Example Sentences#

1. 하린: 너 정말 치맥 없이는 못 사는구나.¹
   Harin: You really can’t live without chicken and beer, can you?
   • 없이 means ‘without’, formed from 없다 (to not exist) and the adverbial suffix -이.
   • 는 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.
2. 태민: 응, 말 없이도 서로 힘이 되어 주는 게 진짜 감동이었지.²
   Taemin: Yes, it was really touching that they could be a source of strength for each other even without words.
   • 없이 means ‘without’, formed from 없다 (‘to not exist’) and the adverbial suffix -이.
   • 도 is a particle meaning ‘even’ or ‘also’.
3. 그때 나이 든 스님은 아무 말 없이 여자를 들어 강을 건너게 도와주고, 다른 쪽에 내려놓은 후 다시 길을 떠났다.³
   At that moment, the old monk picked up the woman without a word, helped her cross the river, set her down on the other side, and resumed the journey.
   • 없이 means ‘without’, formed from 없다 (‘to not exist’ or ‘to be absent’) and the adverbial suffix -이.