(이)라도
at least, even if it’s just
Offers the second-best option. Not what you wanted, but better than nothing — and Korean leans on it constantly to make suggestions sound undemanding.
Build it
Pick a noun
When to use it
The consonant rule is the usual one: a noun ending in a consonant takes 이라도, one ending in a vowel takes 라도. 물이라도, 커피라도.
The noun it marks is a fallback: 커피라도 한잔 하실래요? — if nothing else, shall we at least have a coffee? Framing the offer as modest is exactly what makes it easy to accept.
Attached to a question word it gives the “any-” series: 누구라도, 언제라도, 뭐라도, 어디라도.
Do not confuse it with -더라도, which attaches to verbs and means “even if.” And against (이)나마, this one is neutral and everyday, where 나마 carries formal regret.
How to attach it
| Noun type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ends in a consonant | 이라도 | 물이라도 |
| Ends in a vowel | 라도 | 커피라도 |
| Question words | any- | 누구라도, 언제라도 |
| After 에, 에서 | stacks on | 공원에라도 갈까요? |
| Formal, regretful | (이)나마 | 조금이나마 |
| Different ending | -더라도 = even if | 힘들더라도 |
In use
시간 있으면 커피라도 한잔 하실래요?
If you’ve got time, shall we at least grab a coffee?
밥이 없으면 라면이라도 먹을게요.
If there’s no rice, I’ll have instant noodles or something.
힘드시면 잠깐이라도 쉬세요.
If it’s hard going, do rest for a moment at least.
궁금한 게 있으면 언제라도 물어보세요.
If anything comes up, ask me any time.
날씨도 좋은데 공원에라도 갈까요?
The weather’s nice — shall we head to the park, at least?
이거라도 드시고 가세요.
Do have some of this before you go.
Compared with
(이)나마
Both mean “at least this,” but (이)라도 is neutral and conversational while (이)나마 is formal and regrets that it is not more.
물이라도 드세요. (have some water at least) / 조금이나마 도움이 되길. (may it help, however little)
만
만 limits to one thing; (이)라도 offers it as a substitute for something better. The tone is quite different.
커피만 마셨어요. (only coffee) / 커피라도 마실까요? (coffee, if nothing else?)
-더라도
Similar shape, unrelated job. -더라도 attaches to verb stems and means “even if”; (이)라도 attaches to nouns.
커피라도 마셔요. (coffee at least) / 힘들더라도 하세요. (even if it’s hard)
Watch out
커피이라도 한잔 하실래요?
커피라도 한잔 하실래요?
커피 ends in a vowel, so it takes 라도 alone. 이라도 goes after a consonant, as in 물이라도.
힘들이라도 하세요.
힘들더라도 하세요.
(이)라도 attaches to nouns. For “even if” with a verb, the ending is -더라도.
이 식당이 최고예요. 여기라도 갑시다.
이 식당이 최고예요. 여기로 갑시다.
(이)라도 frames the choice as a fallback. Using it for your first preference undercuts the recommendation.
Next
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