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.
조사ParticlesHan: (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
- It replaces 이/가 and 을/를; do not stack them (빵을라도 ✗ → 빵이라도). Other particles stay in front: 친구에게라도, 집에서라도.
- It signals second best, so it is unnatural with the thing you really want most; when offering something to others, it sounds modest.
- It usually appears in suggestions, requests and plans (-(으)ㄹ까요, -(으)세요, -(으)려고 해요); plain past statements are possible but less common.
- 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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All TOPIK grammar- -(이)야-(이)야 emphasizes a topic as obvious or as the only one meant: 'as for N, of course …'.
- -뿐Attached to a noun, it means 'only N, nothing but N', usually as N뿐이다 'it is only N' or N뿐만 아니라 'not only N'. More emphatic than 만.
- -요 (높임 조사)A particle added to a word, phrase or connective ending to make a short or unfinished utterance polite (해요-style): 저요, 커피요, 왜요?, 그래서요.
- -보고Colloquial particle marking the person a remark, request or label is aimed at: 'to (someone)', with verbs of saying. Often carries a note of complaint or surprise.
- -에다가-에다가 marks the place where something is put or added ('onto / into'), or something added on top ('in addition to').
- N대로The particle 대로 on a noun means 'according to N, just as N says' (약속대로, 계획대로), 'as one likes' in 마음대로, and, in N은 N대로, 'each on its own, separately'.
- -(으)ㅁ-(으)ㅁ turns a verb or adjective into a noun; it is used in notes, notices, memos and written records.
- -(으)며-(으)며 is a formal, written 'and' (listing) or 'while' (two actions at once).
- -(으)ㄹ 겸-(으)ㄹ 겸 gives one of two or more purposes for a single action: 'partly to …, and also to …'.
