-(으)나

Build it

When to use it

Attachment is the standard rule, and ㄹ drops: 만들다 gives 만드나. Tense goes in front: 갔으나, 좋았으나.

It belongs to writing — reports, articles, formal announcements. In conversation it sounds stiff, and -지만 or -는데 is what people actually say.

It has a second use worth knowing: repeated on the same verb, positive and negative, it means “whether or not.” 비가 오나 안 오나 갈 거예요. This use does appear in speech, as a fixed pattern.

Note also the sentence-initial connector 그러나, which is the written equivalent of 하지만 and comes from the same ending.

How to attach it

In use

1. 가격은 비싸나 품질이 좋다.

   It is expensive, but the quality is good.

2. 여러 번 시도했으나 실패했다.

   We tried several times but failed.

3. 그 계획은 좋으나 비용이 문제다.

   The plan is sound, but cost is an issue.

4. 이 제품은 국내에서 만드나 해외에서도 판매된다.

   This product is made domestically but is also sold abroad.

5. 비가 오나 안 오나 경기는 열립니다.

   The match will go ahead whether it rains or not.

6. 노력했다. 그러나 결과는 좋지 않았다.

   We made an effort. However, the result was poor.

Compared with

• -지만

  Identical meaning, different register. -지만 works everywhere; -(으)나 sounds formal or old-fashioned in speech.

  비싸지만 좋아요. (speech)  /  비싸나 품질이 좋다. (writing)

• -(으)ㄴ/는데

  -는데 supplies background and softens; -(으)나 states a plain opposition. Written Korean prefers the second for clear contrast.

  비싼데 좋아요. (it’s pricey — and good)  /  비싸나 좋다. (expensive, yet good)

• -(으)나 -(으)나

  Doubled with a negative, it means “regardless.” This pattern survives in ordinary speech even though the plain ending does not.

  가나 안 가나 상관없어요.  /  좋으나 싫으나 해야 돼요.

Watch out

• 국내에서 만들으나 해외에서도 판매된다.

  국내에서 만드나 해외에서도 판매된다.

  Stems ending in ㄹ drop it before this ending, as with -(으)니까 and -(으)세요.

• 이거 비싸나 맛있어요.

  이거 비싸지만 맛있어요.

  -(으)나 clashes with casual conversation. In speech, use -지만 or -는데.

• 여러 번 시도하나 실패했다.

  여러 번 시도했으나 실패했다.

  Unlike -아서, this ending accepts tense — and a completed past attempt needs it.

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