It's good to share meeting minutes or send materials in advance (Listing actions with ~ㄴ다거나)

These patterns help you list possibilities and state your intentions, which are crucial for clear communication.

Meaning & Usage

Meaning of -(느)ㄴ다거나: This pattern is used to list two or more actions, states, or situations as examples from a range of possibilities. It's similar to saying "doing this, or doing that, or..." in English. It implies that the listed items are not exhaustive.

When to use -(느)ㄴ다거나: Use it when giving suggestions, describing habits, or explaining a situation by providing a few examples. For example, "To relax, I do things like listen to music or watch a movie." (음악을 듣는다거나 영화를 봐요.)

Meaning of ~고자: This pattern expresses the speaker's intention or purpose for performing an action. It's a more formal and literary equivalent of -(으)려고 and often conveys a stronger sense of will or a more significant goal. It translates to "in order to," "with the intention of," or "so as to."

When to use ~고자: It is most common in written language, formal speeches, or when you want to sound particularly determined about a goal. For example, "In order to win this competition, I practiced every day." (이번 대회에서 우승하고자 매일 연습했습니다.)

Conjugation Rules

Rule for -(느)ㄴ다거나:

Action Verbs: Add -는다거나 after a stem ending in a consonant (e.g., 먹다 → 먹는다거나). Add -ㄴ다거나 after a stem ending in a vowel (e.g., 가다 → 간다거나). For stems ending in ㄹ, drop the ㄹ and add -ㄴ다거나 (e.g., 만들다 → 만든다거나).

Descriptive Verbs & Nouns: Add -다거나 directly to the verb stem (e.g., 예쁘다 → 예쁘다거나) or after the noun + copula (e.g., 학생이다 → 학생이라거나).

Rule for ~고자:

Simply attach -고자 to the verb stem, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant. (e.g., 가다 → 가고자, 먹다 → 먹고자, 만들다 → 만들고자).

먹는다거나 / 간다거나 / 만든다거나 / 예쁘다거나 / 학생이라거나 / 가고자 / 먹고자

While both express intention, their usage differs significantly in formality and nuance.

Formality and Context

Context for ~고자: This particle is primarily used in formal, written, or public speaking contexts. You'll often see it in official documents, news reports, academic papers, or formal presentations. Using it in casual, everyday conversation can sound stiff, overly dramatic, or even a bit old-fashioned. It's perfect for expressing a serious, significant goal, like in a job interview or a project proposal.

Context for -(으)려고: This is the standard, go-to grammar for expressing intention in most daily conversations. It's neutral and can be used with friends, family, and colleagues in both casual and polite speech. It covers everything from simple plans ("I'm going to the store to buy milk") to more serious goals. When in doubt in a spoken conversation, -(으)려고 is almost always the safer and more natural choice.

Strength of Intention

Nuance of ~고자: It often implies a stronger, more determined will to achieve a goal. The action that follows ~고자 is seen as a direct and focused effort toward that single, important purpose.

Nuance of -(으)려고: While it also expresses purpose, it can feel more like a general plan or a simple reason for an action, without the same level of gravity as ~고자. For example, 살을 빼려고 운동해요 (I exercise to lose weight) is a common, everyday statement. 살을 빼고자 운동합니다 sounds much more like a formal declaration of a serious weight-loss mission.

살을 빼려고 운동해요 / 살을 빼고자 운동합니다

Certain words pair naturally with these grammar points to create common, useful phrases.

~고자 + 노력하다/애쓰다 (Try/Strive)

Context: This combination is frequently used to emphasize the effort put into achieving a specific goal. It highlights not just the intention, but the active struggle or hard work involved. It's a powerful way to show your dedication in formal settings like a self-introduction letter or a presentation.

Example: 합격하고자 최선을 다해 노력했습니다. (In order to pass, I tried my absolute best.)

-(느)ㄴ다거나 + 하다 (To do things like...)

Context: When you list a few example activities with -(느)ㄴ다거나, you can end the clause with 하다 to mean "do things like X or Y." This is a very natural way to describe your hobbies or routine without listing every single thing you do.

Example: 쉬는 날에는 주로 청소를 한다거나 밀린 드라마를 보거나 해요. (On my days off, I usually do things like clean or catch up on TV shows.)

합격하고자 최선을 다해 노력했습니다 / 쉬는 날에는 주로 청소를 한다거나 밀린 드라마를 보거나 해요

The dialogue shows effective ways to give and receive advice in a professional Korean setting.

When Giving Advice

Show Empathy: Start by acknowledging the other person's feelings with phrases like 그 마음 알죠 (I know how that feels). This builds rapport before you offer solutions.

Be Specific: Provide concrete, actionable suggestions. Instead of saying "work harder," Minjun suggests specific actions like 회의록을 꼼꼼하게 공유한다거나 관련 자료를 미리 보내는 걸 좋아하세요 (He likes it when you meticulously share meeting minutes or send related materials in advance).

Offer Encouragement: Conclude with a supportive phrase to reduce stress, such as 너무 스트레스 받지 마요 (Don't get too stressed out).

When Receiving Advice

Acknowledge and Reflect: Show that you're listening and considering the advice. A phrase like 자료를 미리 보내는 건 생각 못 했네요 (I hadn't thought of sending the materials beforehand) indicates you've learned something new.

Express Intent to Act: Signal your acceptance and plan to use the advice with a response like 그렇군요. 다음에는 꼭 그렇게 해봐야겠어요 (I see. I'll definitely have to try that next time).

그 마음 알죠 / 그렇군요. 다음에는 꼭 그렇게 해봐야겠어요.

Both -(느)ㄴ다거나 and ~거나 are used to list alternatives, but they have a subtle difference in nuance.

-(느)ㄴ다거나

Function: This pattern emphasizes that the listed items are just a few examples from a wider range of possibilities. It's like saying, "doing things like X, or doing things like Y..."

Usage: It's often used when giving suggestions or describing a general pattern of behavior. Minjun uses it to list examples of what the team leader likes: 회의록을 꼼꼼하게 공유한다거나 관련 자료를 미리 보내는 걸...

~거나

Function: This is a more general and direct connector for "or." It simply links two or more alternatives without the strong "for example" nuance.

Comparison: While -(느)ㄴ다거나 presents items as representative samples, ~거나 presents them as more straightforward choices. You can even use them together in a list, with -(느)ㄴ다거나 introducing the first example and ~거나 adding subsequent options: 청소를 한다거나 드라마를 보거나 해요 (I do things like clean or watch dramas).

회의록을 공유한다거나 / 표를 만든다거나