3 · Particles
At least, if nothing else: (이)라도
the particle of the next best thing
(이)라도 settles for something that is not ideal — “at least”, “if nothing else” — and after a question word it means “any … at all”.
At a glance
- Remember
- Irado: not what I wanted, but at least this.
- Form
- 물 → 물이라도after a consonant
- Signal words
- (이)라도
- 언제라도
- 뭐라도
- 누구라도
- -(으)면
- Trap
- Wrong:목마르면 물라도 드세요.Right:목마르면 물이라도 드세요.
Your turn
10 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.
The form
| after a consonant | 물 → 물이라도 |
| after a vowel | 차 → 차라도 |
| after another particle | 집에서라도, 친구한테라도 |
| any … at all | 누구라도, 언제라도, 뭐라도 |
| at least ring | 전화라도 하세요 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
(이)라도 settles for something that is not ideal: “at least”.
밥이 없으면 빵이라도 드세요.If there is no rice, at least have some bread.
It follows the other particles rather than replacing them.
바쁘면 집에서라도 좀 쉬세요.If you're busy, at least get some rest at home.
After a question word it means “any … at all”.
궁금한 게 있으면 언제라도 물어보세요.If you have any questions, ask me any time.
In a wish, it says the speaker would be content with even this much.
한 시간이라도 더 자고 싶어요.I would like to sleep even one more hour.
Example sentences
시간이 없으면 전화라도 하세요.If you haven't got time, at least give them a call.
목마르면 물이라도 좀 마셔요.If you're thirsty, at least have some water.
배고프면 뭐라도 좀 드세요.If you're hungry, do eat something.
주말에 산책이라도 할까요?Shall we at least go for a walk at the weekend?
이 문제는 누구라도 풀 수 있어요.Anybody can solve this problem.
저한테라도 말해 주세요.At least tell me, then.
8 more example sentences
바쁘면 문자라도 보내 주세요.If you're busy, at least send me a text.
커피라도 마시고 가세요.At least have a coffee before you go.
잠깐이라도 얼굴 좀 보고 싶어요.I would like to see you, even just for a moment.
필요하면 어디라도 갈게요.I'll go anywhere, if need be.
사진이라도 보여 주세요.At least show me a photo.
오늘 못 가면 내일이라도 갈게요.If I can't go today, I'll go tomorrow at least.
도움이 필요하면 누구한테라도 물어보세요.If you need help, ask anyone.
천 원이라도 깎아 주세요.Please knock off a thousand won at least.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
물 ends in a consonant, so the particle takes its fuller shape: 물이라도. 라도 alone only follows a vowel, as in 차라도 — the same choice as between 이나 and 나.
The full explanation
Read it all · about 1 min
이라도 follows a consonant and 라도 a vowel: 물이라도, 차라도. Like 도 and 만 it takes the place of 이/가 and 을/를, and it comes after the other particles: 집에서라도, 친구한테라도.
Its main job is to settle for the second best. If there is no coffee, 차라도 주세요 — “then tea, at least”. If you cannot meet, 전화라도 하세요, “at least ring them”. The particle admits that this is not what was really wanted, and offers it anyway.
After a question word it means “any … at all”, “no matter who, when or what”: 누구라도, 언제라도, 어디라도, 뭐라도. 뭐라도 좀 드세요 is “do eat something, anything”. 언제라도 연락하세요 invites the listener to call at any time.
Next to (이)나, which also offers a second choice, (이)라도 sounds more insistent: 커피나 마실까요? is a casual suggestion, 커피라도 마실까요? has something in the background — there is no time for a meal, so at least a coffee. The usual slip is the shape after a consonant: 물라도 instead of 물이라도.
A closer look
The same shape after a verb
On a noun, (이)라도 is a particle. After a verb stem, the ending -더라도 means “even if”, and it has its own topic. The two share the idea of a concession: something is accepted even though it is not what one would choose.
A noun with 이라도 can also mean “even if it is”: 아이라도 그건 알아요, “even a child knows that”. Here it is the verb 이다 in the concessive form, and the meaning is close to -더라도.
Worth knowing (1)
-
A gentle invitation
(이)라도 in an invitation sounds modest, as if the speaker did not want to impose: 차라도 드실래요? offers “just a cup of tea, perhaps”.
시간 되시면 점심이라도 같이 해요.If you have time, let's at least have lunch together.
How well do you know this topic?
This is filled in automatically after you practise. You can change it here at any time.
Next on the path: 146 · The short forms: -대요, -래요, -냬요, -재요Back to the learning path