(으)러 (eureo) means "go/come to do".
Indicates the purpose of going or coming somewhere.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- After a vowel or ㄹ: 러 reo. After other consonants: 으러 eureo.
Build it
When to use it
Going to do
The reason you go somewhere.
Coming to do
With 오다 oda.
Other moving verbs
Also 나가다 nagada, 다니다 danida.
Watch out
The next verb must be about moving. Otherwise use 려고 ryeogo.
After a consonant, add 으 eu.
Stems ending in ㄹ take just 러 reo.
In context
8 examples- 1
공부하러 도서관에 가요.
Gongbuhareo doseogwane gayo.
I go to the library to study.
- 2
친구 만나러 왔어요.
Chingu mannareo wasseoyo.
I came to meet a friend.
- 3
주말에 바다 보러 가자.
Jumare bada boreo gaja.
Let's go see the ocean this weekend.
- 4
저녁 먹으러 갈래요?
Jeonyeok meogeureo gallaeyo?
Want to go get dinner?
- 5
내일 머리 자르러 미용실에 가요.
Naeil meori jareureo miyongsire gayo.
Tomorrow I'm going to the salon to get a haircut.
- 6
매일 아침 운동하러 공원에 가요.
Maeil achim undonghareo gongwone gayo.
I go to the park every morning to work out.
- 7
우리 집에 놀러 와.
Uri jibe nolleo wa.
Come over to my place and hang out.
- 8
여기는 뭐 하러 왔어요?
Yeogineun mwo hareo wasseoyo?
What brings you here?
Practice
8 questions찾다 + (으)러 가다
(으)러 vs (으)려고
Both say why you do something. 러 reo only works before verbs of going and coming. 려고 ryeogo works before any verb.
- 빵을 사러 가게에 갔어요. ppangeul sareo gagee gasseoyo "I went to the shop to buy bread."
- 빵을 사려고 돈을 모았어요. ppangeul saryeogo doneul moasseoyo "I saved money to buy bread."
The second one can't use 러 reo, because saving money isn't going anywhere. More in the (으)려고 lesson.
Where the place goes
You can put the place before or after the purpose. Both sound natural:
- 도서관에 책 빌리러 가요. doseogwane chaek billireo gayo "I'm going to the library to borrow a book."
- 책 빌리러 도서관에 가요. chaek billireo doseogwane gayo Same meaning.
The tense goes on the last verb
러 reo never takes the past tense itself. Put it on 가다 gada or 오다 oda:
- ✗먹었으러 갔어요.
- ✓먹으러 갔어요. meogeureo gasseoyo "I went to eat."
Hanja in this lesson
Words from the examples that are written with Chinese characters. Tap a character to see its page.
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 으러 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
