Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 4 - Intermediate Korean #1 (Lessons 91 to 120) ᚛ Lesson 120 - Nothing, any in Korean [아무] [(이)든(지)]

Nothing, any in Korean [아무] [(이)든(지)]

In this course: 아무 / 든지 / 이든지

In the previous lesson, we saw how to express "everything" and "something" in Korean. Let’s now see how to say "nothing" and "any".

Any in Korean (anyone, anywhere, anytime, … etc.)

With 아무

In Korean, the word 아무 could be translated as "any" in English. It can be placed in front of a noun to express the idea of having one element among many others. However, since 아무 implicitly expresses a feeling of abundance, because any element will do, the particle of abundance (이)나 is used after the noun in the following manner:
아무 [Noun](이)나

아무 노래나 일단 틀어.
→ Just put on any song for now.

너무 예뻐서 아무 옷이나 입어도 돼요.
→ You are so pretty that you can wear any clothes.

아무 전화나 받지 마. 아는 번호만 받아.
→ Don’t answer just any call. Only answer numbers you know.

The structure made up of 아무 and the particle (이)나 has allowed the construction of many words in Korean.

• 아무나 = anyone
• 아무거나 = anything
• 아무 데나 / 아무 곳이나 = anywhere (for cases that use the particle 에)
• 아무 데서나 / 아무 곳에서나 = anywhere (for cases that use the particle 에서)
• 아무때나 = anytime
• 아무한테나 / 아무에게나 = to anyone
• 아무한테(서)나 / 아무에게(서)나 = from anyone
• 아무하고나 = with anyone

너무 쉬워. 아무나 할 수 있어.
→ It’s too easy. Anyone can do it.

아무 데나 쓰레기 버리면 안 돼.
→ You can’t throw trash just anywhere.

아무거나 먹고 싶은 것 골라. 내가 사 줄게.
→ Pick anything you want to eat. I’ll buy it for you.

아무 데서나 담배 피우시면 안 돼요.
→ You can’t smoke just anywhere.

이 음료는 제주도에만 있어. 아무 곳에서나 마실 수 있는 게 아니야.
→ This drink is only found on Jeju Island. It’s not something you can drink just anywhere.

너 아무한테나 그렇게 웃니? 질투 나.
→ Do you smile like that at just anyone? I’m jealous.

민지는 사교적이어서 아무하고나 말을 잘해요.
→ Since Minji is sociable, she talks easily with anyone.

저는 아무 데서나 잘 자요.
→ I sleep well anywhere.

아무거나 먹지 마세요.
→ Don’t eat just anything.

With (이)든(지)

Nothing in Korean (nobody, nowhere, at no time, … etc.)

Just like the combination of 아무 and the particle (이)나 to express any element, it is possible to combine 아무 and the particle 도 to express the non-existence of an element, in the following manner:
아무 [Noun]도

This structure can only be used in negative sentences and never in affirmative ones.

아무 고민도 없어요.
→ I don’t have any worries.

지금 너무 긴장돼서 아무 생각도 안 납니다.
→ I’m so nervous right now that I can’t think of anything. (Lit: no thought comes to mind)

아무 목소리도 안 들려요.
→ I can’t hear any voice.

아무 말도 하지 마.
→ Don’t say anything.

The structure made up of 아무 and the particle 도 has allowed the construction of many words in Korean:

Exercises

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