If you are studying Korean recommendations, this lesson is the one to keep. You will learn how -라고 하다 / 추천하다 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 -라고 하다 / 추천하다 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 -라고 하다 / 추천하다 means
Quoted commands use -(으)라고 하다. 이 영화를 꼭 보라고 하고 싶어요: I want to tell you to definitely watch this movie. Pair it with 추천하다 for a natural Korean intermediate recommendation.
How to form it
- Command quote: verb stem + -(으)라고 하다 → 가라고 해요, 보라고 해요
- 오다/보다 irregular in speech still follow 으라고: 오라고, 보라고
- 추천하다 + object: 이 책을 추천해요
- Soften: 한번 보세요, 볼 만해요, 강추예요 (casual)
-라고 하다 / 추천하다 examples
Use these Korean recommendations example sentences as a speaking list. Korean first, then pronunciation, then English.
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 이 영화를 꼭 보라고 추천하고 싶어요. | i yeonghwareul kkok borago chucheonhago sipeoyo. | I want to recommend that you definitely watch this movie. |
| 친구가 그 식당에 가라고 했어요. | chinguga geu sikdange garago haesseoyo. | A friend told me to go to that restaurant. |
| 선생님은 매일 일기를 쓰라고 하셨어요. | seonsaengnimeun maeil ilgireul ssurago hasyeosseoyo. | The teacher told us to write a diary every day. |
| 이 앱 진짜 추천해요. | i aep jinjja chucheonhaeyo. | I really recommend this app. |
| 너무 맵다고 해서 안 먹으라고 했어요. | neomu maepdago haeseo an meogeurago haesseoyo. | They said it’s too spicy, so they told me not to eat it. |
| 시간 있으면 한강 한번 가 보세요. | sigan isseumyeon hangang hanbeon ga boseyo. | If you have time, try going to the Han River. |
When to use it
- Passing on someone else’s instruction.
- Giving your own rec without sounding bossy: 추천해요 + reason.
- Negative command quotes: 하지 말라고 했어요.
Common mistakes
These are the traps English speakers hit when they translate word-for-word. Fix the pattern, not just the vocabulary.
Watch-out
❌ 보라고 하다 vs 본다고 하다
✅ 보라고 = told to watch; 본다고 = said they watch
Command vs statement. This mix-up changes the whole story.
Watch-out
❌ 추천해 주세요 when you are the one recommending
✅ 추천해요 / 추천하고 싶어요
해 주세요 asks them to recommend to you.
Watch-out
❌ 꼭 보세요 to a stranger too strongly
✅ 시간 되면 보세요 / 볼 만해요
꼭 is intense. Soften with 한번 or 만해요.
Mini dialogue
Read it twice. Second time, cover the English.
| Speaker | Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 주말에 뭐 볼까요? | jumare mwo bolkkayo? | What should we watch this weekend? |
| B | 이 영화 꼭 보라고 친구들이 난리예요. | i yeonghwa kkok borago chingudeuri nalli-yeyo. | Friends are telling me I have to watch this movie. |
| A | 그래요? 그럼 그거 봅시다. | geuraeyo? geureom geugeo bopsida. | Yeah? Then let’s watch that. |
Don’t mix these up
자고 하다 quotes a suggestion (가자고 했어요). 라고 하다 quotes a command (가라고 했어요). 다고 하다 quotes a statement.
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:
- 이 노래 한번 들어 보세요. 추천해요.
- 엄마가 일찍 자라고 하셨어요.
- 그 길은 밤에 가지 말라고 했어요.
Lesson summary
- Pattern: -라고 하다 / 추천하다
- Search topic: Korean recommendations
- Use -(으)라고 하다 to quote commands and 추천하다 to offer your own rec.
- Say it out loud on Practice, then come back to Guides if a particle still feels sticky.
Homework
- Recommend a drama with 추천하다 + one reason with 더라고요.
- Quote a parent/teacher command with 라고 하셨어요.
- Write one 하지 말라고 했어요 warning.
Korean recommendations: quick answers
How do I recommend politely to a senior?
한번 보시는 게 어떨까요? or 추천 드려요 with 시 if needed.
강추?
Internet slang for 강력 추천. Fine in KakaoTalk, not in a cover letter.
Keep going
Want a path, not a single grammar point? Open Learn or browse the rest of this series in Korean intermediate.