👥

It is said that: -(으)ㄴ/는다고들 하다

Keywords
-다고들 하다
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Intermediate Grammar
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TL;DR 🦄
  • -(으)ㄴ/는다고들 하다 means “people say that…”, “they say that…”, or “it is commonly said that…”
  • The little 들 adds a plural / general-public feeling: not just one person said it; people in general are saying it.
  • It is built from indirect quotation + 들 + 하다: 한국어가 어렵다고들 해요. = People say Korean is difficult.
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to hear 어렵다고들 해요 [eo-ryeop-da-go-deul hae-yo], 많이 간다고들 해요 [ma-ni gan-da-go-deul hae-yo], and 유명한 곳이라고들 해요 [yu-myeong-han go-si-ra-go-deul hae-yo]. Listen for the tiny 들 after the quote chunk. 👥
 

🌈 The Big Picture

-(으)ㄴ/는다고들 하다 is a reported-speech pattern for things many people say.
 
It often feels like:
  • “People say that…”
  • “They say that…”
  • “Everyone says that…”
  • “It is commonly said that…”
  • “Apparently, people say…”
 
Example:
  • 한국어가 어렵다고들 해요.
      • [han-gu-geo-ga eo-ryeop-da-go-deul hae-yo]
      People say Korean is difficult. 🇰🇷
      한국어 [han-gu-geo] = Korean language, 어렵다 [eo-ryeop-da] = to be difficult.
 
Tiny grammar map:
  • 어렵다 = it is difficult
  • 어렵다고 하다 = someone says it is difficult
  • 어렵다고들 하다 = people say it is difficult / it is commonly said to be difficult
 
So this is not a completely new quote system. It is the quote grammar you already know, plus 들 to show that the statement is being said by multiple people / people generally.
 

🧠 Core Meaning

General hearsay: “people say…”

Use this when you do not need to name one specific speaker.
 
  • 그 식당이 맛있다고들 해요.
      • [geu sik-dang-i ma-sit-da-go-deul hae-yo]
      People say that restaurant is delicious. 🍜
 
  • 요즘 그 영화가 재미있다고들 해요.
      • [yo-jeum geu yeong-hwa-ga jae-mi-it-da-go-deul hae-yo]
      People say that movie is interesting these days. 🎬
 
  • 서울은 생활비가 비싸다고들 해요.
      • [seo-u-reun saeng-hwal-bi-ga bi-ssa-da-go-deul hae-yo]
      People say living expenses in Seoul are expensive. 💸
 

🎨 Formation Rules

Build a normal indirect statement quote, then insert 들 before 하다.
 

1. Action verbs: -ㄴ/는다고들 하다

  • Vowel stem or ㄹ-stem → -ㄴ다고들 하다
  • Consonant stem → -는다고들 하다
 
Examples:
  • 가다 → 간다고들 해요 [ga-da → gan-da-go-deul hae-yo] = people say someone goes / is going
  • 오다 → 온다고들 해요 [o-da → on-da-go-deul hae-yo] = people say someone comes / is coming
  • 먹다 → 먹는다고들 해요 [meok-da → meong-neun-da-go-deul hae-yo] = people say someone eats / is eating
  • 읽다 → 읽는다고들 해요 [ik-da → ing-neun-da-go-deul hae-yo] = people say someone reads / is reading
  • 살다 → 산다고들 해요 [sal-da → san-da-go-deul hae-yo] = people say someone lives
 

2. Descriptive verbs / adjectives: -다고들 하다

  • 좋다 → 좋다고들 해요 [jo-ta-go-deul hae-yo] = people say it is good
  • 어렵다 → 어렵다고들 해요 [eo-ryeop-da-go-deul hae-yo] = people say it is difficult
  • 비싸다 → 비싸다고들 해요 [bi-ssa-da-go-deul hae-yo] = people say it is expensive
  • 유명하다 → 유명하다고들 해요 [yu-myeong-ha-da-go-deul hae-yo] = people say it is famous
 

3. Nouns: -(이)라고들 하다

  • Consonant noun + 이라고들 하다
  • Vowel noun + 라고들 하다
 
Examples:
  • 명소 → 명소라고들 해요 [myeong-so-ra-go-deul hae-yo] = people say it is a famous place
  • 좋은 기회 → 좋은 기회라고들 해요 [jo-eun gi-hoe-ra-go-deul hae-yo] = people say it is a good opportunity
  • 학생 → 학생이라고들 해요 [hak-saeng-i-ra-go-deul hae-yo] = people say they are students
  • 문제 → 문제라고들 해요 [mun-je-ra-go-deul hae-yo] = people say it is a problem
 

4. Past and future

  • Past: -았/었다고들 하다
    • 좋았다고들 해요 = people say it was good
    • 끝났다고들 해요 = people say it ended
  • Future/plan: -(으)ㄹ 거라고들 하다
    • 갈 거라고들 해요 = people say someone will go
    • 더워질 거라고들 해요 = people say it will get hotter
 

🛠️ How It Works in Real Sentences

General opinion

  • 사람들이 제주도가 아름답다고들 해요.
      • [sa-ram-deu-ri je-ju-do-ga a-reum-dap-da-go-deul hae-yo]
      People say Jeju Island is beautiful. 🌊
      사람들 [sa-ram-deul] = people, 아름답다 [a-reum-dap-da] = to be beautiful.
 

Common reputation

  • 그 회사는 분위기가 좋다고들 해요.
      • [geu hoe-sa-neun bun-wi-gi-ga jo-ta-go-deul hae-yo]
      People say that company has a good atmosphere. 🏢
      회사 [hoe-sa] = company, 분위기 [bun-wi-gi] = atmosphere.
 

Common warning

  • 겨울에는 길이 미끄럽다고들 해요.
      • [gyeo-u-re-neun gi-ri mi-kkeu-reop-da-go-deul hae-yo]
      People say the roads are slippery in winter. 🧊
      겨울 [gyeo-ul] = winter, 미끄럽다 [mi-kkeu-reop-da] = to be slippery.
 

🔍 -다고 하다 vs -다고들 하다

-다고 하다

Reports what one person, a specific source, or an unnamed source says.
  • 친구가 그 식당이 맛있다고 해요.
      • My friend says that restaurant is delicious.
 

-다고들 하다

Reports what multiple people or people generally say.
  • 그 식당이 맛있다고들 해요.
      • People say that restaurant is delicious.
 
The difference is small but useful:
  • 맛있다고 해요 = someone/they say it is good
  • 맛있다고들 해요 = people generally say it is good / that is the common reputation
 

🔍 -다고들 하다 vs -대요

-대요

Short, conversational hearsay.
  • 그 영화가 재미있대요.
      • They say that movie is interesting.
 

-다고들 해요

Adds “people generally say” or “many people say.”
  • 그 영화가 재미있다고들 해요.
      • People say that movie is interesting.
 
Shortcut:
  • 재미있대요 → I heard / they say it is interesting.
  • 재미있다고들 해요 → Many people say / it is commonly said to be interesting.
 

🔍 -다고들 하다 vs -에 의하면

-다고들 하다

General public hearsay; the source is vague or collective.
  • 서울은 생활비가 비싸다고들 해요.
      • People say living expenses in Seoul are expensive.
 

-에 의하면

Names the source clearly.
  • 보고서에 의하면 서울의 생활비가 높다고 합니다.
      • According to the report, living expenses in Seoul are high.
 
Use -다고들 하다 for reputation/common talk, and -에 의하면 for reports, data, experts, or official sources.
 

📚 Cross-check note

This lesson extends
🗣️
Indirect Quote (Statement): -다고 하다 and
⚡
Abbreviated Quotes: -대요 / -래요. The key new part is the plural/generalizing marker 들, which turns a plain report into “people say / many say / it is commonly said.” It also contrasts with
📰
According to: -에 의하면 for source-based reporting.
 

🪞 Synonym Alert

  • -다고 하다 = someone says / it is said that
  • -다고들 하다 = people say / many say / it is commonly said that 👥
  • -대요 = they say / I heard, short conversational hearsay
  • -에 의하면 = according to a named source 📰
  • -는 것으로 알려져 있다 = is known to be; more formal/passive
 

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 먹다고들 해요 → ✅ 먹는다고들 해요
  • ❌ 가다고들 해요 → ✅ 간다고들 해요
  • ❌ 학생라고들 해요 → ✅ 학생이라고들 해요
  • ❌ Using 들 when only one named person said it → ✅ 친구가 맛있다고 해요, not usually 친구가 맛있다고들 해요.
  • ⚠️ -다고들 해요 can sound vague. If you need a reliable source, use 보고서에 의하면, 전문가에 의하면, or a named speaker.
 
🎉 General-hearsay grammar unlocked. With -다고들 하다, you can report common talk or reputation naturally: 맛있다고들 해요, 어렵다고들 해요, 좋은 기회라고들 해요. Korean gossip, but grammatically responsible. 👥✨
 
Try this exercise
Instructions Complete each sentence with the correct -다고들 하다 form.
1. 좋다 → 이 책이 ＿＿＿＿. 📘
Answer
좋다고들 해요 — People say this book is good.
2. 어렵다 → 한국어가 ＿＿＿＿. 🇰🇷
Answer
어렵다고들 해요
3. 가다 → 사람들이 많이 ＿＿＿＿. 🚶
Answer
간다고들 해요
4. 먹다 → 현지인들이 자주 ＿＿＿＿. 🍚
Answer
먹는다고들 해요
5. 명소 → 여기가 유명한 ＿＿＿＿. 📍
Answer
명소라고들 해요
6. 학생 → 그 사람들은 ＿＿＿＿. 🎓
Answer
학생이라고들 해요
7. 비싸다 → 서울은 생활비가 ＿＿＿＿. 💸
Answer
비싸다고들 해요
8. 좋았다 → 여행이 정말 ＿＿＿＿. ✈️
Answer
좋았다고들 해요
9. Fix it: ❌ 먹다고들 해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹는다고들 해요
10. Choose the better sentence for a specific speaker:
① 친구가 맛있다고 해요.
② 친구가 맛있다고들 해요.
Answer
① — if one friend said it, use 맛있다고 해요. Use 맛있다고들 해요 when many people say it.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 책 [chaek] → book
  • 한국어 [han-gu-geo] → Korean language
  • 사람들 [sa-ram-deul] → people
  • 현지인 [hyeon-ji-in] → local person
  • 명소 [myeong-so] → famous place
  • 생활비 [saeng-hwal-bi] → living expenses
  • 여행 [yeo-haeng] → trip/travel
Tip 💡 Use 들 when the speaker group is plural or general.
🚀
Want more reps? Keep scrolling to the Practice Hub when you’re ready!
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — It is said that: -(으)ㄴ/는다고들 하다
 
This Practice Hub trains general hearsay: what people say, what many say, and what is commonly said. Each exercise has 10 questions, A–J. Crowd-sourced grammar mode activated. 👥
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets when you want to hear each completed sentence.
 

Exercise 1 — Action Verb Forms 🏃

A. 가다 → 사람들이 많이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
간다고들 해요
B. 오다 → 관광객들이 자주 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
온다고들 해요
C. 먹다 → 현지인들이 자주 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
먹는다고들 해요
D. 읽다 → 학생들이 많이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
읽는다고들 해요
E. 살다 → 젊은 사람들이 많이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
산다고들 해요
F. 배우다 → 요즘 많이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
배운다고들 해요
G. 찾다 → 주말에 많이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
찾는다고들 해요
H. 듣다 → 출근길에 많이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
듣는다고들 해요
I. 만들다 → 집에서 많이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
만든다고들 해요
J. 놀다 → 아이들이 밖에서 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
논다고들 해요
🏃
Action verb reminder
  • Vowel stem → -ㄴ다고들 해요
  • Consonant stem → -는다고들 해요
  • ㄹ-stem drops ㄹ: 살다 → 산다고들 해요
 

Exercise 2 — Descriptions and Opinions 🎨

A. 맛있다 → 그 식당이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
맛있다고들 해요
B. 어렵다 → 이 시험이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
어렵다고들 해요
C. 비싸다 → 생활비가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
비싸다고들 해요
D. 좋다 → 분위기가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
좋다고들 해요
E. 유명하다 → 그 장소가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
유명하다고들 해요
F. 안전하다 → 이 동네가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
안전하다고들 해요
G. 복잡하다 → 길이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
복잡하다고들 해요
H. 아름답다 → 경치가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
아름답다고들 해요
I. 편하다 → 이 앱이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
편하다고들 해요
J. 재미있다 → 그 드라마가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
재미있다고들 해요
🎨
Description reminder
Descriptive verb/adjective + 다고들 해요
 
좋다 → 좋다고들 해요
비싸다 → 비싸다고들 해요
 

Exercise 3 — Noun Reputation 🏷️

A. 명소 → 여기가 유명한 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
명소라고들 해요
B. 좋은 기회 → 이 일이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
좋은 기회라고들 해요
C. 문제 → 이 부분이 가장 큰 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
문제라고들 해요
D. 전문가 → 그분이 최고의 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
전문가라고들 해요
E. 학생 → 그 사람들은 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
학생이라고들 해요
F. 비밀 → 이 방법이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
비밀이라고들 해요
G. 해결책 → 이게 좋은 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
해결책이라고들 해요
H. 필수품 → 이 앱이 여행 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
필수품이라고들 해요
I. 장점 → 빠른 속도가 가장 큰 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
장점이라고들 해요
J. 단점 → 가격이 가장 큰 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
단점이라고들 해요
🏷️
Noun reminder
  • Consonant noun + 이라고들 해요
  • Vowel noun + 라고들 해요
 
문제라고들 해요
학생이라고들 해요
 

Exercise 4 — Choose the Right Reporting Style 🔍

A. Many people say the restaurant is good.
① 맛있다고들 해요.
② 맛있다고 해요.
Answer
① emphasizes many/general people say it.
B. My friend says the restaurant is good.
① 친구가 맛있다고들 해요.
② 친구가 맛있다고 해요.
Answer
② one named friend = no 들.
C. According to the report, prices increased.
① 보고서에 의하면 가격이 올랐다고 합니다.
② 가격이 올랐다고들 해요.
Answer
① named source = -에 의하면.
D. People say Seoul is expensive.
① 서울이 비싸다고들 해요.
② 서울에 의하면 비싸요.
Answer
①
E. Short hearsay: “They say it’s fun.”
① 재미있대요.
② 재미있다고들 해요.
Answer
Both can work, but ① is short hearsay. ② emphasizes many people say it.
F. Common reputation: “People say it’s fun.”
① 재미있대요.
② 재미있다고들 해요.
Answer
②
G. One teacher said it is hard.
① 선생님이 어렵다고들 해요.
② 선생님이 어렵다고 해요.
Answer
②
H. Many students say it is hard.
① 학생들이 어렵다고들 해요.
② 학생들이 어렵다고 해요.
Answer
① makes the “many students say” feeling clearer.
I. Official source: “According to the data…”
① 자료에 의하면
② 자료라고들 하면
Answer
①
J. Common talk: “People say winter roads are slippery.”
Answer
겨울에는 길이 미끄럽다고들 해요.
🔍
Decision Box
  • One speaker → -다고 해요
  • Short hearsay → -대요
  • Many/general people → -다고들 해요
  • Named source/data → -에 의하면
 

Exercise 5 — Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. ❌ 먹다고들 해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹는다고들 해요
B. ❌ 가다고들 해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
간다고들 해요
C. ❌ 좋는다고들 해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
좋다고들 해요
D. ❌ 학생라고들 해요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
학생이라고들 해요
E. ❌ 친구가 맛있다고들 해요 (one friend) → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
친구가 맛있다고 해요.
F. ❌ 보고서가 비싸다고들 해요 (intended: according to the report) → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
보고서에 의하면 비싸다고 합니다.
G. 요즘 그 영화가 재미있다고들 해요. means:
Answer
People say that movie is interesting these days.
H. 그 도시는 살기 좋다고들 해요. means:
Answer
People say that city is good to live in.
I. 그 사람들은 전문가라고들 해요. means:
Answer
People say those people are experts.
J. Best use of -다고들 하다:
Answer
Reporting what many people say or what is commonly said.
🛡️
Final Check
  • 간다고들 해요 = people say they go
  • 먹는다고들 해요 = people say they eat
  • 좋다고들 해요 = people say it is good
  • 학생이라고들 해요 = people say they are students
  • 비싸다고들 해요 = people say it is expensive
Tip 💡 들 makes the reporting voice plural/general.
 
🎉 You’ve finished -(으)ㄴ/는다고들 하다. Now you can report the voice of “people in general” without needing to name every person in the room. 👥✨