Korean

Suffix

라고 • ‎(rago)

1. (indirect quotation) that ... should ...

   빠뜨린 것이 없는지 확인하라고 안내 방송을 하면서, 기차는 역에 멈춰 섰다.‎

   Ppatteurin geosi eomneunji hwaginharago annae bangsong-eul hamyeonseo, gichaneun yeoge meomchwo seotda.

   The train stopped at the station, with announcements asking the passengers to check if nothing's missing.

2. (purpose) in order to make sb do sth

   엄마가 이걸 게임하라고 사줬니?‎

   Eommaga igeol geimharago sajwonni?

   Did I bought this for you just for playing games?

3. an imperative or interrogative ending used to confirm the instruction that is already said.

   그만하라고!‎

   Geumanharago!

   I said, stop!

   이 많은 걸 오늘 안에 다 하라고?‎

   I maneun geol oneul ane da harago?

   Did you really said I should finish this much all today?

4. an ending signifying that the speaker has just realized he or she was misunderstanding what had been ordered.

   휴, 난 또 나 보고 하라고.‎

   Hyu, nan tto na bogo harago.

   Phew, thought it was me that she commanded!

Usage notes

The suffix -라고 (-rago) takes the sequential form, and if the stem ends in ㄹ (l), the ㄹ (l) does not drop out.

Etymology 2

Suffix

라고 • ‎(rago)

1. (indirect quotation) that ...

   사실이 아니라고 몇 번을 해명했지만 통하지 않았다.‎

   Sasiri anirago myeot beoneul haemyeonghaetjiman tonghaji anatda.

   I explained several times that it's not the fact, but it didn't work.

2. quotes proverbs

   고진감래라고, 지금은 이렇게 힘들어도 나중엔 꼭 보답을 받을 걸세.‎

   Gojin-gamnaerago, jigeumeun ireoke himdeureodo najung-en kkok bodabeul badeul geolse.

   Like the proverb saying 'Sweet after bitter,' although the life is tough now, you'll surely get the reward for this.

3. because; just because

   그래도 형이라고 동생 챙겨주는 모습이 보기 좋다.‎

   Geuraedo hyeong-irago dongsaeng chaenggyeojuneun moseubi bogi jota.

   It's sweet to see him, being the elder brother nevertheless, take care of his younger brother.

4. an imperative or interrogative ending used to confirm the instruction that is already said.

   뭐라고요?‎

   Mworagoyo?

   What?

5. an ending signifying that the speaker has just realized he or she was misunderstanding something, or what the speaker had doubted was actually nothing.

   나는 뭐, 심각한 일이라고.‎

   Naneun mwo, simgakhan irirago.

   Eh...so, it is not a serious problem.

6. a declarative ending for emphasizing the speaker's thoughts.

   나도 이젠 한계라고! 나보고 어쩌란 말이야!‎

   Nado ijen han-gyerago! Nabogo eojjeoran mariya!

   I can't bear it anymore! What do you expect from me!

Usage notes

The suffix 라고 (rago) is for the predicate particle 이다 (ida, “to be”) and the adjective 아니다 (anida, “not to be”), and is for the present tense only. Otherwise, use 다고 (dago).

Synonyms

• 다고 (dago)

Usage notes

The suffix -라고 (-rago) is for the present tense only, and if other tenses are needed, -다고 (-dago) is used.

Etymology 3

From 이— (i-, “to be”) + —라고 (-rago)

Alternative forms

• 이라고 (irago)

Particle

라고 • ‎(rago)

1. used after direct quotation

   "근로기준법을 준수하라! 우리는 기계가 아니다!"라고, 한국 노동 운동을 대표하는 전태일 열사는 외쳤었다.‎

   "Geullogijunbeobeul junsuhara! Urineun gigyega anida!"rago, han-guk nodong undong-eul daepyohaneun jeontaeil yeolsaneun oechyeosseotda.

   "Abide by the Labor Standard Act! We are not machines!" shouted Martyr Jeon Tae-il, who represents the labor movement in Korea.

2. expresses displeasure from unsatisfactory outcomes, or is implemented to purport that the object is no better than others.

   나라고 별 수 있나.‎

   Narago byeol su inna.

   Neither do I have any idea...

   이딴 것도 기사라고 쓰셨어요, 기자 양반?‎

   Ittan geotdo gisarago sseusyeosseoyo, gija yangban?

   I didn't know even junks could be called 'articles,' Mr. Journalist?

Usage notes

라고 (rago) is used after a vowel. After a consonant, 이라고 (irago) is used instead.