Korean grammar · Level 5
V-는 둥 마는 둥 · -다는 둥 -다는 둥 · N(이)라는 둥
Half-doing it · saying this and that — two patterns with 둥
Taught in Level 5, Unit 4: Sujin's Friday
when someone is worn out, they do things half-heartedly — a few spoonfuls of breakfast, a half-tuned guitar — and the people around them pile on excuses. Korean describes both with the small bound noun 둥.
Example
늦잠을 자서 아침을 먹는 둥 마는 둥 하고 뛰어나갔어요.
I overslept, so I barely touched breakfast and ran out.
The full explanation is in the unit · part of the Level 5 Pass, opening soon · Level 5, Unit 4
Practise it in context · Level 5, Unit 4
Sujin's Friday
The rule with a table, Sori’s tips, practice that checks itself, a review room and a one-page cheat sheet.
See the unit preview →