-도록
so that; to the point of
States the aim or the limit of an action. Unlike -(으)려고, the two clauses may have different subjects — which is what makes it so useful.
Build it
Pick a verb
When to use it
Attach -도록 to any stem — no vowel rule, ㄹ stays, no tense in front.
The main use is purpose: 늦지 않도록 일찍 출발하세요. Crucially, the person achieving the aim need not be the one acting: 아이들이 잘 볼 수 있도록 크게 썼어요. With -(으)려고 that sentence would be impossible.
A second use marks an extent or limit, closer to “until”: 밤이 새도록 이야기했어요 (we talked until dawn), 목이 아프도록 노래했어요.
Attached to 하다 it forms -도록 하다, a soft instruction common in workplaces and notices: 다음부터는 늦지 않도록 하세요. It is gentler than a bare imperative because it names the goal rather than the order.
How to attach it
| Situation | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Any verb or adjective | -도록 | 않다 → 늦지 않도록 |
| ㄹ stems keep the ㄹ | -도록 | 만들다 → 만들도록 |
| Different subjects | allowed | 아이들이 보도록 크게 썼어요 |
| Extent, until | -도록 | 밤이 새도록 |
| Soft instruction | -도록 하다 | 늦지 않도록 하세요 |
| Never takes tense | plain stem only | 갔도록 is wrong |
In use
늦지 않도록 일찍 출발하세요.
Set off early so you won’t be late.
아이들이 잘 볼 수 있도록 크게 썼어요.
I wrote it large so the children could see it clearly.
감기에 걸리지 않도록 옷을 따뜻하게 입으세요.
Dress warmly so you don’t catch a cold.
밤이 새도록 이야기를 나눴어요.
We talked until dawn.
다음부터는 미리 연락하도록 하세요.
Please make sure to get in touch in advance next time.
음식이 상하지 않도록 냉장고에 넣어 주세요.
Put it in the fridge so the food doesn’t spoil.
Compared with
-(으)려고
-(으)려고 needs one subject and expresses your own intention; -도록 allows two and states a goal that may concern someone else.
사려고 돈을 모아요. (I save so I can buy) / 아이가 사도록 돈을 줬어요. (I gave money so the child could buy it)
-게 하다
-게 하다 makes someone do something; -도록 하다 asks them to see to it. The second is markedly softer and common in polite instructions.
일찍 오게 했어요. (I made them come early) / 일찍 오도록 하세요. (please see that you come early)
-기 위해서
Also states purpose, and also allows an abstract goal. -도록 is more natural when the aim is that some condition should or should not come about.
건강을 지키기 위해서 운동해요. / 병에 걸리지 않도록 운동해요.
Watch out
아이들이 잘 보려고 크게 썼어요.
아이들이 잘 보도록 크게 썼어요.
-(으)려고 requires the same subject in both clauses. Here the children see and you write, so -도록 is the only option.
감기에 걸리지 않았도록 조심하세요.
감기에 걸리지 않도록 조심하세요.
-도록 never carries tense. The goal lies ahead, so the plain stem is all that is needed.
저녁을 만들도록 하세요. — meaning “I made her cook”
저녁을 만들게 했어요.
-도록 하다 is an instruction to the listener. To report that you made someone do something, use -게 하다.
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