-도다/로다
doda/roda
Grammar · 1 sense
Admiration
Examples
평생을 조국을 위해 헌신하였으니 참으로 애국자도다.
Having devoted his entire life to his country, he is truly a patriot.
훌륭하도다, 우리 학생들.
Well done, students.
독하도다. 독하도다. 서울 양반 독하도다. 원수로다. 원수로다. 존비귀천 원수로다.
How cruel! How cruel! How cruel are the Seoul aristocrats! They are my enemies. They are my enemies. High and low, they are all my enemies.
When you'd hear it
-도다/로다 is a highly literary, old-fashioned exclamatory ending, common in historical dramas, classical-style writing, songs, and dramatic speeches. It is rarely used in ordinary modern conversation, where it can sound theatrical or archaic.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistake it for a normal polite ending, but it expresses a strong exclamation rather than everyday politeness. Modern Korean usually uses -구나 or -군요 for a similar realization, depending on the register.
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