KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -기로 하다
Korean Grammar “-기로 하다”: 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 | 보기로 하다 | bogiro hada |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽기로 하다 | ikgiro hada |
| 하다 | to do | 하기로 하다 | hagiro hada |
| 살다 | to live | 살기로 하다 | salgiro hada |
What changes
- This ending attaches directly to the stem. Nothing changes, whether the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.
Explanation
이번 주말에는 가족과 같이 제주도에 가기로 했어요.
“-기로 하다” means “to decide to ~” and expresses a decision or promise made by the speaker’s own will. The sentence means “This weekend I decided to go to Jeju Island with my family.” Use “-게 되다” when things turn out that way because of circumstances, and “-기로 하다” when you (or you and others) made the decision.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 이번 주말에는 가족과 같이 제주도에 가기로 했어요.
Said aloud, it sounds like [이번 주마레는 가족꽈 가치 제주도에 가기로 해써요].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 이번 | ||
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | i |
| 번 | ㅂ+ㅓ+ㄴ | beon |
| 주말에는 | ||
| 주 | ㅈ+ㅜ | ju |
| 말 | ㅁ+ㅏ+ㄹ | [마] ma |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | [레] re |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 가족과 | ||
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 족 | ㅈ+ㅗ+ㄱ | jok |
| 과 | ㄱ+ㅘ | [꽈] gwa |
| 같이 | ||
| 같 | ㄱ+ㅏ+ㅌ | [가] ga |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [치] chi |
| 제주도에 | ||
| 제 | ㅈ+ㅔ | je |
| 주 | ㅈ+ㅜ | ju |
| 도 | ㄷ+ㅗ | do |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | e |
| 가기로 | ||
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 기 | ㄱ+ㅣ | gi |
| 로 | ㄹ+ㅗ | ro |
| 했어요 | ||
| 했 | ㅎ+ㅐ+ㅆ | [해] hae |
| 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
- 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. 말에 → [마레]
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 족과 → [족꽈]
- Palatalization: a final ㄷ or ㅌ followed by 이 or 히 is pronounced ㅈ or ㅊ. 같이 → [가치]
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.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 같이 | adverb | together | TOPIK level 1 |
| 하다 | verb | to do | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 이번 주말에는 가족과 같이 제주도에 가____ 했어요.
Show the answer
Answer: 이번 주말에는 가족과 같이 제주도에 가기로 했어요.
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