라도 vs 아도: Nuance Differences in Choice and Concession

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  커피라도 마실래?

  keo-pi-ra-do ma-sil-rae?, keo pi ra do ma sil rae?

  ‘라도’ is appropriate when suggesting one option among choices.

• ❌

  커피아도 마실래?

  keo-pi-a-do ma-sil-rae?, keo pi a do ma sil rae?

  ‘아도’ attaches to verb stems; ‘커피’ is a noun, so it’s incorrect.

• ⭕

  비가 와도 우리는 갈 거야.

  bi-ga wa-do u-ri-neun gal geo-ya., bi ga wa do u ri neun gal geo ya.

  ‘와도’ correctly expresses concession condition ‘even if it rains’.

• ❌

  비라도 우리는 갈 거야.

  bi-ra-do u-ri-neun gal geo-ya., bi ra do u ri neun gal geo ya.

  ‘라도’ attaches to nouns for choice; here ‘비’ as concession is inappropriate.

• ⭕

  사과라도 하나 먹어.

  sa-gwa-ra-do ha-na meok-eo., sa gwa ra do ha na meok eo.

  ‘라도’ is suitable to express minimal substitution or choice.

• ❌

  사과아도 하나 먹어.

  sa-gwa-a-do ha-na meok-eo., sa gwa a do ha na meok eo.

  ‘아도’ must attach to verb/adjective stems, not nouns like ‘사과’.

• ⭕

  늦더라도 꼭 와 주세요.

  neuj-deo-ra-do kkok wa ju-se-yo., neuj deo ra do kkok wa ju se yo.

  ‘더라도’ is a variant of ‘아도’ and properly conveys concession.

• ❌

  늦라도 꼭 와 주세요.

  neuj-ra-do kkok wa ju-se-yo., neuj ra do kkok wa ju se yo.

  ‘라도’ attaches only to nouns, so ‘늦다’ + ‘라도’ is incorrect.

1. Which expresses ‘concession’ in Korean?

   다음 중 ‘양보’를 나타내는 표현은?(da-eumjung‘yang-bo’reulna-ta-nae-neunpyo-hyeon-eun?, daeumjung‘yangbo’reulnatanaeneunpyohyeoneun?)
   • 라도(ra-do, rado)
   • 아도(a-do, ado)
   • 모두(mo-du, modu)
   • 없음(eop-eum, eopeum)

2. What is the role of ‘라도’ in ‘커피라도 마실래?’

   ‘커피라도 마실래?’ 문장에서 ‘라도’의 역할은?(‘keo-pi-ra-doma-sil-rae?’mun-jang-e-seo‘ra-do’uiyeok-hal-eun?, ‘keopiradomasilrae?’munjangeseo‘rado’uiyeokhaleun?)
   • 조건(jo-geon, jogeon)
   • 양보(yang-bo, yangbo)
   • 선택지 강조(seon-taek-jigang-jo, seontaekjigangjo)
   • 부정(bu-jeong, bujeong)

3. Fill in the blank: ‘비가 ___ 우리는 갈 거야.’

   ‘비가 ___ 우리는 갈 거야.’ 빈칸에 들어갈 알맞은 표현은?(‘bi-ga___u-ri-neungalgeo-ya.’bin-kan-edeul-eo-galal-maj-eunpyo-hyeon-eun?, ‘biga___urineungalgeoya.’binkanedeuleogalalmajeunpyohyeoneun?)
   • 라도(ra-do, rado)
   • 아도(a-do, ado)
   • 라도나(ra-do-na, radona)
   • 아도라(a-do-ra, adora)