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I intend to wash my car on the way home.
나: 저녁에 비가 올 거래요. 비가 오면 세차를 하나 마나니까 나중에 하세요.
They say it might rain this evening. It’s no use washing your car if it’s going to rain, so do it later.
가: 식사하고 30분 후에 약을 먹어야 하는데 잊어버리고 안 먹었네요.
I’m supposed to take my medicine 30 minutes after eating, but I forgot about it.
나: 약은 시간에 맞춰서 먹지 않으면 먹으나 마나예요. 그러니까 꼭 시간을 지켜서 드세요.
Medicine must be taken at the right time, or else there’s no point in taking it. So you really need to take it at the appropriate time.
This expression is used when doing the preceding action is of no value of use. In other words, the result would be the same regardless of whether the action is performed. When stated, the result is expressed as a strong, almost definite supposition. The strong supposition is usually based on general common sense knowledge or on the consideration of someone's usual or habitual actions. This expression is used with verbs only.
• 이 시간에는 가 보나 마나 가게 문을 닫았을 텐데 내일 가는 게 어때요?
Even if you were to go now, the store should be closed, so why not go tomorrow?
• 이 책은 제목을 보니까 읽으나 마나 재미없을 것 같아요. 안 읽을래요.
Judging by the title, I can tell this book is boring without even reading it, I'm not going to bother reading it.
• 이 단어는 요즘에 새로 생긴 인터넷 용어라서 사전을 찾아보나 마나 없을 거예요.
This word is a new Internet term that probably won't be in a dictionary even if you search for it.
1. This expression is not used often with verbs having a negative connotation, such as 실망하다, 잊어버리다, and 잃어버리다.
• 실망하나 마나 그 사람을 안 만날 거 예요. (X)
• 잊어버리나 마나 그 사람 이름을 기억 못 해요. (X)
2. The negative particles 안 and 못 cannot be used in front of -(으)나 마나.
• 안 먹으나 마나 배가 고프기는 마찬가지일 거예요. (X)
->먹으나 마나 배가 고프기는 마찬가지 일 거예요. (〇)
3. This expression can also be used in the form of -(으)나 마나예요.
• 마크 씨에게 그 이야기를 해도 안 들을 거예요. 하나 마나예요.
Mark won't listen to you even if you tell him that. It's no use (even trying).
>> You can click on the title of each grammar below to learn about the other grammars which also express 'Futility':
01 -(으)나 마나
02 -아/어 봤자
>> Full of Intermediate grammars: Click here
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