-(으)려고
intending to, in order to
States the intention behind an action. Broader than -(으)러 because any verb may follow — but it comes with its own restriction: no commands.
Build it
Pick a verb
When to use it
-(으)려고 names the goal that motivates whatever comes next: 집을 사려고 돈을 모아요 (I’m saving money in order to buy a house). The two clauses must share a subject, and that subject is normally the speaker — you can report your own intentions but not confidently assign them to others.
Attached to 하다 it forms -(으)려고 하다, which means “plan to” or “be about to”: 이제 자려고 해요. With weather and other uncontrolled events it drops the intention and just means “about to”: 비가 오려고 해요.
The restriction to remember is that no command or suggestion may follow. “Go and buy it” cannot use this ending; that is -(으)러 territory, or -(으)려면. Tense also never appears before it.
How to attach it
| Stem type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ends in a vowel | -려고 | 사다 → 사려고 |
| Ends in a consonant | -으려고 | 먹다 → 먹으려고 |
| Ends in ㄹ | -려고 | 만들다 → 만들려고 |
| Plan to, be about to | -(으)려고 하다 | 자려고 해요 |
| No command after | use -(으)러 or -(으)려면 | 사러 가세요 |
| No tense before | plain stem only | 샀으려고 does not exist |
In use
집을 사려고 돈을 모으고 있어요.
I’m saving money to buy a house.
한국 회사에 취직하려고 한국어를 배워요.
I’m learning Korean to get a job at a Korean company.
이제 자려고 해요.
I’m about to go to sleep.
주말에 부산에 가려고 해요.
I’m planning to go to Busan at the weekend.
비가 오려고 하는데 우산 있어요?
It looks like it’s about to rain — do you have an umbrella?
건강해지려고 매일 운동해요.
I exercise every day to get healthier.
Compared with
-(으)러
-(으)러 must be followed by a movement verb; -(으)려고 accepts anything. If someone is going somewhere for a purpose, -(으)러 is the natural pick.
빵을 사러 갔어요. (went to buy bread) / 빵을 사려고 일찍 일어났어요. (got up early to buy bread)
-(으)ㄹ 거예요
-(으)려고 하다 describes a plan taking shape or an action on the point of happening; -(으)ㄹ 거예요 states a decision already made.
가려고 해요. (I’m thinking of going) / 갈 거예요. (I’m going)
-(으)려면
Add 면 and the intention becomes a condition: “if you intend to.” This is the form that can lead into advice or a command.
사려고 돈을 모아요. (saving to buy) / 사려면 돈을 모으세요. (if you want to buy, save up)
Watch out
빵을 사려고 가세요.
빵을 사러 가세요.
No command may follow -(으)려고. With a movement verb, -(으)러 is the fix; otherwise use -(으)려면.
저녁을 만들으려고 일찍 왔어요.
저녁을 만들려고 일찍 왔어요.
A stem ending in ㄹ takes the short form, exactly as with -(으)러.
동생이 유학 가려고 해요. — asserting someone else’s plan
동생이 유학 가려고 하는 것 같아요.
Intentions belong to the person who holds them. Stating another person’s plan flatly sounds presumptuous; soften it or report the source.
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