Example Sentences#

1. 앨리스: “어디든 상관없어요—” 앨리스가 말했다.¹
   Alice: “I don’t care where—” said Alice.

   • 어디 means ‘where’.
   • -든 is a short form of -든지, a particle indicating that any choice is acceptable. In this construction, it attaches to the implied copula 이다 (to be), conveying a meaning similar to ‘anywhere’ or ‘wherever’.

2. 그것은 숲의 오래된 영혼의 목소리였고, 타로에게 원하는 무엇이든 변할 수 있는 힘을 주겠다고 했습니다.²
   It was the voice of an old spirit of the forest, promising Taro the power to change anything he wanted.

   • 무엇 means ‘something’.
   • -든 is a short form of -든지, a particle indicating that any choice is acceptable. Here, it combines with the copula 이다 (to be) to convey a meaning similar to ‘anything’ or ‘whatever’.

3. 체셔 고양이: “그럼 어느 쪽으로 가든 상관없어,” 고양이가 말했다.¹
   Cheshire Cat: “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the cat.

   • 가다 means ‘to go’.
   • -든 is a short form of -든지, a connective ending used to indicate that any option is acceptable, meaning ‘whether…or’.

4. 앨리스: “—어디든 가기만 하면 돼요,” 앨리스가 덧붙였다.¹
   Alice: “—so long as I get somewhere,” Alice added.

   • 어디 means ‘where’.
   • -든 is a short form of -든지, a particle indicating that any choice is acceptable. In this construction, it attaches to the implied copula 이다 (to be), conveying a meaning similar to ‘anywhere’ or ‘wherever’.