"They Say That" in Korean — Reported Speech Simplified

<h2>Reported Speech: Why It's Essential</h2> <p>"They say it's going to rain." "She said she would come." "I was told it was good." In English, we report what others say all the time. In Korean, it's the same — except the grammar is very different.</p> <p>After 12 years in Seoul, let me reassure you: Korean reported speech looks scary, but there's a shortcut. And that's what we're going to learn together.</p> <h2>The Full Version: -다고 하다</h2> <p>The full formal structure is:</p> <p><strong>[Quote] + -다고 하다</strong></p> <p>하다 conjugates normally: 해요 (polite), 했어요 (past), etc.</p> <h3>For Statements</h3> <table> <tr><th>Type</th><th>Structure</th><th>Example</th><th>Meaning</th></tr> <tr><td>Action verb (present)</td><td>-ㄴ/는다고 해요</td><td>간다고 해요 (gandago haeyo)</td><td>He says he's going.</td></tr> <tr><td>Action verb (past)</td><td>-았/었다고 해요</td><td>갔다고 해요 (gatdago haeyo)</td><td>He says he went.</td></tr> <tr><td>Adjective (present)</td><td>-다고 해요</td><td>맛있다고 해요 (masitdago haeyo)</td><td>They say it's delicious.</td></tr> <tr><td>Noun + 이다</td><td>-(이)라고 해요</td><td>학생이라고 해요 (haksaengirago haeyo)</td><td>He says he's a student.</td></tr> </table> <h3>For Questions (Indirect Questions)</h3> <table> <tr><th>Type</th><th>Structure</th><th>Example</th><th>Meaning</th></tr> <tr><td>Verb (present)</td><td>-냐고 해요</td><td>가냐고 해요 (ganyago haeyo)</td><td>He asks if we're going.</td></tr> <tr><td>Adjective</td><td>-(으)냐고 해요</td><td>맛있냐고 해요 (masinnnyago haeyo)</td><td>He asks if it's good.</td></tr> </table> <h3>For Commands</h3> <table> <tr><th>Structure</th><th>Example</th><th>Meaning</th></tr> <tr><td>-(으)라고 해요</td><td>가라고 해요 (garago haeyo)</td><td>He says to go.</td></tr> <tr><td>-지 말라고 해요</td><td>가지 말라고 해요 (gaji mallago haeyo)</td><td>He says not to go.</td></tr> </table> <h3>For Suggestions (Let's)</h3> <table> <tr><th>Structure</th><th>Example</th><th>Meaning</th></tr> <tr><td>-자고 해요</td><td>같이 가자고 해요 (gachi gajago haeyo)</td><td>He suggests going together.</td></tr> </table> <h2>The Magic Shortcut: -대요</h2> <p>In spoken Korean, -다고 해요 contracts to <strong>-대요</strong> (daeyo). It's much more natural and common:</p> <table> <tr><th>Full Form</th><th>Contracted</th><th>Meaning</th></tr> <tr><td>비가 온다고 해요</td><td>비가 온대요 (biga ondaeyo)</td><td>They say it's going to rain.</td></tr> <tr><td>맛있다고 해요</td><td>맛있대요 (masitdaeyo)</td><td>They say it's delicious.</td></tr> <tr><td>내일 간다고 해요</td><td>내일 간대요 (naeil gandaeyo)</td><td>He says he's going tomorrow.</td></tr> <tr><td>학생이라고 해요</td><td>학생이래요 (haksaengiraeyo)</td><td>He says he's a student.</td></tr> <tr><td>가냐고 해요</td><td>가냬요 (ganyaeyo)</td><td>He asks if we're going.</td></tr> <tr><td>가라고 해요</td><td>가래요 (garaeyo)</td><td>He says to go.</td></tr> <tr><td>같이 가자고 해요</td><td>같이 가재요 (gachi gajaeyo)</td><td>He suggests going together.</td></tr> </table> <h2>Everyday Examples</h2> <h3>Reporting News</h3> <ul> <li>내일 비가 온대요. (naeil biga ondaeyo) — They say it's going to rain tomorrow.</li> <li>그 식당이 맛있대요. (geu sikdangi masitdaeyo) — They say that restaurant is good.</li> <li>서울 지하철이 세계에서 제일 좋대요. (seoul jihacheori segyeeseo jeil jotdaeyo) — They say Seoul's subway is the best in the world.</li> </ul> <h3>Reporting What Someone Said</h3> <ul> <li>친구가 내일 온대요. (chinguga naeil ondaeyo) — My friend says he's coming tomorrow.</li> <li>엄마가 빨리 오래요. (eommaga ppalli oraeyo) — Mom says to come quickly.</li> <li>선생님이 조용히 하래요. (seonsaengnimi joyonghi haraeyo) — The teacher says to be quiet.</li> <li>동생이 같이 가재요. (dongsaengi gachi gajaeyo) — My sibling suggests going together.</li> </ul> <h3>In Past Tense</h3> <ul> <li>어제 비가 왔대요. (eoje biga watdaeyo) — They say it rained yesterday.</li> <li>그 영화가 재미있었대요. (geu yeonghwaga jaemiisseotdaeyo) — They say that movie was good.</li> </ul> <h2>Summary of Contractions</h2> <table> <tr><th>Type</th><th>Full</th><th>Contracted</th><th>Example</th></tr> <tr><td>Statement (verb)</td><td>-ㄴ/는다고 해요</td><td>-ㄴ/는대요</td><td>간대요 (he says he's going)</td></tr> <tr><td>Statement (adj.)</td><td>-다고 해요</td><td>-대요</td><td>좋대요 (they say it's good)</td></tr> <tr><td>Statement (past)</td><td>-았/었다고 해요</td><td>-았/었대요</td><td>갔대요 (he says he went)</td></tr> <tr><td>Statement (noun)</td><td>-(이)라고 해요</td><td>-(이)래요</td><td>의사래요 (he says he's a doctor)</td></tr> <tr><td>Question</td><td>-냐고 해요</td><td>-냬요</td><td>뭐냬요 (he asks what)</td></tr> <tr><td>Command</td><td>-(으)라고 해요</td><td>-(으)래요</td><td>가래요 (he says to go)</td></tr> <tr><td>Suggestion</td><td>-자고 해요</td><td>-재요</td><td>먹재요 (he suggests eating)</td></tr> </table> <h2>Common Mistakes</h2> <ol> <li><strong>Forgetting to change the subject</strong>: when reporting, the subject changes (I → he/she).</li> <li><strong>Using -대요 in formal writing</strong>: in writing, prefer the full form -다고 합니다.</li> <li><strong>Confusing -대요 and -데요</strong>: -데요 = personal experience (I noticed that...), -대요 = indirect report (they say that...).</li> </ol> <h2>Exercises</h2> <p>Transform into reported speech with -대요:</p> <ol> <li>내일 비가 와요. (It rains tomorrow.) → They say... → _______</li> <li>이 영화가 재미있어요. (This movie is fun.) → They say... → _______</li> <li>민수가 "같이 가자" 라고 했어요. (Minsu said "let's go together.") → Minsu suggested... → _______</li> <li>선생님이 "조용히 해" 라고 했어요. (The teacher said "be quiet.") → The teacher said to... → _______</li> </ol> <p><strong>Answers:</strong></p> <ol> <li>내일 비가 온대요.</li> <li>이 영화가 재미있대요.</li> <li>민수가 같이 가재요.</li> <li>선생님이 조용히 하래요.</li> </ol> <h2>Ready to Report Like a Native?</h2> <p>Reported speech is THE structure that will take you from intermediate to advanced. On <a href="/en/signup">Seonsaengnim</a>, you practice with natural dialogues and everyday Korean situations. Sign up and start leveling up today!</p>