Introductions & Quoting Nouns (이/라고 하다)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use (이)라고 하다 to report what someone or something is called or named.
- Use -이라고 하다 after nouns ending in a consonant (e.g., 학생이라고 하다).
- Use -라고 하다 after nouns ending in a vowel (e.g., 의사라고 하다).
- Use it to introduce yourself or report names (e.g., 제 이름은 민수라고 해요).
Overview
이/라고 하다 (i/rago hada) is a crucial Korean grammar pattern used to indirectly quote or report what a noun is called or is identified as. It functions as the indirect speech form of the Korean copula 이다 (ida), meaning 'to be'. While 이다 makes a direct, factual statement about a noun, 이/라고 하다 introduces a layer of reporting, indicating that something is said to be or is named a particular noun.
This pattern is fundamental for introductions, identifying objects, and conveying reported information about nouns. It allows you to express not just what something is, but what it is known as or what someone says it is. Understanding this distinction is key to sounding natural and precise in Korean communication at the B1 level and beyond.
How This Grammar Works
제 이름은 민수라고 해요. (Je ireumeun Minsurago haeyo – My name is called Minsu / I say my name is Minsu) is more common and softer than 제 이름은 민수예요. (Je ireumeun Minsuyeyo – My name is Minsu), which can sound somewhat blunt in certain conversational contexts. The 하다 component of the phrase is a verb and thus conjugates normally according to tense, politeness level, and mood, offering flexibility in how the reported statement is presented.이것은 한국 음식이라고 합니다. (Igeoseun Hanguk eumsigirago hamnida – This is said to be Korean food), which is often used when introducing a dish, implying it is called Korean food or identified as such.Formation Pattern
학생 (haksaeng – student) + 이라고 하다 → 학생이라고 하다 (haksaengirago hada)
선생님 (seonsaengnim – teacher) + 이라고 하다 → 선생님이라고 하다 (seonsaengnimirago hada)
책 (chaek – book) + 이라고 하다 → 책이라고 하다 (chaegirago hada)
친구 (chingu – friend) + 라고 하다 → 친구라고 하다 (chingurago hada)
가수 (gasu – singer) + 라고 하다 → 가수라고 하다 (gasurago hada)
의사 (uisa – doctor) + 라고 하다 → 의사라고 하다 (uisarago hada)
친구라고 하다) | Past Tense Example (친구라고 하다) | Future Tense Example (친구라고 하다) |
친구라고 합니다 | 친구라고 했습니다 | 친구라고 할 겁니다 |
친구라고 해요 | 친구라고 했어요 | 친구라고 할 거예요 |
친구라고 해 | 친구라고 했어 | 친구라고 할 거야 |
When To Use It
- 1Self-Introduction and Identification: This is perhaps the most common and essential application. When introducing yourself or stating your identity, profession, or role, 이/라고 하다 is often preferred over a direct statement with 이다 to sound more natural and polite.
저는 김민준이라고 합니다.(Jeoneun Gimminjunirago hamnida – My name is Kim Minjun / I am called Kim Minjun.)저는 학생이라고 해요.(Jeoneun haksaengirago haeyo – I am a student / I say I am a student.)제 별명은 짱구라고 해요.(Je byeolmyeongeun Jjanggurago haeyo – My nickname is Jjanggu.)
- 1Naming and Identifying Objects/Concepts: Use this pattern to state what something is called or generally known as. This is particularly useful when introducing new vocabulary, places, or unfamiliar concepts.
이것은 '김치'라고 하는 한국 음식이에요.(Igeoseun 'Gimchi'rago haneun Hanguk eumsigieyo – This is a Korean food called 'Kimchi'.)저 건물은 'N서울타워'라고 합니다.(Jeo geonmureun 'N Seoultap'irago hamnida – That building is called 'N Seoul Tower'.)이 용어는 '메타버스'라고 합니다.(I yongeoneun 'metabeoseu'rago hamnida – This term is called 'Metaverse'.)
- 1Reporting What Someone Else Said About a Noun: When you want to convey information where the original speaker identified something as a noun, 이/라고 하다 is the correct indirect quotation form.
친구가 그 사람을 천재라고 했어요.(Chinguga geu sarameul cheonjaerago haesseoyo – My friend said that person was a genius.)그는 자신을 의사라고 소개했어요.(Geuneun jasineul uisarago sogaehaesseoyo – He introduced himself as a doctor.)뉴스에서 그 사건을 '국제적인 문제'라고 보도했어요.(Nyuseueseo geu sageoneul 'gukjejeogin munje'rago bodohaesseoyo – The news reported that incident as an 'international problem'.)
- 1Expressing General Knowledge, Rumor, or Perception: This pattern is employed when reporting something that is generally believed, widely known, or rumored to be true, without necessarily attributing it to a single speaker.
그 식당은 맛집이라고 소문났어요.(Geu sikdangeun matjibirago somunnasseoyo – That restaurant is rumored to be a 'must-visit' place [literally, a delicious house].)사람들은 그를 영웅이라고 불러요.(Saramdeureun geureul yeongungirago bulleoyo – People call him a hero.)요즘은 '워라밸'이 중요하다고 다들 말해요.(Yojeumeun 'worabael'i jungyohadago dadeul malhaeyo – Everyone says 'work-life balance' is important these days.)
Common Mistakes
- 1Confusing with Verb/Adjective Indirect Speech (-다고 하다): This is the most frequent mistake. Remember, 이/라고 하다 is exclusively for nouns. For verbs and adjectives, you must use -다고 하다 (or variations like -ㄴ/는다고 하다 for verbs and -다고 하다 for adjectives).
- Incorrect:
그는 행복이라고 해요.(Geuneun haengbokirago haeyo – He says he is happiness.) - Happiness is a noun here, but if the intention is 'he says he is happy', 'happy' is an adjective. - Correct:
그는 행복하다고 해요.(Geuneun haengbokhadago haeyo – He says he is happy.) - Here, 행복하다 (to be happy) is an adjective. - Incorrect:
저는 먹으라고 했어요.(Jeoneun meogeorago haesseoyo – I said to eat.) - This would only be correct if '먹어' was a noun, which it is not. - Correct (reporting a statement about an action):
그는 먹는다고 했어요.(Geuneun meongneundago haesseoyo – He said he would eat.) - Correct (reporting a command):
그는 먹으라고 했어요.(Geuneun meogeorago haesseoyo – He told [me/them] to eat.) - Note that reporting commands with -으라고 하다 is a different structure entirely, not to be confused with general noun quotation.
- 1Omitting
이after a Consonant: Failing to include the이linking particle when the noun ends in a consonant. This results in an awkward phonetic flow and is grammatically incorrect.
- Incorrect:
저는 선생님라고 합니다.(Jeoneun seonsaengnimrago hamnida.) - Correct:
저는 선생님이라고 합니다.(Jeoneun seonsaengnimirago hamnida.) - Incorrect:
이것은 컴퓨터라고 해요.(Igeoseun keompyuteorago haeyo.) - Correct:
이것은 컴퓨터라고 해요.(Igeoseun keompyuteorago haeyo.) -컴퓨터ends in a vowel sound, so라고is correct here. - Correct:
이것은 책이라고 해요.(Igeoseun chaegirago haeyo.) -책ends in a consonant, so이라고is correct.
- 1Overlapping
하다with말하다: The하다in 이/라고 하다 already carries the meaning of 'to say' or 'to call' in this specific structure. Adding말하다(malhada – to speak/say) creates redundancy and sounds unnatural.
- Incorrect:
그는 '바보'라고 말했어요.(Geuneun 'babo'rago malhaesseoyo.) - While technically understandable, it's not the idiomatic usage for reporting a noun. - Correct:
그는 '바보'라고 했어요.(Geuneun 'babo'rago haesseoyo – He called [him] 'babo' / He said [he was] 'babo'.)
- 1Confusing with the Noun-Modifying Form
(이)라는: While related,(이)라는(i/raneun) serves a different grammatical function.(이)라는is a noun-modifying form meaning
Formation Rules
| Noun Ending | Particle | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Consonant
|
-이라고
|
하다
|
학생이라고 하다
|
|
Vowel
|
-라고
|
하다
|
의사라고 하다
|
Contractions
| Full Form | Contracted Form |
|---|---|
|
-이라고 해요
|
-래요
|
|
-라고 해요
|
-대요
|
Meanings
This structure is used to report names, titles, or definitions of nouns. It translates to 'to be called' or 'to say that it is [noun]'.
Self-Introduction
Stating one's name.
“저는 김철수라고 합니다.”
“제 친구는 영희라고 해요.”
Reporting Names
Identifying objects or people.
“그 영화 제목은 '기생충'이라고 해요.”
“이 꽃은 장미라고 해요.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Noun + (이)라고 하다
|
학생이라고 해요
|
|
Negative
|
Noun + (이)가 아니라고 하다
|
학생이 아니라고 해요
|
|
Question
|
Noun + (이)라고 해요?
|
학생이라고 해요?
|
|
Past
|
Noun + (이)라고 했다
|
학생이라고 했어요
|
|
Formal
|
Noun + (이)라고 합니다
|
학생이라고 합니다
|
|
Casual
|
Noun + (이)라고 해
|
학생이라고 해
|
Formality Spectrum
제 이름은 민수라고 합니다. (Introduction)
제 이름은 민수라고 해요. (Introduction)
내 이름은 민수라고 해. (Introduction)
민수라고 해. (Introduction)
Noun Quotation Map
Consonant
- 학생 student
Vowel
- 의사 doctor
Examples by Level
저는 지훈이라고 해요.
I am called Jihoon.
이것은 김치라고 해요.
This is called Kimchi.
제 이름은 민수라고 합니다.
My name is Minsu.
그것은 사과라고 해요.
That is called an apple.
이 꽃을 무엇이라고 해요?
What is this flower called?
그 사람은 선생님이라고 해요.
That person is called a teacher.
이 영화는 '기생충'이라고 해요.
This movie is called 'Parasite'.
여기는 서울이라고 해요.
This place is called Seoul.
그는 자신을 천재라고 불렀어요.
He called himself a genius.
사람들이 이 길을 명동이라고 해요.
People call this street Myeongdong.
그것은 불가능하다고 말했어요.
They said it is impossible.
이것을 한국어로 무엇이라고 해요?
What do you call this in Korean?
그 프로젝트는 '미래'라고 명명되었습니다.
The project was named 'Future'.
그는 그 상황을 위기라고 정의했습니다.
He defined the situation as a crisis.
그들은 그 정책을 실패라고 간주합니다.
They consider the policy a failure.
이것을 전문 용어로 무엇이라고 합니까?
What is this called in technical terms?
그는 스스로를 예술가라고 자처합니다.
He claims to be an artist.
이 현상을 흔히 '나비 효과'라고 부릅니다.
This phenomenon is commonly called the 'Butterfly Effect'.
그는 그 제안을 모욕이라고 받아들였습니다.
He took the proposal as an insult.
그것은 단순한 실수라고 치부하기엔 너무 큽니다.
It is too big to be dismissed as a simple mistake.
그는 그 사건을 역사의 전환점이라고 평했습니다.
He evaluated the event as a turning point in history.
그것을 문학적 허용이라고 보아야 할 것입니다.
It should be viewed as poetic license.
그는 그를 스승이라고 모셨습니다.
He served him as his mentor.
그것은 일종의 관습이라고 할 수 있습니다.
It can be called a kind of custom.
Easily Confused
Both involve naming, but one is a verb and one is a modifier.
One is for nouns, one is for verbs/adjectives.
Both mean 'to call'.
Common Mistakes
학생라고 해요
학생이라고 해요
의사이라고 해요
의사라고 해요
이름은 민수해요
이름은 민수라고 해요
이것은 사과 해요
이것은 사과라고 해요
무엇이라고 합니까?
뭐라고 합니까?
그것은 책이라고 해요
그것은 책이라고 해요
이름이 지훈이라고 해요
제 이름은 지훈이라고 해요
그는 학생이라고 말했다
그는 학생이라고 했어요
그것을 영화라고 생각해요
그것을 영화라고 해요
이것은 사과라고 불려요
이것은 사과라고 해요
Sentence Patterns
제 이름은 ___라고 해요.
이것은 ___라고 해요.
그 사람은 ___라고 해요.
사람들이 이곳을 ___라고 해요.
Real World Usage
이곳은 #제주도라고 해요.
내 이름은 민수라고 해.
제 이름은 김철수라고 합니다.
이 역은 무엇이라고 해요?
이 음식이 비빔밥이라고 해요.
이것은 명사라고 해요.
Check the last letter
Don't skip the particle
Use contractions
Politeness matters
Smart Tips
Always use '제 이름은 [Name]라고 해요' for a polite, standard intro.
Use '이것을 무엇이라고 해요?' to sound like a curious learner.
Use '그는 [Name]라고 해요' to report what others call him.
Use '이것은 [Term]라고 합니다' for formal definitions.
Pronunciation
Linking
The '이' in -이라고 links to the preceding consonant.
Statement
민수라고 해요 ↘
Neutral declarative.
Question
민수라고 해요? ↗
Seeking confirmation.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'LA' for 'Label'. If you need to label something, use -라고.
Visual Association
Imagine a name tag floating above someone's head with the word '라고' written on it.
Rhyme
Consonant needs an 'i', so -이라고, Vowel is free, just -라고.
Story
I met a man named Minsu. I said, 'Minsu-rago haeyo'. He introduced me to a doctor. I said, 'Uisa-rago haeyo'. Now I know how to name everyone!
Word Web
Challenge
Introduce 3 objects in your room using this grammar out loud.
Cultural Notes
Names are very important. Using this structure correctly shows respect.
Derived from the verb 하다 (to do/say).
Conversation Starters
이름이 무엇이라고 해요?
이 음식을 무엇이라고 해요?
그 영화를 무엇이라고 해요?
이것을 전문 용어로 무엇이라고 해요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
이것은 사과___ 해요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
의사이라고 해요.
민수라고 해요.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
이름은 / 지훈이라고 / 제 / 해요
What does '이것은 김치라고 해요' mean?
그는 ___라고 해요.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises이것은 사과___ 해요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
의사이라고 해요.
민수라고 해요.
Match: 학생, 의사
이름은 / 지훈이라고 / 제 / 해요
What does '이것은 김치라고 해요' mean?
그는 ___라고 해요.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises제 직업은 디자이너___.
이름은 / 제 / 라고 / 민지 / 해요
Translate: They call this a masterpiece (걸작).
How do you say 'My name is Alex' casually to a friend?
Match the following:
그는 자기가 천재라고 하였습니다.
사람들은 그를 '영웅'___.
Which is appropriate for a business meeting?
Translate: He says he is a doctor (의사).
이것을 / 한국어로 / 무엇 / 이라고 / 하나요 / ?
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
You add '이' only when the noun ends in a consonant to make it easier to pronounce.
No, this is for nouns. For verbs, use -다고 하다.
It depends on the verb conjugation (해요 vs 합니다).
The sentence will sound broken to native speakers.
Yes, it is very common in both speech and writing.
Yes, it is the standard way to introduce yourself.
입니다 is 'is', -라고 해요 is 'is called'.
Yes, it works for any noun.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
llamarse
Korean requires a particle before the verb.
s'appeler
Korean is strictly noun-based.
heißen
Korean uses a general verb 'to say'.
〜と言う
Particles differ slightly.
叫 (jiào)
Chinese does not use particles.
يُسمى (yusamma)
Korean is active.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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