Lesson 15
In Korean, when you are talking about the definition of something or when you want to express what you think is the definition or the nature of something, you can use the expression -(이)라는 것은. It can be followed by various types of sentence endings, including -라고 생각해요 (I think that...), -인 것 같아요 (It seems that...), etc.
-(이)라는 것은
-(이)라는 것은 is a shortened form of -(이)라고 하는 것은. The structure -(이)라고 하다 means “to say...”, and 것 means “thing” or “fact”, so together, -(이)라고 하는 것 means “the thing that is called...” or “what they call...”.
You use this expression when you are trying to define something or when giving advice to younger people. It can also be used to share your own opinion.
Examples
부자라는 것은
= What they call 부자 is...
= A rich man is...
= (I think that) A rich man is...
자유라는 것은
= What they call 자유 is...
= Freedom is...
= (I think that) Freedom is...
우정이라는 것은
= What they call “friendship” is...
= Friendship is...
사람의 마음이라는 것은
= I think a person’s mind/heart is…
More Examples
사랑이라는 것은 = Love is...
삶이라는 것은 = Life is...
꿈이라는 것은 = A dream is…
* These expressions are typically used when someone is teaching or preaching.
Shortening -(이)라는 것은 to -(이)란
To make it easier to say, people often shorten -(이)라는 것은 to -(이)란.
Ex)
사랑이라는 것은 → 사랑이란
삶이라는 것은 → 삶이란
꿈이라는 것은 → 꿈이란
자유라는 것은 → 자유란
우정이라는 것은 → 우정이란
사람의 마음이라는 것은 → 사람의 마음이란
Sample Sentences
사랑이란 무엇일까요?
= What is love?
사랑이란 쉽지 않아요.
= Love is not easy.
자유라는 것은, 아무거나 마음대로 하는 것이 아니에요.
= Freedom does not mean doing whatever (you want to do) in any way you like.
진정한 친구란 어려울 때 도와주는 친구예요.
= A true friend is a friend who helps (you) when things are difficult.