what does 나가거든 mean here?? kim young ha short story?

Question

here is the sentence 이렇게 만난 것도 인연인데 [[ 나가거든]] 커피나 한 잔 하지요,라고 말을 건네보았지만 여자 는 묵묵부답이었다. I know what 거든 means when you use it to emphasize what you're saying but in this sentence it seems like a different usage... thank you for your time

Answer 1

(1)

나 = I

가거든 = 가 +거든 [가: verb stem <-- 가다 to go] [ -거든: particle to explain ]

나 가거든 - if I go/leave, when I go/leave

(2)

나가거든 = 나가+거든 [나가: verb stem <-- 나가다 to go out] [거든:particle to explain]

나가거든 - (pronoun can be often omitted) --> If or when (I/we/he/she/they...) go out

If it was used as "나가거든" without space in the middle, technically we should see it as (2) but if it was used in a poem, maybe the author meant to overlay both meanings on purpose

Answer 2

When/ If we are out of the building/ room/ any indoor