If you are studying Korean reported speech, this lesson is the one to keep. You will learn how -다고 하다 works in real conversation, when to use it, and the mistakes English speakers make first. This is a Korean intermediate grammar guide with examples, romanization, and a five-minute speaking drill.
By the end you should be able to hear -다고 하다 in dramas and K-talk, then reuse it in your own sentences. Read once. Say the examples out loud. Then drill the same lines on Practice.
What -다고 하다 means
Korean reported speech lets you pass on what someone said. -다고 하다 is the default for statements: 바쁘다고 해요 means “they say they’re busy.” You are not claiming the fact. You are carrying the message.
In fast speech you will hear 다고 해, 다던데, and 래요. Learn -다고 하다 first. The shortcuts will make sense later.
How to form it
- Verb present: stem + -ㄴ/는다고 하다 → 간다고 해요 / 먹는다고 해요
- Adjective: stem + -다고 하다 → 예쁘다고 해요, 바쁘다고 해요
- Noun + 이다: (이)라고 하다 → 학생이라고 해요
- Past: -았/었다고 하다 → 갔다고 해요
-다고 하다 examples
Use these Korean reported speech example sentences as a speaking list. Korean first, then pronunciation, then English.
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 민수가 오늘 바쁘다고 해요. | minsuga oneul bappeudago haeyo. | Minsu says he’s busy today. |
| 날씨가 내일 춥다고 했어요. | nalssiga naeil chupdago haesseoyo. | They said the weather will be cold tomorrow. |
| 그 식당이 맛있다고 해. | geu sikdangi masitdago hae. | People say that restaurant is good. (casual) |
| 회의가 세 시에 있다고 합니다. | hoeuiga se sie itdago hamnida. | They say the meeting is at 3. (formal) |
| 지은 씨가 이사를 한다고 들었어요. | jieun ssiga isareul handago deureosseoyo. | I heard Jieun is moving. |
| 오늘은 쉰다고 했어요. | oneureun swindago haesseoyo. | They said they’re taking today off. |
When to use it
- You retell a coworker’s message: 조금 늦는다고 해요.
- You share a review: 여기 줄이 길다고 하던데요.
- You keep distance from a rumor: 그런 것 같다고 하던데, 확실하진 않아요.
Common mistakes
These are the traps English speakers hit when they translate word-for-word. Fix the pattern, not just the vocabulary.
Watch-out
❌ 민수가 바빠요. (when you only heard it)
✅ 민수가 바쁘다고 해요.
If you did not see it, mark it as reported. Otherwise you sound like you are stating a fact.
Watch-out
❌ 민수가 바쁘다고요 하다
✅ 민수가 바쁘다고 해요
The quote ending is -다고, then 하다 conjugates: 해요 / 했어요 / 합니다.
Watch-out
❌ Using -라고 하다 on a verb
✅ Use -다고 on verbs/adjectives, -(이)라고 on nouns
학생이라고 해요. 간다고 해요. Mixing them is a top intermediate error.
Mini dialogue
Read it twice. Second time, cover the English.
| Speaker | Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 지민이 왜 안 왔어요? | jimini wae an wasseoyo? | Why didn’t Jimin come? |
| B | 오늘 야근한다고 했어요. | oneul yageunhandago haesseoyo. | She said she has to work overtime today. |
| A | 아, 그렇구나. 내일 온다고 했어요? | a, geureokuna. naeil ondago haesseoyo? | Ah, I see. Did she say she’s coming tomorrow? |
| B | 네, 내일은 온다고 했어요. | ne, naeireun ondago haesseoyo. | Yes, she said she’ll come tomorrow. |
Don’t mix these up
Questions use -냐고 하다. Commands use -(으)라고 하다. Suggestions use -자고 하다. If you use -다고 for “let’s go,” it will sound like you reported a statement, not an invitation.
Five-minute Korean speaking practice
Korean speaking practice beats extra grammar notes. Do this once today, then again tomorrow without looking.
- Read each example slowly, Korean only.
- Say it at natural speed. Record yourself if you can.
- Cover the Korean and rebuild the sentence from English.
- Swap in your own details: your job, your city, your weekend.
Starter lines for today:
- 친구가 오늘 늦는다고 해요.
- 선생님이 숙제가 없다고 했어요.
- 날씨가 따뜻하다고 들었어요.
Lesson summary
- Pattern: -다고 하다
- Search topic: Korean reported speech
- Statements take -다고 하다. You are the messenger, not the original speaker.
- Say it out loud on Practice, then come back to Guides if a particle still feels sticky.
Homework
- Take three chat messages and rewrite them as -다고 해요 sentences.
- Listen to a news clip and report one line: ○○라고/다고 했어요.
- Practice noun quotes: 의사라고 해요, 학생이라고 해요.
Korean reported speech: quick answers
What is the difference between -다고 하다 and -다고요?
-다고요 is a reaction in the same conversation: “you said…?” -다고 하다 retells to a third person.
Do I need 하다 every time?
In casual talk, 하다 often drops: 내일 온대. Learn the full form first so the short form is readable.
Keep going
Want a path, not a single grammar point? Open Learn or browse the rest of this series in Korean intermediate.