Korean grammar patterns › Level 5
-느니
rather than (doing that, I'd …)
Level 5 · TOPIK II · advanced
How to use it
Both options are unattractive; the speaker picks clause 2 as the lesser evil. Clause 2 usually has 차라리 and -는 게 낫다 / -겠다. -느니만 못하다 means 'is worse than (doing)'.
Forming it
| 가다 | → 가느니 |
| 먹다 | → 먹느니 |
| 살다 | → 사느니 |
| 기다리다 | → 기다리느니 |
Verbs only (✗ 비싸느니).
Examples
이렇게 기다리느니 차라리 걸어가는 게 낫겠어요.
Rather than waiting like this, I'd rather walk.
억지로 먹느니 안 먹는 게 나아요.
Rather than forcing yourself to eat, it's better not to eat.
Compared with similar patterns
-(으)ㄹ 바에(야) is almost the same; -기보다(는) is a neutral comparison without the 'both are bad' feeling.