TOPIK 1The official curriculum lists (으)려고 at level 1.
(으)려고 (euryeogo) means "in order to, intend to".
Expressing an intention or plan to do something.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- After a vowel or ㄹ: 려고 ryeogo. After other consonants: 으려고 euryeogo.
Build it
The forms you need
Planning
가려고 해요garyeogo haeyoI'm planning to goWas going to
가려고 했어요garyeogo haesseoyoI was going to goCasual
가려고 해garyeogo haeI'm going to go (to friends)In order to
가려고garyeogoso I can goWhen to use it
A plan
Something you've decided to do.
Was going to
In the past, it often didn't happen.
In order to
려고 ryeogo before another verb.
About to
Something just about to happen.
Watch out
After a consonant, add 으 eu.
Stems ending in ㄹ take just 려고 ryeogo.
려고 ryeogo can't come before a command. Use 게 ge.
In context
8 examples- 1
자려고 해요.
Jaryeogo haeyo.
I'm planning to sleep.
- 2
한국어를 배우려고 해요.
Hangugeoreul baeuryeogo haeyo.
I intend to learn Korean.
- 3
이번 방학에 운전을 배우려고 해요.
Ibeon banghage unjeoneul baeuryeogo haeyo.
I'm planning to learn to drive over the break.
- 4
막 나가려고 했는데 비가 오기 시작했어요.
Mak nagaryeogo haenneunde biga ogi sijakaesseoyo.
I was just about to head out when it started raining.
- 5
그걸로 뭐 하려고?
Geugeollo mwo haryeogo?
What are you going to do with that?
- 6
선물을 사려고 백화점에 갔어요.
Seonmureul saryeogo baekwajeome gasseoyo.
I went to the department store to buy a present.
- 7
오늘부터 일찍 자려고.
Oneulbuteo iljjik jaryeogo.
Starting today, I'm going to bed early.
- 8
친구한테 주려고 쿠키를 구웠어요.
Chinguhante juryeogo kukireul guwosseoyo.
I baked cookies to give to my friend.
Practice
8 questions찾다 + (으)려고 하다
(으)려고 vs (으)러
Both mean "to" or "in order to". 러 reo only goes before 가다 gada, 오다 oda and other moving verbs. 려고 ryeogo goes before any verb.
- 친구 만나러 카페에 갔어요. chingu mannareo kapee gasseoyo "I went to a cafe to meet a friend."
- 친구 만나려고 일을 일찍 끝냈어요. chingu mannaryeogo ireul iljjik kkeunnaesseoyo "I finished work early to meet a friend."
More in the (으)러 lesson.
(으)려고 하다 vs (으)ㄹ 거예요
Both talk about the future. 거예요 geoyeyo sounds settled. 려고 해요 ryeogo haeyo is an intention, so there's a little room to change your mind.
- 내일 갈 거예요. naeil gal geoyeyo "I'm going tomorrow."
- 내일 가려고 해요. naeil garyeogo haeyo "I'm planning to go tomorrow."
Short answers with 려고요
In conversation you can drop 하다 hada and end on 려고요 ryeogoyo. It's a friendly way to say what you're up to:
- 주말에 뭐 해요? jumare mwo haeyo "What are you doing this weekend?"
- 그냥 집에서 쉬려고요. geunyang jibeseo swiryeogoyo "I'm just planning to rest at home."
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 으려고 하다 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
