HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · INTERMEDIATE 21 · LESSON 106
-더라고요I found / I noticed that…
-더라고요 shares something you experienced and noticed yourself, with someone who wasn’t there: “I went to that café — the coffee was really good, you know.” It brings the listener into your memory.
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A situation you already know
You tried the new café yesterday. Today you tell a coworker:
I tried that café yesterday — the coffee was really good.
You tasted it yourself and found it good. 맛있더라고요 shares that discovery.
Build the form
- 맛있다 → 맛있 + 더라고요 → 맛있더라고요Complete expression
- 많다 → 많 + 더라고요 → 많더라고요Complete expression
- 잘하다 → 잘하 + 더라고요 → 잘하더라고요Complete expression
- 학생 → 학생이 + 더라고요 → 학생이더라고요Complete expression
- 갔다 → 갔 + 더라고요 → 갔더라고요Complete expression
- Verb, adjective or 있다/없다 stem + -더라고요: 맛있더라고요, 많더라고요, 잘하더라고요.
- Nouns: (이)더라고요 → 학생이더라고요, 의사더라고요.
- Something already finished when you saw it: -았/었더라고요 → 벌써 갔더라고요 (he had already left).
- Casual: -더라 / -더라고.
- Use it for things you experienced directly; for general facts, just use -아/어요.
- Not for your own deliberate actions. Your own involuntary reactions are fine: 저도 모르게 웃음이 나더라고요.
Think in Korean · an English-speaker’s guide
- English has no single ending for this. It’s like “I noticed… / It turned out… / …, you know?” told from your own memory.
- You must have experienced it directly. If you only heard it from someone, use -대요 (Lesson 96).
- Don’t use it for your own deliberate actions: ✗제가 열심히 공부하더라고요. For an involuntary reaction it works: 눈물이 나더라고요.
Six examples in context
I noticed Koreans eat really fast.
I went to Jeju, and the sea was so beautiful.
I met Minsu’s younger sibling — turns out they’re still in high school.
When I went out this morning, I saw it had snowed a lot.
At the last scene of that movie, I found myself in tears.
That shop was really crowded on the weekend.
Compare with related patterns
-았/었어요
커피가 맛있었어요.A plain past statement. -더라고요 adds “I experienced this, and I’m sharing it with you.”
-대요
커피가 맛있대요.Hearsay: someone else said it (Lesson 96).
-네요
커피가 맛있네요.Noticing something right now, in front of you (Lesson 43).
| Pattern | Choose it when… |
|---|---|
| -더라고요 | share something you saw or felt yourself earlier |
| -네요 | notice something right now |
| -대요 | pass on what others said |
| -았/었어요 | a plain past fact |
Common mistakes
Not for your own deliberate actions.
You only heard it → -대요.
If it was cold while you were there, no 었. -았/었더라고요 is for something already finished when you saw it.
-구요 is a common spoken spelling, but -고요 is standard.
Mini practice · six questions
Try each one before opening the answer. Translation answers are models; other natural wording is possible.
- Fill in the blank한국에 가 보니까 지하철이 정말 ______. (편리하다)
Check answer
한국에 가 보니까 지하철이 정말 편리하더라고요.
Something you experienced → -더라고요.
- Fill in the blank그 가게에 갔는데 문이 ______. (닫혀 있다)
Check answer
그 가게에 갔는데 문이 닫혀 있더라고요.
You saw it yourself → 닫혀 있더라고요.
- Choose the natural form어제 그 드라마를 봤는데 정말 (재미있더라고요 / 재미있대요).
Check answer
재미있더라고요
You watched it yourself.
- Choose the natural form집에 와 보니까 동생이 케이크를 벌써 다 (먹더라고요 / 먹었더라고요).
Check answer
먹었더라고요
Already finished when you saw it → -았/었더라고요.
- Fix the mistake제가 어제 혼자 영화를 보더라고요.
Check answer
제가 어제 혼자 영화를 봤어요.
Your own deliberate action → plain past.
- Say it in KoreanI went to Busan, and the food was really cheap.
Check answer
부산에 갔는데 음식이 정말 싸더라고요.
Your experience → 싸더라고요.
Today’s key point
Share what you experienced yourself: stem + -더라고요 (nouns (이)더라고요; already finished -았/었더라고요). Not for hearsay or for your own deliberate actions.
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M.A. in Korean Language Education · Certified Korean language teacher
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