Level 5 Lesson 15 - -(이)라도

How is -(이)라도 used?
- It is attached after nouns, adverbs or particles to add one of the following meanings:

1) something is suggested but is not the best out of all choices

Ex) 이거라도, 저라도, 커피라도, etc

when used after 아무 (any), 누구 (who), 어디 (where), 언제 (when), or 어느 (which),
2) any choice is fine

Ex) 언제라도, 누구라도, etc

when it is used after certain adverbs or words describing number or quantity, and
3) the speaker wants to emphasize the number or quantity and add the meaning of “even”

Ex) 하루라도, 잠시라도, 1달러라도, etc

4) the speaker is showing some suspicion about a certain possibility

Ex) 혹시 감기라도, 어떤 문제라도, etc

** Construction is very simple:
- Words ending with a vowel + -라도
 (Ex: 이거 + 라도 = 이거라도)
- Words ending with a last consonant + -이라도
 (Ex: 물 + 이라도 = 물이라도)

Sample sentences
1. 그거라도 주세요. [geu-geo-ra-do ju-se-yo.]
(In this case, “그거 (that one)” is not the best choice, but you ask for it anyway.)
= Give me that (if you don’t have anything better/else).

2. 과자라도 먹을래요? [haem-beo-geo-ra-do meo-geul-lae-yo?]
(In this case, you don’t have any other proper food, so you are suggesting having snack at least.)
= (I don’t have any better food, but) Would you like some snack (at least)?

3. 내일 영화라도 볼래요? [nae-il yeong-hwa-ra-do bol-lae-yo?]
(In this case, you mean that watching a movie is not the best or most that you could do together, but you suggest it anyway because it’s better than nothing. If you are very excited about watching a movie, you would instead just say 내일 영화 볼래요?)
= Maybe we can watch a movie or something tomorrow?
= Do you want to watch a movie or something tomorrow?

4. 이렇게라도 해야 돼요. [i-reo-ke-ra-do hae-ya dwae-yo.]
(In this case, you imply that there are other things that could be done but you can’t do all of them, and this is what you can at least do to either stay out of trouble or to solve a situation.)
= I should at least do this.
= This should at least prevent further trouble.
= I should at least do this, or else...

5. 저는 언제라도 갈 수 있어요. [jeo-neun eon-ja-ra-do gal su i-sseo-yo.]
(In this case, you imply that “when” you go wouldn’t make much difference.)
= I can go anytime.

6. 뭐라도 마셔요. [mwo-ra-do ma-syeo-yo.]
(In this case, 뭐 means “something”, you are telling the other person to at least drink SOMETHING, since you think it would be at least better than nothing.)
= Drink something (since it would be uncomfortable for me to see you not drinking anything).

7. 하루라도 빨리 끝내야 돼요. [ha-ru-ra-do ppal-li kkeut-nae-ya dwae-yo.]
= I need to finish it quickly. Even one day sooner would make a lot of difference.
(하루라도 빨리 can also be understood as a fixed expression that means “as soon as possible”.)

8. 사고라도 났어요? [sa-go-ra-do na-sseo-yo?]
(사 고가 나다 means “an accident happens” and here, if you add -라고 after 사고, you imply that you have no concrete evidence or fact but you have suspicion that something happened, so you ask the other person meaning “You had an accident or what?”)
= You had an accident or what?
= By any chance, did you have an accident?