Korean Dictionary
How to say "All or Nothing" in Korean
“All or Nothing” in Korean is 모 아니면 도 (pronounced "Mo Animyeon Do").
모 아니면 도
Mo Animyeon Do
Usage & Context
Mo animyeon do refers to a traditional Korean dice game where results are binary. It is now used idiomatically to describe all-or-nothing situations.
Example Sentence
이번 투자는 모 아니면 도야.
This investment is all or nothing.
How to use 모 아니면 도 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “All or Nothing” is 모 아니면 도, romanized as Mo Animyeon Do.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 모 아니면 도.
Pronunciation Guide
모 (moh) sounds like 'more' without the 're'. 아니면 (ah-nee-myun) sounds like 'ah' in 'father', 'nee' in 'knee', and 'myun' like 'myeon' in 'myeon-sa'. 도 (doh) sounds like 'dough'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
모 아니면 도예요
Mo Animyeon Doeyo
Standard polite form, commonly used.
Casual (반말)
모 아니면 도야
Mo Animyeon Doya
Standard casual form.
More Example Sentences
Discussing a high-risk business decision.
이번 사업은 모 아니면 도라고 생각해요.
I think this business venture is all or nothing.
A team facing a make-or-break situation.
우리의 마지막 기회야. 모 아니면 도!
It's our last chance. All or nothing!
Reflecting on games of chance.
복권은 모 아니면 도의 게임이죠.
The lottery is an all-or-nothing game, isn't it?
Cultural Context
This idiom originates from '윷놀이' (Yutnori), a traditional Korean board game played with four wooden sticks. '모' (mo) and '도' (do) are the highest and lowest possible scores, respectively, when the sticks are thrown. Thus, '모 아니면 도' literally means 'mo or do,' perfectly capturing the binary, high-stakes nature of an 'all or nothing' situation. It's often used when someone is taking a big gamble or facing a critical, irreversible choice.
Editorial note
We review entries like 모 아니면 도 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
모 아니면 도의 심정으로
with an all-or-nothing mindset
모 아니면 도의 선택
an all-or-nothing choice
모 아니면 도다
It's all or nothing.
Related Expressions
일생일대
ilsaengildae
once in a lifetime (implies high stakes)
승부수
seungbusu
a decisive move, a gamble
도박
dobak
gambling
안전하게 가다
anjeonhage gada
to play it safe, to go safely
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
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