V1-(으)랴 V2-(으)랴 (What with doing A and doing B, busy juggling...)
Meaning: Busy doing both A and B (lists multiple tasks that must be juggled simultaneously, leaving the subject exhausted or swamped).
Conjugation & Pattern
- V1 with batchim + -으랴 | No batchim/ㄹ + -랴
- Pattern: V1-(으)랴 V2-(으)랴 (followed by 정신이 없다 / 바쁘다 / 눈코 뜰 새가 없다)
Detailed Usage
Attaches only to action verbs performed by the same subject. The main clause always expresses being overwhelmingly busy or hectic.
Example Sentences
- 1
요즘 대학생들은 수업 들으랴 취업 준비하랴 눈코 뜰 새가 없다.
Yojeum daehaksaengdeureun sueop deureurya chwieop junbiharya nunko tteul saega eopda.
College students these days are overwhelmingly busy, what with attending classes and preparing for employment.
- 2
한국어 수업을 들으랴 아르바이트를 하랴 정신없이 바쁜 하루를 보냅니다.
Hangugeo sueobeul deureurya areubaiteureul harya jeongsineopsi bappeun harureul bonaemnida.
I spend a hectically busy day juggling Korean classes and a part-time job.
- 3
외국 영화를 볼 때면 자막을 읽으랴 화면을 보랴 정신이 없습니다.
Oeguk yeonghwareul bol ttaemyeon jamageul ilgeurya hwamyeoneul borya jeongsini eopseumnida.
Whenever I watch a foreign movie, I'm hectic trying to both read the subtitles and watch the screen.
Important Notes
Commonly followed by idioms like 눈코 뜰 새가 없다 or 정신없이 바쁘다.
