TOPIK II · LEVEL 3

-(이)라도

N(이)라도 means "at least N": you settle for something that is not ideal but is better than nothing.

조사Particles

Han: (이)라도 takes the place of the object particle 을/를, so the two cannot be combined; 빵 ends in a consonant, so it becomes 빵이라도.

Examples

못 오면 전화라도 해 주세요.If you can't come, at least give me a call.
비가 와서 산에 못 가니까 집에서 영화라도 볼까요?It's raining so we can't go hiking — shall we at least watch a movie at home?
궁금한 게 있으면 언제라도 연락하세요.If you have any questions, contact me any time.
배고프면 빵이라도 좀 드세요.If you're hungry, at least have some bread.

Don’t mix up

-(이)라도vsN(이)나(이)나 is a lighter "or something" choice among options; (이)라도 stresses it is a compromise, better than nothing: 커피나 마실까요? vs 물밖에 없으면 물이라도 주세요.
-(이)라도vsN도도 adds something ("also/too"); (이)라도 replaces the ideal with a lesser option: 물도 주세요 (water too) vs 물이라도 주세요 (at least water).
-(이)라도vsV/A-아/어도-아/어도 attaches to verbs/adjectives and means "even if"; settling (이)라도 attaches to nouns: 바빠도 와 주세요 vs 바쁘면 문자라도 보내 주세요.

How to build it

N (ends in consonant)+이라도
N (ends in vowel)+라도

물 → 물이라도, 커피 → 커피라도

  1. It replaces 이/가 and 을/를; do not stack them (빵을라도 ✗ → 빵이라도). Other particles stay in front: 친구에게라도, 집에서라도.
  2. It signals second best, so it is unnatural with the thing you really want most; when offering something to others, it sounds modest.
  3. It usually appears in suggestions, requests and plans (-(으)ㄹ까요, -(으)세요, -(으)려고 해요); plain past statements are possible but less common.
  4. With question words it means "any": 언제라도 (any time), 누구라도 (anyone), 뭐라도 (anything).

Classic mistake

Wrong: 배고프면 빵을라도 드세요.

Right: 배고프면 빵이라도 드세요.

(이)라도 takes the place of the object particle 을/를, so the two cannot be combined; 빵 ends in a consonant, so it becomes 빵이라도.

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