate word-by-word. The common mistake: trying to combine Korean words the way English does instead of attaching the pattern to the verb stem. Korean grammar works by stacking endings, not by adding separate helper words.

How It Works

Formation: Verb stem + 든지 Question word + 든지. Creates 'any-' words: 뭐든지 (anything), 어디든지 (anywhere), 언제든지 (anytime). Step by step: 1. Take any verb (e.g., 가다 = to go) 2. Remove 다 to get the stem (가) 3. Add the pattern: 가든지 This works with virtually any Korean verb.

Real Examples

• 뭐든지 괜찮아요. (mwodeunji gwaenchanayo.) — "Anything is fine." • 언제든지 연락하세요. (eonjedeunji yeonrakhaseyo.) — "Contact me anytime."

Common Mistakes

❌ Trying to translate "whether ~ or / no matter" word-by-word from English ✅ Use the pattern ~든지 attached to the verb stem → Korean expresses "whether ~ or / no matter" as a single grammatical construction, not separate words. ❌ Forgetting vowel harmony or consonant rules ✅ Check if the verb stem ends in a vowel or consonant — the pattern may change form → Pay attention to the verb stem's final sound when attaching the pattern.

Quick Tip

Practice ~든지 with 5 verbs you already know. Write them out: • 가다 (go) → 가든지 • 먹다 (eat) → 먹든지 Repetition with familiar verbs builds the pattern into muscle memory. Once automatic, you can use it with ANY verb.

~든지 = "whether ~ or / no matter"

Examples

뭐든지 괜찮아요. — mwodeunji gwaenchanayo. — Anything is fine.

언제든지 연락하세요. — eonjedeunji yeonrakhaseyo. — Contact me anytime.