KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(이)라도
Korean Grammar “-(이)라도”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 3)
How to attach it
A particle attaches directly to the noun, and its form depends on the noun’s last sound. Compare the nouns below.
| Korean | Meaning | With the particle | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 나라 | country | 나라라도 | nararado |
| 음식 | food | 음식이라도 | eumsigirado |
| 선물 | gift | 선물이라도 | seonmurirado |
What changes
- After a noun ending in a consonant, 이 appears before the ending (음식이라도); after a vowel, 이 is dropped (나라라도).
Explanation
시간이 없으면 커피라도 한 잔 마시고 가세요.
“-(이)라도” means “even (just) ~ / at least ~” and is used to suggest a second-best choice. Use “라도” after a noun ending in a vowel and “이라도” after one ending in a consonant. The sentence means “If you don’t have time, at least have a cup of coffee before you go.” It is similar to “-(이)나,” but “-(이)라도” has a stronger sense of “that will do” or of compromising.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 시간이 없으면 커피라도 한 잔 마시고 가세요.
Said aloud, it sounds like [시가니 업쓰면 커피라도 한 잔 마시고 가세요].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 시간이 | ||
| 시 | ㅅ+ㅣ | si |
| 간 | ㄱ+ㅏ+ㄴ | [가] ga |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [니] ni |
| 없으면 | ||
| 없 | ㅇ+ㅓ+ㅄ | [업] eop |
| 으 | ㅇ+ㅡ | [쓰] seu |
| 면 | ㅁ+ㅕ+ㄴ | myeon |
| 커피라도 | ||
| 커 | ㅋ+ㅓ | keo |
| 피 | ㅍ+ㅣ | pi |
| 라 | ㄹ+ㅏ | ra |
| 도 | ㄷ+ㅗ | do |
| 한 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴ | han |
| 잔 | ㅈ+ㅏ+ㄴ | jan |
| 마시고 | ||
| 마 | ㅁ+ㅏ | ma |
| 시 | ㅅ+ㅣ | si |
| 고 | ㄱ+ㅗ | go |
| 가세요 | ||
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 세 | ㅅ+ㅔ | se |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 간이 → [가니]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
It contains the honorific -(으)시-, which shows respect to the person being talked about or talked to.
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 시간이 없으면 커피____ 한 잔 마시고 가세요.
Show the answer
Answer: 시간이 없으면 커피라도 한 잔 마시고 가세요.
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