No matter what: -든지 말든지

This pattern is a combination of two parts. First, you have -든지, which indicates a choice or an option. Then, you have 말든지, which comes from the verb 말다 (to stop/not do). When you put them together, you create a "whether or not" structure. You are basically saying, "Option A or the negation of Option A." It’s very common in spoken Korean. You’ll hear it in dramas, on the street, and among friends. It’s simple, effective, and carries a lot of attitude. Think of it as the "I'm staying out of this" button in a conversation.

1. 1Identify the action verb you want to use.
2. 2Take the verb stem (remove 다).
3. 3Attach -든지 directly to the stem.
4. 4Follow it immediately with 말든지.
5. 5Example: 가다 (to go) becomes 가든지 말든지.
6. 6For honorifics, add -(으)시- before the ending: 하시든지 말든지.
7. 7You can also shorten it to -든 말든 in very casual speech.

Use this when you want to show you are neutral. It’s perfect for situations where someone is being indecisive. Imagine you are ordering food with a roommate. They keep changing their mind about chicken. You can say, 먹든지 말든지 빨리 정해! (Whether you eat it or not, decide quickly!). It’s also great for expressing your own independence. If someone criticizes your outfit, you might think, 남이 뭐라 하든지 말든지 난 이게 좋아 (Whether others say something or not, I like this). It works well in job interviews too—if you’re the one being interviewed and want to sound bold (though be careful!). You might say you'll succeed whether the company helps or not. It shows a strong, independent will.

Be careful with your tone! This grammar can sound quite blunt. If you say it to a teacher or a boss, it might sound like you’re being rude. It’s like saying "I don't care what you do" to someone you should respect. Avoid using it in highly formal presentations unless you are quoting someone. Also, don't use it when you actually *do* care about the outcome. If your mom asks if she should take her medicine, saying 먹든지 말든지 would be very cold. Use it when the stakes are low or when you’re intentionally being a bit sassy with friends.

One big mistake is using 안 instead of 말다. You cannot say 가든지 안 가든지. That sounds awkward and wrong to a native ear. Always use 말든지 for the "or not" part. Another mistake is forgetting the second half. If you just say 가든지..., it feels like an unfinished thought. You need the 말든지 to complete the "whether or not" logic. Also, don't confuse this with -거나. While -거나 also means "or," -든지 is much more common when expressing this specific "I don't care" nuance. Yes, even native speakers mess up the spelling sometimes, writing 든가 instead of 든지, but in modern speech, they are mostly interchangeable.

How does this differ from -거나 말거나? Honestly, they are very close cousins. However, -든지 말든지 feels a bit more active and spoken. -거나 말거나 can feel a bit more descriptive or literary. Then there is -든지 -든지, which is used for choosing between two *different* actions (like "eating or sleeping"). -든지 말든지 is specifically for "doing or NOT doing." It’s the binary choice of the grammar world. Think of -든지 말든지 as the sharper, more modern version of the two. It’s the one you’ll use 90% of the time when you’re hanging out in Hongdae.