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-기 나름이다

-gi nareumida

it depends on how you...

Attaches to verb stems to mean that the outcome of something depends entirely on how the preceding action is carried out — 'it's all in how you do it'.

Form

Other shapes
-을 나름이다

Meanings

  1. 1

    An expression used to indicate that something depends on how the act mentioned in the preceding statement is done.

    어떤 일이 앞말이 나타내는 행동을 어떻게 하느냐에 따라 달라질 수 있음을 나타내는 표현.

    ※ 동사 또는 '-으시-' 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

Examples

  • 불행과 행복은 생각하기 나름이다.

    Misfortune and happiness depend on how you think about them.

  • 아이의 습관은 부모가 교육하기 나름이다.

    A child's habits depend on how the parents raise them.

  • 건강 유지는 자기가 노력하기 나름이다.

    Staying healthy depends on how much effort you put in.

  • 아름답다는 것은 정의하기 나름인 것 같아. 맞아. 사람마다 기준도 다르고.

    I think beauty depends on how you define it. Right. Everyone has different standards, too.

  • 네 방이 되게 좁은 줄 알았는데 이렇게 보니 괜찮네. 좁은 공간도 꾸미기 나름이야.

    I thought your room was really small, but seeing it now, it looks fine. Even a small space is all about how you decorate it.

  • 아름답다는 것은 정의하기 나름인 것 같아.

    I think beauty depends on how you define it.

Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.

Quick check

  1. 1. What does ‘-기 나름이다’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “it depends on how you...”?