라면

if it is X, when you say X

Attaches to a noun to set up a condition about identity or category: 친구라면 "if they're a friend", 선물이라면 "if it's a gift". It also frames a topic the way English uses speaking of — 쌈밥이라면, 우렁쌈밥 느낌 알지? "when you say ssambap, you know the river-snail kind, right?". Beware the identical-looking word 라면, instant ramen noodles, which is a plain noun and unrelated (그 라면이 좀 맵냐? "is that ramen spicy?"). After a consonant the particle appears as 이라면.