나 (na) · 이나 (i-na, ina)
'나' mainly means 'who' in questions, while '이나' expresses choice or alternatives.
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
Pronoun mainly meaning 'who' in questions
When to use
asking who in questions, used as first-person subject, informal conversation
The nuance
‘나’ is used in questions to ask about a person (who). In statements, ‘나’ means ‘I’ as a first-person pronoun, which is different from the interrogative use.
Particle expressing choice/alternative or quantity emphasis
When to use
presenting alternatives, emphasizing quantity, formal sentences
The nuance
‘이나’ attaches to nouns to indicate alternatives (like ‘or’) or to emphasize quantity. It is not used as ‘who’ in questions.
누가 왔니? 나 왔어.
nu-ga wass-ni? na wass-eo., nu ga wass ni? na wass eo.
‘나’ correctly used to ask ‘who’ in a question.
누가 왔니? 이나 왔어.
nu-ga wass-ni? i-na wass-eo., nu ga wass ni? i na wass eo.
‘이나’ cannot mean ‘who’ in questions; use ‘나’ instead.
커피나 차 마실래?
keo-pi-na cha ma-sil-rae?, keo pi na cha ma sil rae?
‘이나’ properly used to present choices.
커피나 마실래?
keo-pi-na ma-sil-rae?, keo pi na ma sil rae?
‘이나’ can imply ‘or something like that’.
나 마실래?
na ma-sil-rae?, na ma sil rae?
‘나’ cannot express choice or alternatives.
친구나 가족과 갔어요.
chin-gu-na ga-jok-gwa gass-eo-yo., chin gu na ga jok gwa gass eo yo.
‘이나’ indicates alternatives correctly.
친구나 갔어요.
chin-gu-na gass-eo-yo., chin gu na gass eo yo.
‘이나’ must follow a noun and cannot replace ‘나’.
내가 할게.
nae-ga hal-ge., nae ga hal ge.
‘나’ naturally used as first-person subject.
Which is used to mean ‘who’ in questions?
Which is appropriate for presenting alternatives?
Which sentence correctly uses ‘나’?
Which sentence correctly uses ‘이나’?
