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Korean grammar - Not sure who/what/where - ㄴ/은지

Not sure who/what/where - ㄴ/은지

The ending /은지 can be attached to any noun to mean the indefinite clause 'what something is'.

This can then be used in both statements and questions.

Also /은지 can be used with interrogatives and the verb 이다 (to be) giving:

누구인지 (who he/she is) which shortens to 누군지.

무엇인지 (what it is) which shortens to 뭔지.

어디인지 (where it is) which shortens to 어딘지.

왜인지 (why it is, for what reason) which shortens to 왠지.

Examples:
이게 뭔지 알아요?
Do (you) know what this is?

이게 is a contraction of 이것 + the subject marker

무슨 숫자인지 맞춰봐요.
Guess what the number is.

숫자 means 'number' or 'numeral'

좋은지 잘 모르겠어요.
(I) am not sure whether it’s good / if it’s good
무슨 말인지 알겠어요.
(I) understand what you’re saying.
거기 어떻게 가는지 알아요.
(I) know how to get there.
이거 먹는건지 모르겠네요.
(I) don't know it is edible.

먹는건지 is a more informal form of 먹을 있는 건지 (edible)

무슨 일인지 모르겠어요.
(I) don't know what's going on.
어딘지 모르겠어요.
(I) don't know where (it is).
누군지 모르겠어 누군지 알아요.
(I) don't know who (you) are (I) know who (you) are
그가 누군지 모르겠다.
(I) guess) (I) don't know who he is.
저게 뭔지 알아요?
Do (you) know what is there?

저게 is a contraction of 저것이

그게 뭔지 몰라요.
(I) don't know what it is.
이 사람이 누구인지 아세요?
Do (you) know who this person is?

누구인지 is the uncontracted form of 누군지

미경이가 누군지 몰라요.
(I) don't know who Mikyung is.
왠지 알아요.
(I) don't know for what reason.

or '(I) know why'

왠지 모르겠어요.
(I) don't know why (for what reason).
괜찮은지 안 괜찮은지 몰라요.
(I) don't know whether (it) is good or not good.
아빠가 바쁜지 안 바쁜지 알아요?
Do (you) know whether Dad is busy or not busy?
저 아가씨한테 시간 있는지 물어 보세요.
Ask that young woman whether she has time (or not).

아가씨 means 'young woman'

이것이 스페인어인지, 프랑스인지 모르겠어요.
(I) don't know whether it is Spanish or French.
냉장고 안에 먹을 것이 있는지 모르겠어요.
(I) don't know if there is anything to eat in(side) the refrigerator.