-라든가
Or Something Like
-라든가 is attached to nouns to provide examples from a larger group, similar to 'or something like'.
How It Works
The pattern -(이)라든가 is used to list examples or suggest alternatives from a larger set of possibilities. It carries the nuance that the speaker is not being specific and that other similar options exist. It's equivalent to saying '... or something like that' or 'such as...' in English.
Usage Rules:
It attaches directly to nouns. The form depends on whether the noun ends in a vowel or a consonant:
- Nouns ending in a vowel + -라든가
- 사과 + -라든가 → 사과라든가 (an apple or something) - Nouns ending in a consonant + -이라든가
- 책 + -이라든가 → 책이라든가 (a book or something)
This pattern is formed from the copula 이다 combined with the particle -든가. It can be used to list a single example to represent a category, or multiple examples.
For example:
- Single example: 심심한데 영화라든가 볼까? (I'm bored, shall we watch a movie or something?)
- Multiple examples: 주말에는 청소라든가 빨래라든가 할 일이 많아요. (On weekends, there are many things to do, like cleaning or laundry.)
It is often interchangeable with -(이)든지. For listing actions (verbs) or states (adjectives), you should use -거나 instead.
Examples (4)
- 주말에 영화라든가 보는 거 어때요?
How about watching a movie or something on the weekend?
Word by Word: On the weekend a movie or something like that watching thing how is it?
- 케이크라든가 아이스크림이라든가 단 것이 먹고 싶어요.
I want to eat something sweet, like cake or ice cream.
Word by Word: Cake or something like ice cream or something like a sweet thing I want to eat.
- 궁금한 게 있으면 인터넷 검색이라든가 책을 찾아보세요.
If you have something you're curious about, try searching the internet or looking in a book.
Word by Word: A curious thing if there is internet search or something like a book try looking for.
- 여행 선물로는 차라든가 작은 인형 같은 게 좋을 것 같아요.
For a travel souvenir, something like tea or a small doll would be good.
Word by Word: As a travel gift tea or something like a small doll like thing seems good.
Common Mistakes
Using -라든가 with verbs or adjectives instead of -거나.
Not Quite주말에 영화를 보라든가 쇼핑을 하라든가 해요.Better주말에 영화를 보거나 쇼핑을 해요.-라든가 is used with nouns to list examples. For listing actions (verbs) or states (adjectives), you should use -거나.
Forgetting to add -이- after a noun ending in a consonant.
Not Quite저는 책라든가 신문을 자주 읽어요.Better저는 책이라든가 신문을 자주 읽어요.When the noun ends in a consonant (like 책), you must add -이- before -라든가, making it -이라든가.
Related Patterns
- -거나Or
Similar to -라든가, but -거나 is used to list alternative actions (verbs) or states (adjectives), whereas -라든가 is used for nouns.
- -든지No Matter What/who/how, Etc.
-든지 is very similar to -라든가 and is often interchangeable. Both are used to list examples or choices, implying that any option is acceptable.
- -나 (선택)Or, About
-나 is another way to say 'or' with nouns. It's often used for a choice between two things, while -라든가 is better for listing one or more examples from a larger category.
- 이다To Be
The pattern -(이)라든가 is a combination of the copula 이다 ('to be') and the ending -든가. Understanding how 이다 works with nouns is key to using this pattern correctly.