(이)나
(i)na
Grammar · 2 senses
at least
Examples
오늘 오후에 시간 있으면 카페에나 갑시다.
If you have time this afternoon, let's, at least, go to a cafe.
When you'd hear it
This use appears in everyday conversation when suggesting a modest fallback, as in 카페에나 갑시다. It is common among friends and coworkers and is also heard in dramas; it is less typical in formal written prose.
What learners get wrong
Here, -(이)나 presents something as a minimum or simple option, while -(이)라도 more strongly means “even” that option or a fallback despite circumstances. Also note that 카페에나 contains 에 followed by 나, not the noun form 카페나.
no less than
Examples
저는 남동생 다섯 명이나 있어요.
I have as many as five younger brothers.
When you'd hear it
Common in conversational Korean, especially when reacting to a surprisingly large number or amount. It also appears in informal writing such as messages and personal posts.
What learners get wrong
After a number or quantity, (이)나 emphasizes that the amount is surprisingly large; it is not the “or” meaning of (이)나. For example, 다섯 명이나 있어요 highlights the unexpectedly high count.
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