[Korean grammar] -(으)랴 -(으)랴 Expressing Enumeration

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가: 커피숍에서 아르바이트하니까 좋아하는 커피는 실컷 마시겠네요.
Since you’re working part time at a coffee shop, you must be able to drink as much of your favorite coffee as you like

나: 저도 그럴 줄 알았어요. 그런데 아르바이트생 하나가 갑자기 그만두는 바람에 얼마나 바쁜지 몰라요. 주문 받으랴 갖가지 커피 만들랴 정신이 하나도 없다니까요.
That’s what I thought as well. But I’m suddenly very busy now due to one of the other part-time staff members abruptly quitting. I’m always extremely busy taking orders and making all kinds of coffee.

가: 아사미 씨는 낮에는 학교에서 공부하랴 저녁에는 커피숍에서 일하랴 힘들겠어요.
It must be hard for you，Asami being so busy studying during the day and then working at the coffee shop in the evening.

나: 요즘은 너무 바빠서 하루가 어떻게 가는지 모르겠어요.
Recently, I’m so busy that I don’t even notice how the days are passing.


This expression is used to list a number of actions, all of which the subject is making a great effort to try to finish. It is used most often in situations when the subject is busy and really trying to complete a number of tasks. It only attaches to verbs.

• 맞벌이 하는 주부들은 아이 키우랴 직장 생활하랴 쉴 틈이 없다.
Dual-income housewives are so busy raising their children and working at the office that they don’t have any time to rest.

• 고등학생들은 학원 가랴 밀린 숙제 하랴 공부하느라 바빠서 친구들과 어울리지 못하는 경우가 많다.
High school students are so busy attending cram schools and finishing all of their homework that they often don’t have time to meet up with their friends.

• 40대 가장들은 노후 준비도 하랴 아이들 교육도 시키랴 이래저래 돈 들어갈 데가 많다.
Many household heads in their 40s spend a lot of money on many things, including preparing for their old age and their children’s education.

>> You can click on the title of each grammar below to see other grammars which also express 'Enumeration'

1. -는가 하면 
2. -느니 -느니 하다
3. -(으)라-(으)랴
4. (이)며 (이)며

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