Bootstrap Korean Grammar

Learn Korean Grammar step-by-step

Korean grammar - Any, anything, anyone - 아무

Any, anything, anyone - 아무

The word 아무 means 'anything' though it is normally not used alone.

In its positive form it is coupled with

아무나 means 'anyone'

아무거나 means 'anything' or 'whatever' (sometimes spelled 아무것도)

아무데나 means 'anywhere' or 'wherever'

아무 때나 means 'anytime' or 'whenever' (note the space)

And in its negative form it is coupled with

아무도 means 'no one'

아무거도 means 'nothing'

아무 데도 means 'nowhere'

These negative forms should be used with a negative verb form (double negation)

Examples:
아무거나 해도 돼요.
(You) can do anything.
아무나 노래해도 돼요.
Anybody can sing.
무료니까 보고 싶은 사람은 아무나 가져가도 돼요.
It's free, so anyone who wants to see it can take it.

무료 means 'free'

지금 아무거나 먹고 싶어요?
Do (you) want to eat anything now?
다 예쁘니까 아무거나 주세요.
(They) are all pretty, so give (me) any (of them).
아무거나 사고 싶은 책을 골라 보세요.
Pick any book (you) want to buy.

골라 보다 means 'to select' or 'to pick out'

오늘은 우리가 아무데나 갈 수 있어요.
We can go anywhere today.
아무데나 괜찮아요.
Anywhere is okay.
조용한 곳이면 아무데나 괜찮아요.
Anywhere is fine as long as it is quiet.
그 상자 아무데나 내려놔 주세요.
Please put that box anywhere.
아무나 친구를 만들 수 없어요.
(You) can't make friends with just anyone.
아무 때나 오세요.
Please come anytime.
아무거나 먹지마세요.
Don't just eat anything.
아무데나 가면 안 돼요.
(You) shouldn't go just anywhere.
전 아무데도 가지 않을거예요.
I will not go anywhere.
아무것도 기억나지 않아요.
(I) don't remember anything.
아무도 안 왔어요.
Nobody came.
아무도 몰랐어요.
Nobody knew.
아무것도 없어요.
(I) don't have anything.
사무실에는 아무것도 없어요.
There's nothing is in the office.
아무 데도 안 갔어요.
(I) didn't go anywhere.
아무 데도 가고 싶지 않아요.
There's nowhere (I) want to go.
아무말이나 해도 돼요.
(You) can tell me anything.

For extra credit - 아무말이나 - here is 'speech'