Korean Grammar Point
~으나마나 [eunamana] (It's no use, to no avail)

Used to convey that an effort or expectation was in vain.

Formation

Verb-으나마나

Examples

나는 시험을 잘 볼려고 열심히 공부했으나마나, 결과는 항상 만족스럽지 않았어요.

Naneun siheomeul jal bollyeogo yeolsimhi gongbuhaesseumana, gyeolgwa-neun hangsang manjokseureopji anasseoyo.

No matter how hard I studied to do well on the exam, the result was always unsatisfactory.

우리는 빨리 도착하기 위해 택시를 탔으나마나, 결국 지각했어요.

Urineun ppalli dochak hagi wihae taeksireul tasseumana, gyeolguk jigakhaesseoyo.

Even though we took a taxi to arrive quickly, we ended up being late.

그는 병원에 가서 약을 가져왔으나마나, 증상이 전혀 나아지지 않았어요.

Geuneun byeongwone gaseo yag-eul gajyeowasseumana, jeungsing-i jeonhyeo naajiji anasseoyo.

Despite going to the hospital and getting medicine, the symptoms did not improve at all.

난 그녀에게 사과했으나마나, 그녀는 나를 용서하지 않았어요.

Nan geunyeoege sagwahaesseumana, geunyeoneun naleul yongseohaji anasseoyo.

Although I apologized to her, she did not forgive me.

Long Explanation

The grammar point '~으나마나' is used in Korean to express that an action or effort yielded no meaningful or positive result. It implies that no matter how much one does, the outcome remains unsatisfactory. This structure is generally used in negative contexts.

Detailed Grammar Notes

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