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-라Korean sentence ending · TOPIK 6

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TOPIK 6 6급Sentence Endings 종결 어미statement 서술3 senses

One sentence ending with 3 distinct uses in the dictionary. Each is below with its own usage rule and examples.

(formal, highly addressee-lowering)(old-fashioned) A sentence-final ending used when explaining a certain fact.

(아주낮춤으로)(옛 말투로) 어떤 사실을 설명함을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after the copula 이다, 아니다, the honorific -으시-, the retrospective -더- or -으리-.

‘이다’, ‘아니다’ 또는 ‘-으시-’, ‘-더-’, ‘-으리-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

너는 내가 사랑하는 아들이라.

You are the son I love.

남을 시기하는 자는 대장부가 아니라.

One who envies others is not a true man.

백성을 소중히 여기고 나라를 잘 다스리는 것이 군주의 기본 도리라.

Caring for the people and ruling the nation well is the fundamental duty of a king.

(formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when demanding a certain act of readers or listeners who are not mentioned in detail, in newspapers, books, etc.

(아주낮춤으로) 신문이나 책 등에서 구체적으로 정해지지 않은 독자나 청자에게 어떤 행동을 요구함을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs ending in a vowel or in ㄹ or the honorific -으시-.

받침이 없거나 ‘ㄹ’ 받침인 동사 또는 ‘-으시-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

청춘이여, 영원하라!

O youth, be eternal!

마음을 열어 하늘을 보라.

Open your heart and look at the sky.

다음 중 맞는 답을 고르라.

Choose the correct answer from the following.

(formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to indicate a statement as a command.

(아주낮춤으로) 명령을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs ending in ㅏ, ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅐ, ㅔ or ㅚ.

‘ㅏ’, ‘ㅓ’, ‘ㅕ’, ‘ㅐ’, ‘ㅔ’, ‘ㅚ’로 끝나는 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

필요한 물건을 하나만 사라.

Buy only what you need.

차가 지나갈 때는 길을 건너지 말고 서라.

Stop and wait for the car to pass.

대화In conversation

계산이 틀리지 않게 돈을 정확하게 세라.

Count the money carefully so there are no mistakes.

네. 알겠습니다.

Yes, I will.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other sentence endings you will meet alongside this one.

-거들랑 -geodeullang -걸랑 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to the reason, cause, or basis for the preceding statement that the speaker thought… TOPIK 6 -게 -ge (formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when ordering a person who is younger or has close friendly ties with you. TOPIK 6 -게 -ge (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to indicate the following content would obviously be realized if the preceding content… TOPIK 6 -구려 -guryeo (formal, moderately addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used to indicate that the speaker is impressed by a newly realized fact. TOPIK 6 -그려 geuryeo A postpositional particle used when the speaker talks about what he/she says to the listener in a friendly manner. TOPIK 6 -나 -na (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when asking or assuming something. TOPIK 6

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -라 mean in Korean?

-라 is a sentence ending introduced at 6급 (TOPIK 6). (formal, highly addressee-lowering)(old-fashioned) A sentence-final ending used when explaining a certain fact. It has 3 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

When do you use -라?

Attaches after the copula 이다, 아니다, the honorific -으시-, the retrospective -더- or -으리-.

What TOPIK level is -라?

6급 — TOPIK 6, mastery. It is one of 56 grammar points at that level.

Definition, usage note, examples and dialogue from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.