KoreaTOPIKCenter
Lv 4ParticleIntermediate · TOPIK II

이든

ideun

whether... or; any (no matter which)

Attaches to a noun to show that it doesn't matter which one out of a set is chosen -- similar to English 'whether... or,' 'any,' or 'no matter which.'

Form

Attaches to
Noun
Other shapes
든 · 이든지 · 든지 · 이든가 · 든가

Meanings

  1. 1

    A postpositional particle used when it does not matter which one is chosen.

    어느 것이 선택되어도 차이가 없음을 나타내는 조사.

Examples

  • 어떠한 것이든 괜찮으니 말씀해 보세요.

    Whatever it is is fine, so please tell me.

  • 네가 원하는 무엇이든 다 해줄 수 있어.

    I can do whatever you want.

  • 배가 너무 고파 밥이든 떡이든 맛없어도 먹을 수 있겠다.

    I'm so hungry I could eat rice or rice cakes, anything, even if it doesn't taste good.

  • 승규는 학기 중이든 방학이든 상관없이 도서관에서 공부했다.

    Seunggyu studied at the library whether it was during the semester or vacation.

  • 언제 시간이 괜찮아요? 전 오늘이든 내일이든 상관없어요.

    When are you free? I'm fine with either today or tomorrow.

  • 언제 시간이 괜찮아요?

    When are you free?

Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.

Don’t confuse with

Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.

Quick check

  1. 1. What does ‘이든’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “whether... or; any (no matter which)”?