-(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. 주말에 같이 영화 볼래요?

   Do you want to see a movie together this weekend?

2. 뭐 마실래요?

   What would you like to drink?

3. 저는 오늘 그냥 쉴래요.

   I’d rather just rest today.

4. 저녁은 제가 만들래요.

   I’d like to make dinner.

5. 피곤하면 먼저 갈래요?

   If you’re tired, do you want to head off first?

6. 저는 매운 건 안 먹을래요.

   I’d rather not eat anything spicy.

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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