-더러
To, Toward (Someone)
-더러 is a particle that means 'to (a person)' or 'toward (a person)'. It marks the person being spoken to, ordered, or asked to do something. Think of it as a more specific version of 에게 or 한테.
How It Works
-더러 is a particle that specifies the target of a verbal action like telling, asking, or ordering. It attaches directly to a noun (representing a person) regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant.
Key Usage Contexts:
1. Recipient of a Command/Request:
This is the most common use. It is frequently paired with indirect quotation forms like -(으)라고 하다 (to tell someone to do something).
- 엄마가 나더러 방을 치우라고 하셨어요. (My mom told me to clean my room.)
- 선생님께서 학생들더러 조용히 하라고 하셨다. (The teacher told the students to be quiet.)
2. Comparison with 에게/한테:
While -더러 means 'to a person', it's not always interchangeable with 에게/한테.
- -더러: Specialized for recipients of speech acts (commands, requests, questions). It's mainly used in spoken language and can sometimes sound a bit literary or dated.
- 에게/한테: General-purpose particles for any action directed at a person (giving, sending, talking). They are much more common in everyday language.
For example, '친구에게 선물을 주다' (to give a gift to a friend) is natural, but '친구더러 선물을 주다' is awkward because giving is not a speech act.
3. Less Common Usage: Referring to Someone as...:
In some limited contexts, -더러 can be used to mark a person being called a name, especially with verbs like 놀리다 (to tease) or 야단치다 (to scold).
- 친구들이 나더러 바보라고 놀렸다. (My friends teased me, calling me a fool.)
However, for the general meaning of 'to call someone X', using the object marker 을/를 with '-(이)라고 부르다' is far more common and natural (e.g., 사람들이 그를 영웅이라고 불렀다 - People called him a hero).
Examples (4)
- 엄마가 저더러 심부름을 하라고 하셨어요.
My mom told me to run an errand.
Word by Word: Mom to me an errand to do said.
Here, -더러 marks '저' (me) as the person who received the command 'to run an errand'.
- 친구가 나더러 같이 영화 보러 가자고 했어.
My friend suggested to me that we go see a movie together.
Word by Word: Friend to me together movie to see let's go said.
-더러 indicates that '나' (me) is the recipient of the suggestion.
- 형이 동생더러 거짓말하지 말라고 야단쳤다.
The older brother scolded the younger brother, telling him not to lie.
Word by Word: Older brother to younger brother don't lie scolded.
- 친구들이 나더러 바보라고 놀렸다.
My friends teased me, calling me a fool.
Word by Word: Friends me-toward fool called teased.
This shows a less common usage where -더러 marks the person being called a name, often in the context of teasing or scolding.
Common Mistakes
Using -더러 for general actions like giving or sending, where 에게/한테 is more appropriate.
Not Quite나는 친구더러 선물을 보냈다.Better나는 친구에게 선물을 보냈다.-더러 is primarily for recipients of speech acts (telling, asking, ordering). For general actions like sending an object, 에게 (or 한테 in speech) is the correct particle.
Using -더러 with inanimate objects.
Different Meaning나는 컴퓨터더러 켜라고 말했다.Better나는 동생더러 컴퓨터를 켜라고 말했다.-더러 must be used with a person who is receiving the command. It cannot be used with an inanimate object like a computer. The command is directed at a person, not the object itself.
Related Patterns
- 에게To, For
Both mean 'to (a person)', but 에게 is a general-purpose particle for the recipient of any action (giving, sending, speaking), while -더러 is specialized for the recipient of a command, request, or statement.
- 한테To, For
한테 is the colloquial equivalent of 에게 and is more general than -더러. In casual speech,
한테is far more common for all situations, including those where -더러 could be used. - 께To (Honorific)
께 is the honorific version of 에게/한테. You must use
께for respected individuals. -더러 is not used in honorific contexts;께is always used instead. - -라고Tell/order to Do
The indirect quotation ending -(으)라고 하다 (to tell someone to do...) is very frequently used with -더러. The particle -더러 marks who is being told, and
-(으)라고 하다reports what they were told to do.