KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)려고
Korean Grammar “-(으)려고”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 3)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 보려고 | boryeogo |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽으려고 | ilgeuryeogo |
| 하다 | to do | 하려고 | haryeogo |
| 살다 | to live | 살려고 | sallyeogo |
What changes
- After a stem ending in a vowel, the ending attaches directly (보-). After a stem ending in a consonant, 으 is inserted first (읽으-). A stem ending in ㄹ also takes the ending directly (살-).
Explanation
한국 친구를 사귀려고 동호회에 가입했어요.
“-(으)려고” expresses intention or purpose: “in order to / intending to.” Use “-려고” after a vowel-ending stem and “-으려고” after a consonant-ending stem. The sentence means “I joined a club to make Korean friends.” Unlike “-(으)러,” which can only be followed by verbs of motion such as 가다 or 오다, “-(으)려고” can be followed by any verb.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 한국 친구를 사귀려고 동호회에 가입했어요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 한국 | ||
| 한 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴ | han |
| 국 | ㄱ+ㅜ+ㄱ | guk |
| 친구를 | ||
| 친 | ㅊ+ㅣ+ㄴ | chin |
| 구 | ㄱ+ㅜ | gu |
| 를 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄹ | reul |
| 사귀려고 | ||
| 사 | ㅅ+ㅏ | sa |
| 귀 | ㄱ+ㅟ | gwi |
| 려 | ㄹ+ㅕ | ryeo |
| 고 | ㄱ+ㅗ | go |
| 동호회에 | ||
| 동 | ㄷ+ㅗ+ㅇ | dong |
| 호 | ㅎ+ㅗ | ho |
| 회 | ㅎ+ㅚ | hoe |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | e |
| 가입했어요 | ||
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 입 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅂ | [이] i |
| 했 | ㅎ+ㅐ+ㅆ | [패] pae |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [써] sseo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Aspiration: ㅎ next to ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ or ㅈ blends with it into ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ or ㅊ. 입했어 → [이패써]
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 했어 → [해써]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 한국 친구를 사귀____ 동호회에 가입했어요.
Show the answer
Answer: 한국 친구를 사귀려고 동호회에 가입했어요.
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