-다고 치다
Suppose That, Assuming
-다고 치다 means 'let's assume' or 'suppose that'. You use it to set up a hypothetical situation to talk about what would happen next.
How It Works
-다고 치다 is a useful expression for creating hypothetical scenarios or making assumptions for the sake of discussion. It literally means 'to consider it as said that...' or 'to strike it as...'. It allows the speaker to proceed with a conversation by temporarily accepting a premise.
Conjugation Rules:
The pattern uses the plain form of the verb or adjective, combined with the quotation marker -다고.
1. Verbs: Verb stem + -는다고 치다
- 가다 → 간다고 치다 (Let's say one goes)
- 먹다 → 먹는다고 치다 (Let's say one eats)
2. Adjectives: Adjective stem + -다고 치다
- 비싸다 → 비싸다고 치다 (Let's say it's expensive)
- 좋다 → 좋다고 치다 (Let's say it's good)
3. Nouns (이다/아니다):
- Noun ending in a vowel +
-라고 치다(e.g., 의사 → 의사라고 치다) - Noun ending in a consonant +
-이라고 치다(e.g., 학생 → 학생이라고 치다) - For 아니다: 아니라고 치다
4. Tense:
- Past:
-았/었다고 치다(e.g., 이겼다고 치다 - Let's say we won) - Future:
-ㄹ 거라고 치다(e.g., 올 거라고 치다 - Let's assume they will come)
This pattern is often used when planning, debating, or considering different possibilities. The speaker isn't necessarily claiming the assumption is true, but rather exploring its implications.
Examples (4)
- 하루에 10만 원을 번다고 쳐도 한 달이면 300만 원이에요.
Even if we suppose you earn 100,000 won a day, that's 3 million won a month.
Word by Word: Per day 100,000 won earn-suppose-even if, in one month 3 million won it is.
This example uses the assumption (earning 100,000 won a day) to calculate a monthly total.
- 그 사람이 범인이라고 칩시다. 그럼 증거는 어디에 있습니까?
Let's assume that person is the culprit. Then where is the evidence?
Word by Word: That person is the culprit-let's assume. Then evidence where is it?
Here, an assumption is made ('that person is the culprit') in order to ask a follow-up question about the consequences of that assumption.
- 백번 양보해서 네 말이 맞다고 치자. 그래도 이건 너무 심하잖아.
Conceding a hundred times, let's say you're right. Still, this is too much.
Word by Word: A hundred times yielding, your words are right-let's say. Still this is too severe.
This shows how
-다고 치다can be used to concede a point in an argument in order to make a larger, contrasting point. - 비행기 표가 매진됐다고 치고, 기차로 가는 건 어때요?
Assuming the plane tickets are sold out, how about going by train?
Word by Word: Plane ticket was sold out-assuming, by train going thing how is it?
This is used for contingency planning, making an assumption about a potential problem (sold-out tickets) to propose an alternative.
Common Mistakes
Confusing
-다고 치다with the simple conditional-면(if).Not Quite내일 비가 오면 치고, 영화 보러 가자.Better내일 비가 온다고 치고, 다른 계획을 세우자.-다고 치다requires a full quoted clause before it (e.g.,비가 온다+고 치다). It sets up a deliberate assumption for discussion. -면 is a general conditional that attaches directly to a verb/adjective stem (e.g.,비가 오면). While비가 오면 영화 보러 가자(If it rains, let's go see a movie) is a valid sentence, you cannot mix-면and치다like in the incorrect example.-다고 치다is for 'assuming' a situation, while-면is for 'if' a situation happens.
Learn This First
To express 'suppose that, assuming', you need reported speech knowledge.
Related Patterns
- -(으)면If, When
Both
-면(if) and-다고 치다set up hypothetical situations. However,-면is a general conditional, while-다고 치다is used to make a more deliberate, often temporary or even counter-factual, assumption for the sake of argument or planning. - -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 것 같다Seems Like, Looks Like
Both patterns deal with non-confirmed information.
-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 것 같다(seems like) is used to express a guess or assumption based on some evidence or feeling.-다고 치다is used to state an assumption deliberately, without necessarily believing it, to see what follows from it. - -더라도Even if, Although
Both can be used to accept a premise. However,
-더라도(even if) is used to show that the main clause happens in spite of the premise.-다고 치다is used to explore the consequences of the premise. For example, '비가 온다고 치고 우산을 사자' (Assuming it rains, let's buy an umbrella) vs. '비가 오더라도 가야 한다' (Even if it rains, we have to go).