Korean grammar patterns › Level 3
-ㄴ/는다고요
I said …! / You mean …? (repeating or echoing what was said)
Level 3 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
Repeats one's own words with emphasis (often when the listener didn't catch them), or echoes what the other person said with rising intonation to check or show surprise. Also -냐고요, -(으)라고요, -자고요.
Forming it
| 가다 | → 간다고요 |
| 먹다 | → 먹는다고요 |
| 없다 | → 없다고요 |
| 학생 | → 학생이라고요 |
It can sound impatient or irritated; be careful with elders.
Examples
가: 뭐라고요? 나: 내일 회의가 없다고요.
A: What did you say? B: I said there's no meeting tomorrow.
벌써 다 끝났다고요? 정말 빠르네요.
You mean it's already all finished? That's really fast.
Compared with similar patterns
-ㄴ/는다니까요 insists more strongly ('I told you!'); -ㄴ/는다니요 shows surprise or disbelief; -ㄴ/는대요 passes on what someone else said.