-(으)ㄹ래요?

Build it

When to use it

As a question it puts the choice entirely with the listener: 같이 갈래요? (do you want to come?). As a statement it reports your own inclination: 저는 집에 갈래요 (I’d rather go home).

Both readings are limited to the first and second person. You cannot use it to describe what a third person wants; that needs -고 싶어 하다 or a guess form.

The register matters. -(으)ㄹ래요 is casual-polite: fine with friends, colleagues, and people younger than you, but too blunt for a boss or a teacher. Upward, Korean uses -(으)시겠어요? or -(으)실래요? with the honorific inserted.

How to attach it

In use

1. 같이 영화 볼래요?

   Do you want to watch a film together?

2. 커피 마실래요?

   Would you like some coffee?

3. 저는 안 갈래요.

   I’d rather not go.

4. 뭐 먹을래?

   What do you want to eat?

5. 오늘은 좀 쉴래요.

   I think I’ll rest today.

6. 이거 한번 볼래요?

   Do you want to take a look at this?

Compared with

• -(으)ㄹ까요?

  -(으)ㄹ까요? asks what we should do; -(으)ㄹ래요? asks what you want. The first assumes you are deciding together, the second hands the decision over.

  같이 갈까요? (shall we go?)  /  같이 갈래요? (do you want to come?)

• -(으)ㄹ게요

  -(으)ㄹ게요 commits; -(으)ㄹ래요 merely prefers. Saying 갈래요 leaves you free to change your mind in a way 갈게요 does not.

  저는 갈래요. (I’d rather go)  /  저는 갈게요. (I’ll go, then)

• -고 싶다

  -고 싶다 describes a desire; -(으)ㄹ래요 announces a choice about to be acted on. In a restaurant, 먹을래요 orders and 먹고 싶어요 daydreams.

  불고기 먹고 싶어요. (I feel like bulgogi)  /  불고기 먹을래요. (I’ll have the bulgogi)

Watch out

• 사장님, 커피 마실래요?

  사장님, 커피 드시겠어요?

  -(으)ㄹ래요 is too casual for someone senior. Use -(으)시겠어요? and switch 마시다 to its honorific 드시다.

• 저녁을 만들을래요.

  저녁을 만들래요.

  Stems ending in ㄹ take the short form, as with -(으)ㄹ게요 and -(으)ㄹ까요?

• 동생이 같이 갈래요.

  동생도 같이 가고 싶어 해요.

  This ending only reports your own or the listener’s will. A third person’s wishes need 싶어 하다.

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