Regardless -든(지) in Korean

Overview

The pattern -든(지) expresses "whether... or" and "regardless" at the CEFR B2 level. It indicates that the outcome is the same no matter what the condition is. Often used in pairs (X-든 Y-든) for "whether X or Y," and with 아무 for "any(thing/one/where)."

How It Works

Pattern	Meaning	Example
V-든(지)	whether or not	가든지 말든지 (whether go or not)
A-든 B-든	whether A or B	비가 오든 눈이 오든 (rain or snow)
아무+N+-든(지)	any N at all	뭐든지 (anything)

Examples in Context

Korean	Romanization	English	Note
비가 오든 눈이 오든 가요.	bi-ga o-deun nu-ni o-deun ga-yo	Go whether rain or snow.	paired
뭐든지 먹을 수 있어요.	mwo-deun-ji meo-geul su i-sseo-yo	Can eat anything.	아무
누가 오든 상관없어요.	nu-ga o-deun sang-gwan-eop-seo-yo	Doesn't matter who comes.	regardless
어디든 가고 싶어요.	eo-di-deun ga-go si-peo-yo	Want to go anywhere.	any place
좋든 싫든 해야 해요.	jot-deun sil-deun hae-ya hae-yo	Whether you like it or not, must do it.	paired contrast
언제든지 오세요.	eon-je-deun-ji o-se-yo	Come anytime.	open invitation

Common Mistakes

Confusing -든지 with -던지

• Wrong: Using -던지 (past retrospective) when meaning "whether"
• Right: -든지 for "regardless/whether"; -던지 relates to past recollection
• Why: Different vowels create entirely different meanings.

Treating -든(지) as identical to -(으)면

• Wrong: 비가 오든지 우산을 가져가세요 (using -든지 like conditional)
• Right: 비가 오면 우산을 가져가세요 (if it rains, take an umbrella)
• Why: -든지 means "regardless of whether"; -(으)면 means "if." They express fundamentally different relationships.

Forgetting paired structure

• Wrong: Using -든 without a second option
• Right: Pair with another -든 or leave open: 가든 안 가든, or use 뭐든지 for "whatever"
• Why: -든 is most natural in pairs or with indefinite words (뭐든지, 어디든지).

Usage Notes

-든(지) is very productive and common at B2+ level. The expressions 뭐든지 (anything), 어디든지 (anywhere), 언제든지 (anytime), and 누구든지 (anyone) are extremely high-frequency in Korean and should be memorized as set phrases. In formal writing, -든지 can express legal or regulatory language: 누구든지 이 법을 위반하면 (anyone who violates this law). The pattern adds a tone of openness, indifference, or unconditional acceptance to the statement.

In casual speech, the 지 is often dropped: 뭐든 먹어 (eat whatever), 어디든 가자 (let's go anywhere). This shortened form is very natural in everyday Korean conversation among friends.

Usage Notes

-든(지) is very productive and common at B2+. 뭐든지 (anything), 어디든지 (anywhere), 언제든지 (anytime), 누구든지 (anyone) are high-frequency expressions. The pattern adds a tone of open-mindedness or indifference.

Practice Tips

• Create "anytime, anywhere, anything" sentences: 언제든지 전화하세요. 뭐든지 물어보세요.
• Practice paired alternatives: 가든 안 가든, 좋든 싫든.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Conditional -(으)면 — conditional patterns set the stage