How to Say "I heard that..." in Korean: -다고 하다
🗣️ Reporting News in Korean: Mastering "-다고 하다" (I heard that...)
Sharing info you heard from a friend or the news? Teacher Hoon explains how to use reported speech to sound natural, informed, and articulate in Korean conversations.
Share Knowledge Effectively (EEAT Tip)
In Korean, -다고 하다 is the bridge that lets you relay messages from others. As a teacher with 20 years of experience, I've seen that mastering this structure is what separates Beginner and Intermediate learners. It's the key to discussing news, rumors, and opinions! Let's break down the conjugation rules.
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🏃♂️ 1. Using Reported Speech with Action Verbs
For action verbs in the present tense, we add -ㄴ/는다고 to the stem:
- ✅ 가다 → 간다고 해요 (They say they are going)
- ✅ 먹다 → 먹는다고 해요 (They say they are eating)
- ✅ 공부하다 → 공부한다고 해요 (They say they are studying)
🎨 2. Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives)
Good news! Adjectives are simpler. Just add -다고 directly to the stem:
- ✨ 예쁘다 → 예쁘다고 해요 (They say it's pretty)
- ✨ 비싸다 → 비싸다고 해요 (They say it's expensive)
- ✨ 춥다 → 춥다고 해요 (They say it's cold)
⏳ 3. Past & Future Tense Forms
| Tense | Korean Structure | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Past | 먹었다고 해요 | Said they ate |
| Past | 갔다고 해요 | Said they went |
| Future | 갈 거라고 해요 | Said they will go |
| Future | 먹을 거라고 해요 | Said they will eat |
💡 Teacher Hoon's Expert Shortcut: "~대요"
In casual daily conversation, Koreans almost always shorten -다고 해요 to -대요 (daeyo). For example: "내일 비 온대요" (I heard it's raining tomorrow). Using -대요 instantly makes you sound like a native speaker who is comfortable with the language flow!
💡 Did You Know? News Storytelling
Reported speech is the backbone of Korean news reporting. Because Korean culture values 객관성 (objectivity), journalists use these forms to summarize interviews or official statements. If you open a Korean news app today, you'll see -다고 밝히다 (reported/revealed that...) in almost every headline!
Want to Practice "News Talk" in Korean?
Don't just learn rules—apply them! Book a 1:1 session with Hoon on italki. We'll pick a current event or a K-drama plot and practice relaying the information using -다고 하다 and its shortcuts with real-time feedback.
🚀 Master Reported Speech with Hoon
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