B1 particle 2 min read

라고

A particle used to quote what someone said or thought.

-rago
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use 라고 to tell people what someone said. If you want to say 'He said it is an apple', you say '사과라고 했어요'. It is like a label for words.

When you need to report speech, 라고 is your best friend. Use it after nouns to define them, like 'This is called a book' (책이라고 해요). It makes your sentences much clearer.

At this level, you will use 라고 with various verbs like 부르다 (to call) or 쓰다 (to write). It helps in distinguishing between direct and indirect speech nuances in storytelling.

You will start using 라고 to convey commands or requests indirectly. For example, 'He told me to study' becomes '공부하라고 했어요'. This is vital for professional communication.

Mastering 라고 allows for complex reported speech. You can report complex arguments or nuanced opinions by linking them to verbs of perception or cognition, adding depth to your academic writing.

At the mastery level, you understand the subtle interplay between 라고 and other quotative markers like -다고 or -자고. You can manipulate these to imply authority, skepticism, or irony in literary contexts.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Used for reporting commands.
  • Used for naming things.
  • Attaches to nouns or verb stems.
  • Essential for indirect speech.

Think of 라고 as the Korean version of the English quotation marks or the phrase 'saying that'. It is a super essential particle that helps you report what you or someone else has said.

When you want to share a name, a thought, or a command, you attach 라고 to the end of the content. It is most commonly used with verbs like 말하다 (to say) or 생각하다 (to think).

The particle 라고 evolved as a contraction of the phrase 이라고 하다 (to be called/to say that). Over time, speakers shortened it to make communication faster and more fluid.

Historically, this reflects the Korean language's tendency to condense grammatical structures. It is a classic example of grammaticalization, where a full verb phrase turns into a functional particle over centuries of usage.

You use 라고 primarily when the preceding word ends in a consonant. If it ends in a vowel, you typically use -라고 or -라고 depending on the specific verb stem.

It is used in both casual and formal settings. In casual speech, you might drop the verb that follows, simply saying '뭐라고?' (What did you say?) to express surprise or confusion.

1. 뭐라고?: Meaning 'What did you say?' used when you are surprised. 2. 하지 말라고!: Meaning 'Stop doing that!' used when you are annoyed. 3. 사랑한다고 해: Meaning 'Tell me you love me.' 4. 가라고 해: Meaning 'Tell them to go.' 5. 이름이 뭐라고요?: Meaning 'What was your name again?'

Grammatically, 라고 follows nouns or verb stems. It is strictly a quotative marker. Pronunciation is straightforward: 'ra-go'.

There is no plural form as it is a particle. It is essential for indirect speech patterns in Korean. The stress usually falls on the first syllable, though Korean is generally a pitch-accent or flat-intonation language.

Fun Fact

It is one of the most frequently used particles in spoken Korean.

Pronunciation Guide

UK ra-ɡo

Clear 'r' sound, short 'a', soft 'g'

US ra-ɡo

Similar to standard Korean pronunciation

Common Errors

  • Softening the r
  • Mispronouncing the g
  • Wrong syllable stress

Rhymes With

보고 하고 가고 타고 사고

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to read

Writing 2/5

Easy to write

Speaking 2/5

Easy to say

Listening 2/5

Easy to hear

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

하다 말하다

Learn Next

-다고 -자고

Advanced

-느냐고 -으라고

Grammar to Know

Indirect Speech

그가 가라고 했어요.

Quotative Particles

라고/다고/자고

Verb Conjugation

먹다 -> 먹으라고

Examples by Level

1

이름이 뭐라고요?

Name what?

Used for asking names

2

사과라고 해요.

Apple-quote say.

Identifying objects

3

가라고 했어요.

Go-quote said.

Reporting a command

4

친구라고 해요.

Friend-quote say.

Defining relationships

5

뭐라고 말했어요?

What-quote said?

Questioning speech

6

책이라고 생각해요.

Book-quote think.

Expressing an opinion

7

좋다고 했어요.

Good-quote said.

Reporting positive feedback

8

집이라고 해요.

House-quote say.

Identifying places

1

그는 학생이라고 했어요.

2

이것은 선물이라고 해요.

3

가지 말라고 부탁했어요.

4

뭐라고 적혀 있어요?

5

선생님이라고 불러요.

6

맛있다고 했어요.

7

어렵다고 생각해요.

8

비싸다고 말했어요.

1

빨리 오라고 전해 주세요.

2

이 영화가 재미있다고 들었어요.

3

그 사람을 바보라고 부르지 마세요.

4

내일 비가 온다고 했어요.

5

조용히 하라고 경고했어요.

6

다시 말하라고 했어요.

7

그게 정답이라고 생각해요.

8

이것을 사랑이라고 불러요.

1

그는 나에게 숙제를 하라고 시켰다.

2

그녀는 그를 천재라고 평가했다.

3

부모님은 일찍 들어오라고 하셨다.

4

사람들은 그것을 기적이라고 말한다.

5

그는 나를 친구라고 생각하지 않는다.

6

그가 그만두라고 충고했다.

7

그들은 이것이 최선이라고 주장했다.

8

그녀는 나에게 기다리라고 했다.

1

그는 나에게 포기하지 말라고 끊임없이 격려했다.

2

그는 이 현상을 시대의 변화라고 정의했다.

3

그들은 나에게 그 일을 책임지라고 요구했다.

4

그녀는 나에게 진실을 말하라고 종용했다.

5

그는 이 모든 것이 운명이라고 믿고 있다.

6

그들은 그를 영웅이라고 칭송했다.

7

그는 나에게 다시는 오지 말라고 엄포를 놓았다.

8

그녀는 나에게 비밀을 지키라고 당부했다.

1

그는 나에게 삶의 의미를 찾으라고 역설했다.

2

그들은 그를 배신자라고 낙인찍었다.

3

그녀는 나에게 모든 것을 잊으라고 간청했다.

4

그는 나에게 자신의 실수를 인정하라고 압박했다.

5

그들은 이것을 예술이라고 명명했다.

6

그녀는 나에게 꿈을 포기하지 말라고 당부했다.

7

그는 나에게 현실을 직시하라고 조언했다.

8

그들은 나에게 그 제안을 받아들이라고 권유했다.

Common Collocations

말하다
생각하다
부르다
듣다
적다
쓰다
전하다
요구하다
믿다
정의하다

Idioms & Expressions

"뭐라고요?"

What did you say?

뭐라고요? 다시 말해주세요.

casual

"하라고 하면 다 해"

Do whatever I tell you to do.

하라고 하면 다 해, 불평하지 말고.

casual

"꿈이라고 해"

Call it a dream.

이게 다 꿈이라고 해.

neutral

"사랑이라고 불러"

Call it love.

이 감정을 사랑이라고 불러.

literary

"하지 말라고!"

Don't do it!

하지 말라고 몇 번을 말해?

casual

"가라고 해"

Tell them to leave.

그 사람한테 가라고 해.

neutral

Easily Confused

라고 vs -다고

Both are quotative

Fact vs Command

먹는다고 vs 먹으라고

라고 vs -자고

Both are quotative

Proposal vs Command

가자고 vs 가라고

라고 vs -냐고

Both are quotative

Question vs Command

가냐고 vs 가라고

라고 vs -라고

Similar endings

Vowel/Consonant stem

가라고 vs 하라고

Sentence Patterns

A2

Subject + [Noun] + 라고 + 말하다

그는 나를 친구라고 말했어요.

B1

Subject + [Verb Stem] + 라고 + 하다

그는 먹으라고 했어요.

B1

Subject + [Noun] + 라고 + 생각하다

나는 이것이 정답이라고 생각해요.

B2

Subject + [Verb Stem] + 라고 + 부탁하다

그는 도와달라고 부탁했어요.

B2

Subject + [Noun] + 라고 + 부르다

사람들은 그를 영웅이라고 불러요.

Word Family

Nouns

말 speech

Verbs

말하다 to speak

Related

하다 base verb

How to Use It

frequency

10

Formality Scale

Formal Neutral Casual Slang

Common Mistakes

Using 라고 with vowels incorrectly → Use -라고 for consonants, -라고 for vowels
Grammar rule confusion
Forgetting the verb → Always follow with a reporting verb
Incomplete sentence structure
Confusing with -다고 → Use 라고 for commands/names, -다고 for facts
Nuance error
Incorrect spacing → Attach to the noun/verb stem
Spacing rules
Using in wrong register → Adjust verb ending
Politeness level mismatch

Tips

💡

The 'Command' Rule

Always use 라고 for commands.

💡

Reported Speech

Practice reporting your boss's orders.

🌍

Politeness

Use formal verb endings after 라고.

💡

Spacing

No space before 라고.

💡

Clarity

Pronounce the 'r' clearly.

💡

Don't confuse with -다고

Check if it's a command or fact.

💡

Efficiency

It saves time in speech.

💡

Shadowing

Repeat K-drama lines using 라고.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Ra-go sounds like 'Right, go!' - telling someone to go.

Visual Association

A speech bubble pointing at a person.

Word Web

Speech Reporting Commands Names

Challenge

Write 5 sentences reporting what your friends said today.

Word Origin

Korean

Original meaning: Contraction of -이라고 하다

Cultural Context

None.

No direct equivalent, similar to quotation marks.

Used in almost every K-drama dialogue.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At work

  • 빨리 하라고 했어요
  • 이것을 보고서라고 해요
  • 다시 쓰라고 했어요

At school

  • 조용히 하라고 했어요
  • 숙제를 하라고 했어요
  • 이것이 답이라고 해요

With friends

  • 뭐라고?
  • 가라고 해!
  • 좋다고 했어

In news

  • 위험하다고 경고했어요
  • 최선이라고 주장했어요
  • 사실이라고 밝혔어요

Conversation Starters

"What did your teacher tell you to do today?"

"How do you call this in your language?"

"What did your friend say when you asked for help?"

"Do you think this is a good idea?"

"What did the news report say today?"

Journal Prompts

Write about a time someone told you to do something.

Describe an object and what people call it.

Report a conversation you had today.

Reflect on a piece of advice you were given.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

When reporting commands or naming things.

It can be used in all registers.

Mainly with verbs of speaking or thinking.

라고 is for commands/names, -다고 for facts.

No, it is very consistent.

Only in very casual speech.

No.

After the noun or verb stem.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

그것은 사과___ 해요.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 라고

Used for naming objects.

multiple choice A2

What does '가라고 했어요' mean?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: He said to go

Reporting a command.

true false B1

라고 is used for reporting facts.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It is mainly for commands and names.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Common conversational phrase.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Subject + object + particle + verb.

Score: /5

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