-더라고요

I saw/found that … (telling what one personally experienced)

Level 3 · TOPIK II · intermediate

How to use it

Reports something the speaker directly saw, heard or felt in the past, as new information for the listener. Casual form: -더라.

Forming it

맛있다	→ 맛있더라고요
오다	→ 오더라고요
학생	→ 학생이더라고요
닫다	→ 닫았더라고요

Not used for the speaker's own deliberate actions: ✗ 제가 어제 운동하더라고요. It is fine for your own feelings or reactions: 저는 좀 무섭더라고요. Not used for things you did not witness yourself.

Examples

그 식당 음식이 생각보다 맛있더라고요.
The food at that restaurant was better than I expected.
어제 가 보니까 가게가 벌써 문을 닫았더라고요.
When I went there yesterday, I found the shop had already closed.

Compared with similar patterns

-더군요 is similar but sounds like a personal realization and is a bit more formal. -던데요 adds a background tone, inviting a reaction or implying a contrast.