이라고②
이라고②: So-Called / Mere… — Dismissing as Trifling
Particle: marks the noun as something the speaker finds trifling or unsatisfactory (이른바 / so-called).
How to form it
| When | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun with batchim | N이라고 | 전문가이라고 / 계획이라고 |
| Noun without batchim | N라고 | 친구라고 / 이름이라고 |
이라고② packages a noun as so-called / mere… — trifling, not quite living up to the label.
Curriculum sense: 보잘것없음. Dictionary 「002」: the speaker finds the target unsatisfactory; 이른바 colour. This is not the quoting/naming particle 이라고 from intermediate (「001」). Same letters; different job. PLAN: write each.
Why this is hard
Learners already know 호텔이라고 했어요 as a quote. Then they meet 전문가이라고? with a raised eyebrow and still hear “quotation.” Intonation and sequel matter: dismissive 이라고 undercuts the noun itself, often before 하지만, 하면서, or a thin follow-up.
It also neighbours 이라고는, which adds scarce or negative emphasis. Keep this slot on 보잘것없음, not every 이라고-looking string.
What it does
You name the thing, then shrink its worth.
전문가이라고 하면서 기초를 몰라요.
계획이라고 해 놓은 게 이게 다예요?
친구라고 부를 사이도 아니에요.
이름이라고 붙인 게 웃겨요.The noun is on the table as a label — and the speaker refuses to treat that label as solid.
Forms
Batchim nouns take 이라고; vowel-final nouns take 라고 — same attachment rule as the quote particle, different intent.
When not to use it
Do not use this slot when you only mean they said it was X — that is 이라고 「001」.
Do not fire dismissive 이라고 at seniors about their title as casual banter; it can sound scornful.
Do not write it as a neutral textbook definition marker.
Neighbours — and why they differ
| Form | Why it is not this slot |
|---|---|
| 이라고 「001」 | Quotes or names a noun. |
| 이란 | Definitional topic frame. |
| -다고 | Quotes a predicate, not this noun-side dismissive. |
Ask: am I undercutting the noun as so-called / mere? If yes, 이라고②. If I am only reporting a label, stay on 「001」.
Do not confuse it with
Taught alongside this
On the jabi learning path, this appears in 조사 (inspection) — Advanced Korean 2, Unit 1, on the theme of inspection. These come with it:
Words used above
Quick check
No sign-up, no score saved — just see if it stuck.
1. Which sentence uses 이라고 to challenge a noun label — not merely to report that someone used that word?
2. 이라고② and its quotative twin share one phonological rule: batchim → 이라고, vowel-final → 라고. Which sentence shows the particle on a vowel-final noun — giving 라고, not 이라고?
3. Which Korean sentence uses 이라고 in the dismissive 'so-called' sense — not a quotative report or a definitional frame?
Common questions
Textbook overlap?
Junggeup 이라고 is quote/name 「001」. This godeup6 slot is dismissive 「002」 (이른바 / trifling). Same letters — write each.
Dictionary?
「002」: particle marking something the speaker finds unsatisfactory; carries ‘이른바’ colour. 「001」 is direct quote.
Always rude?
Often critical or undercutting. Soften or avoid upward if the target is a person you elevate.
Vs 이라고는?
Related family (emphasis before scarce/negative). This page stays on the dismissive so-called reading.