N+더러

Overview

The particle -더러 is attached to a noun, primarily referring to a person or sometimes an animal, to indicate that they are the target or recipient of a statement, request, or instruction. It functions similarly to -에게 or -한테 in some contexts, but -더러 carries a specific nuance of conveying words or actions to or about that person, often in the context of indirect speech or commands.

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Usage

N+더러 is most frequently used in situations where you are:

1. Conveying a message or statement to someone: It marks the person to whom the message is directed.
   • Example: 엄마가 나더러 숙제하라고 했어. (Mom told me to do homework.)
2. Making a request or giving an instruction to someone: It identifies the person who is expected to perform the action.
   • Example: 선생님이 학생들더러 조용히 하라고 하셨다. (The teacher told the students to be quiet.)
3. Referring to someone's opinion or action regarding another person: While less common, it can sometimes indicate the subject of a statement about another person.
   • Example: 그 사람은 나더러 이상하다고 했다. (That person said I was strange.)

It often appears with verbs like 말하다 (to speak), 시키다 (to make someone do), 부탁하다 (to ask a favor), or in indirect speech constructions ending with -라고 하다. While -에게 and -한테 can also indicate a recipient, -더러 specifically emphasizes the person as the target of a verbal communication or command, making it more direct and sometimes carrying a slightly stronger or more informal tone in certain contexts.

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Conjugation Rules

N+더러 is a particle that attaches directly to a noun.

• It does not have different forms based on whether the noun ends in a consonant or a vowel.
• Simply attach -더러 to the end of the noun.

Examples:

• 나 + 더러 → 나더러 (me)
• 엄마 + 더러 → 엄마더러 (mom)
• 친구 + 더러 → 친구더러 (friend)
• 선생님 + 더러 → 선생님더러 (teacher)

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Knowledge Plus

While -더러 can sometimes be interchangeable with -에게 or -한테 when indicating a recipient, there are subtle differences. -더러 is almost exclusively used with people or sentient beings and strongly implies the target of a verbal action or command. For instance, you would say "친구에게 편지를 썼다" (I wrote a letter to a friend) using -에게, but "친구가 나더러 오라고 했다" (My friend told me to come) using -더러. Using -더러 with inanimate objects or abstract concepts is generally incorrect. It's also more common in spoken Korean and can sometimes imply a slightly more direct or even demanding tone compared to the more neutral -에게.

Common patterns:

• N더러 V-라고 하다 (to tell N to V)
• N더러 V-지 말라고 하다 (to tell N not to V)
• N더러 V-아/어 달라고 하다 (to ask N to V for me)

Caution: Do not confuse -더러 with the verb 더럽다 (to be dirty) or the ending -더라고요 (retrospective ending). They are completely unrelated.