N(Số lượng) + (이)나N(quantity) + (i)na
Beginner 2 · #37Lesson 13: 영화 – Movies

N(Quantity) + (이)나 – As many as / No less than N

Meaning: As many as / as much as / all of N (surprisingly large amount)

Conjugation & Pattern

  • Quantity/Time/Price phrase with patchim + 이나 (세 시간이나, 오만 원이나)
  • Quantity phrase without patchim + 나 (두 개나, 다섯 시나)

Detailed Usage

Attached to a quantity, duration, or price noun phrase to express surprise that the amount is greater than expected ('as many/much as').

Example Sentences

  1. 1

    어제 커피를 네 잔이나 마셨어요.

    Eoje keopireul ne janina masyeosseoyo.

    Yesterday I drank as many as four cups of coffee.

  2. 2

    그 영화를 다섯 번이나 봤어요.

    Geu yeonghwareul daseot beonina bwasseoyo.

    I watched that movie five whole times.

  3. 3

    주말이라서 버스를 삼십 분이나 기다렸어요.

    Jumariraseo beoseureul samsip bunina gidaryeosseoyo.

    Because it was the weekend, I waited a full thirty minutes for the bus.

Important Notes

In contrast, to emphasize that a quantity is surprisingly small ('only'), Korean uses 'N + 밖에 + negative predicate'.

Grammar Topics