Korean grammar patterns › Level 2
N(이)라고 하다
be called N; say "…" (direct quotation)
Level 2 · TOPIK I · beginner
How to use it
Gives the name of something (N(이)라고 하다 'is called N') and quotes someone's exact words with "…"라고 하다/말하다. After a vowel -라고, after a consonant -이라고.
Forming it
| 사과 | → 사과라고 해요 |
| 책상 | → 책상이라고 해요 |
| "고마워요" | → "고마워요"라고 했어요 |
In direct quotation -라고 follows any quoted sentence ("가요"라고 했어요), not -다고. Asking a name: 뭐라고 해요? / 이름이 뭐라고 했어요?
Examples
이 과일은 한국어로 뭐라고 해요?
What is this fruit called in Korean?
친구가 저한테 "생일 축하해!"라고 말했어요.
My friend said to me, "Happy birthday!"
Compared with similar patterns
-ㄴ/는다고 하다 reports a statement indirectly, in your own words; -(으)라고 하다 reports a command — it looks similar but attaches to verbs, not nouns.