Intention & Plans: I plan to... (-(으)려고 하다)
-(으)려고 하다 to express a plan, intention, or an action you are just about to perform.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use -(으)려고 하다 to express your intentions or plans for the future.
- Use -려고 for verbs ending in a vowel: 가다 -> 가려고 하다.
- Use -으려고 for verbs ending in a consonant: 먹다 -> 먹으려고 하다.
- Always conjugate the '하다' part based on the desired speech level.
Overview
Korean grammar employs -(으)려고 하다 to articulate an intention, a plan, or an imminent action—what you are “about to do”. This construction extends beyond a simple future tense like -(으)ㄹ 것이다 (which states a future fact or prediction) by explicitly conveying the subject's internal mental state or purpose behind an anticipated action. It signifies a deliberate focus on the agent's will or aim.
This pattern is indispensable for expressing personal goals, immediate next steps, or even retrospective unfulfilled plans. It establishes a nuanced layer of communication, allowing speakers to share not just what will happen, but why it's poised to happen from their perspective. Its pervasiveness in everyday Korean dialogue underscores its importance for learners aiming for natural, expressive communication.
From casual remarks about what you're planning for the weekend to formal declarations of project objectives, -(으)려고 하다 provides a crucial linguistic tool. Understanding its specific function and subtle implications is key to distinguishing between merely predicting an event and actively expressing one's deliberate engagement with a future action.
How This Grammar Works
-(으)려고 하다 combines two distinct elements: the verbal suffix -(으)려고 and the verb 하다 (to do/to be). The suffix -(으)려고 itself conveys a sense of purpose or intention, often translated as "in order to" or "with the intention of." When appended to a verb stem, it transforms that verb into a clause expressing a goal. The subsequent 하다 then functions as the main verb, literalizing the concept of "doing" that intention.-(으)려고 하다 is "to do (with) the intention (of doing something)." This construction highlights the subject's active cognitive state preceding an action. Unlike purely predictive future forms, -(으)려고 하다 firmly centers the expression on the volition of the speaker or the grammatical subject. You are asserting a personal commitment or readiness to perform an action.-(으)려고 하다 is further enhanced by its ability to conjugate the final 하다 verb. This allows for temporal and politeness variations, tailoring the intention to specific contexts:- Present Tense (Standard): When
하다is conjugated to해요(hae-yo) or합니다(ham-ni-da), the pattern expresses a current intention or an action about to occur. For example,책을 읽으려고 해요(chae-geul il-geu-ryeo-go hae-yo) means "I am planning to read a book" or "I am about to read a book." The emphasis is on the present state of planning. - Past Tense (Crucial Nuance): Conjugating
하다to했어요(haess-eo-yo) or했습니다(haess-seup-ni-da) shifts the meaning significantly.-(으)려고 했어요means "I intended to…" or "I was going to…" Critically, this past tense form often carries an implicit nuance of unfulfillment. It suggests that while the intention existed, the action either did not occur or was prevented. For instance,친구를 만나려고 했는데 못 만났어요(chin-gu-reul man-na-ryeo-go haess-neun-de mot man-nass-eo-yo) clearly implies "I was going to meet a friend, but I couldn't."
-(으)려고 하다 to communicate a broad spectrum of intentionality, from firm future plans to near-immediate actions, and even past intentions that failed to materialize. Recognizing this adaptability is fundamental to mastering its usage.Formation Pattern
-(으)려고 하다 to verb stems follows a consistent set of rules, primarily determined by the final sound of the verb stem. Mastery of these rules ensures correct and natural expression of intention.
-려고 하다.
가다 (ga-da, to go) → 가 (ga) + 려고 하다 → 가려고 하다
보다 (bo-da, to see) → 보 (bo) + 려고 하다 → 보려고 하다
-으려고 하다.
먹다 (meok-da, to eat) → 먹 (meok) + 으려고 하다 → 먹으려고 하다
찾다 (chat-da, to find) → 찾 (chat) + 으려고 하다 → 찾으려고 하다
ㄹ (L-irregular): Verb stems ending in ㄹ (e.g., 만들다, 살다) behave like vowel-ending stems. The ㄹ is retained, and you attach -려고 하다 directly.
만들다 (man-deul-da, to make) → 만들 (man-deul) + 려고 하다 → 만들려고 하다
살다 (sal-da, to live) → 살 (sal, to live) + 려고 하다 → 살려고 하다
-(으)려고 하다 due to the initial vowel 으 or the following consonant. Mastering these common irregularities is vital.
ㄷ Irregular Verbs: Verbs like 듣다 (deut-da, to listen) and 걷다 (geot-da, to walk) change ㄷ to ㄹ when followed by a vowel. Since 으려고 begins with a vowel, this change occurs.
듣다 → 들 + 으려고 하다 → 들으려고 하다 (deu-reu-ryeo-go ha-da)
걷다 → 걸 + 으려고 하다 → 걸으려고 하다 (geo-reu-ryeo-go ha-da)
ㅂ Irregular Verbs: Verbs like 돕다 (dop-da, to help) and 춥다 (chup-da, to be cold) change ㅂ to 우 (or 오 in some cases) when followed by a vowel. Again, 으려고 triggers this change.
돕다 → 도우 + 려고 하다 → 도우려고 하다 (do-u-ryeo-go ha-da)
춥다 → 추우 + 려고 하다 → 추우려고 하다 (chu-u-ryeo-go ha-da)
ㅅ Irregular Verbs: Verbs like 낫다 (nat-da, to get better/heal) drop ㅅ when followed by a vowel. This applies to 으려고.
낫다 → 나 + 으려고 하다 → 나으려고 하다 (na-eu-ryeo-go ha-da)
-(으)려고 하다
해요 form) and formal (합니다 form) conjugations.
-(으)려고 해요 (Polite Casual) | -(으)려고 합니다 (Formal) | Meaning |
가다 (가) | ga-da (ga) | 가려고 해요 (ga-ryeo-go hae-yo) | 가려고 합니다 (ga-ryeo-go ham-ni-da) | I intend to go |
보다 (보) | bo-da (bo) | 보려고 해요 (bo-ryeo-go hae-yo) | 보려고 합니다 (bo-ryeo-go ham-ni-da) | I intend to see/watch |
먹다 (먹) | meok-da (meok) | 먹으려고 해요 (meo-geu-ryeo-go hae-yo) | 먹으려고 합니다 (meo-geu-ryeo-go ham-ni-da) | I intend to eat |
읽다 (읽) | il-da (il) | 읽으려고 해요 (il-geu-ryeo-go hae-yo) | 읽으려고 합니다 (il-geu-ryeo-go ham-ni-da) | I intend to read |
ㄹ Ending | 만들다 (만들) | man-deul-da (man-deul) | 만들려고 해요 (man-deul-ryeo-go hae-yo) | 만들려고 합니다 (man-deul-ryeo-go ham-ni-da) | I intend to make |
살다 (살) | sal-da (sal) | 살려고 해요 (sal-ryeo-go hae-yo) | 살려고 합니다 (sal-ryeo-go ham-ni-da) | I intend to live |
ㄷ Irregular | 듣다 (들) | deut-da (deul) | 들으려고 해요 (deu-reu-ryeo-go hae-yo) | 들으려고 합니다 (deu-reu-ryeo-go ham-ni-da) | I intend to listen |
걷다 (걸) | geot-da (geol) | 걸으려고 해요 (geo-reu-ryeo-go hae-yo) | 걸으려고 합니다 (geo-reu-ryeo-go ham-ni-da) | I intend to walk |
ㅂ Irregular | 돕다 (도우) | dop-da (do-u) | 도우려고 해요 (do-u-ryeo-go hae-yo) | 도우려고 합니다 (do-u-ryeo-go ham-ni-da) | I intend to help |
눕다 (누우) | nup-da (nu-u) | 누우려고 해요 (nu-u-ryeo-go hae-yo) | 누우려고 합니다 (nu-u-ryeo-go ham-ni-da) | I intend to lie down |
ㅅ Irregular | 낫다 (나으) | nat-da (na-eu) | 나으려고 해요 (na-eu-ryeo-go hae-yo) | 나으려고 합니다 (na-eu-ryeo-go ham-ni-da) | I intend to get better/recover |
When To Use It
-(으)려고 하다 is a versatile grammatical tool that expresses various shades of intention, planning, and immediacy. Its application can be categorized into three primary contexts, each with distinct implications.-(으)려고 하다. It communicates that the subject has a plan or intention to perform an action in the future. This plan can range from a firm decision to a more tentative idea, but it always originates from the subject's will.- Long-term Plans: You can use it for plans spanning days, weeks, or even years.
내년에 한국어를 더 배우려고 해요.(nae-nyeon-e han-gu-geo-reul deo bae-u-ryeo-go hae-yo.)- "I plan to learn more Korean next year."
새로운 직장을 찾으려고 합니다.(sae-ro-un jik-jang-eul chaj-eu-ryeo-go ham-ni-da.)- "I intend to look for a new job."
- Short-term Plans: It also applies to immediate future plans.
점심에 김치찌개를 먹으려고 해요.(jeom-sim-e gim-chi-jji-gae-reul meo-geu-ryeo-go hae-yo.)- "I plan to eat kimchi stew for lunch."
-(으)려고 하다 is used in the present tense, especially with adverbs like 막 (mak, just/right now) or 이제 (i-je, now/soon), it conveys that the action is on the verge of happening. The subject is literally "about to" or "on the point of" doing something. This usage captures a sense of immediate readiness or proximity to an event.지금 막 나가려고 해요.(ji-geum mak na-ga-ryeo-go hae-yo.)- "I'm just about to leave right now."
전화 받으려고 하는데 끊겼어요.(jeon-hwa bad-eu-ryeo-go ha-neun-de kkeun-gyeoss-eo-yo.)- "I was about to answer the phone, but it hung up."
아기가 잠들려고 해요.(a-gi-ga jam-deul-ryeo-go hae-yo.)- "The baby is about to fall asleep."
-(으)려고 했어요)-(으)려고 하다. When conjugated into the past tense (-(으)려고 했어요/-(으)려고 했습니다), it almost always implies that the intended action did not happen or was prevented by some circumstance. It effectively means "I was going to do X, but…" The "but" is often explicitly stated with -(으)려고 했는데 (-(으)려고 했지만), or it is heavily implied by the context.어제 도서관에 가려고 했는데 비가 많이 와서 못 갔어요.(eo-je do-seo-gwan-e ga-ryeo-go haess-neun-de bi-ga man-i wa-seo mot gass-eo-yo.)- "I was going to go to the library yesterday, but it rained a lot so I couldn't go."
친구에게 전화하려고 했는데 너무 늦어서 포기했어요.(chin-gu-e-ge jeon-hwa-ha-ryeo-go haess-neun-de neo-mu neu-jeo-seo po-gi-haess-eo-yo.)- "I was going to call my friend, but it was too late so I gave up."
커피 마시려고 했는데 다 떨어졌네요.(keo-pi ma-si-ryeo-go haess-neun-de da tteol-eo-jyeoss-ne-yo.)- "I was going to drink coffee, but it all ran out."
Common Mistakes
-(으)려고 하다. Awareness of these common errors and their underlying reasons can significantly improve accuracy.-(으)려고 하다 is exclusively for verbs as it expresses the intention to perform an action. Adjectives describe states or qualities, which cannot be "intended" in the same way an action can. Therefore, you cannot directly attach -(으)려고 하다 to an adjective stem.- Incorrect:
저는 예쁘려고 해요.(jeo-neun ye-ppeu-ryeo-go hae-yo.) - (Intended: "I intend to be pretty.")
- Correct:
저는 예뻐지려고 해요.(jeo-neun ye-ppeo-ji-ryeo-go hae-yo.) - ("I intend to become pretty.")
- Explanation: To express an intention related to an adjective, you must convert the adjective into an action verb using the
지다(ji-da) suffix (e.g.,예쁘다(ye-ppeu-da) →예뻐지다(ye-ppeo-ji-da, to become pretty)). This transforms the state into an achievable action.
-(으)려고 하다. Inanimate objects, natural events, or phenomena do not possess intentions.- Incorrect:
비가 오려고 해요.(bi-ga o-ryeo-go hae-yo.) - (Intended: "It intends to rain.")
- Correct:
비가 올 것 같아요.(bi-ga ol geot gat-a-yo.) - ("It looks like it will rain.")
비가 오겠어요.(bi-ga o-gess-eo-yo.)- ("It will probably rain.")
- Explanation: For predictions about non-volitional subjects, use
-(으)ㄹ 것 같다(it seems like/looks like) or-(으)겠어요(it will probably/seems like).
-(으)ㄹ 것이다 (Future Tense)-(으)려고 하다 and -(으)ㄹ 것이다 have distinct semantic roles. -(으)ㄹ 것이다 (or its shortened forms -(으)ㄹ 거예요/-(으)ㄹ 겁니다) indicates a simple future fact, a prediction, or a promise. It doesn't necessarily convey the subject's internal intention or plan.-(으)려고 하다: Focuses on the subject's intention or plan.내일 시험 공부를 하려고 해요.(nae-il si-heom gong-bu-reul ha-ryeo-go hae-yo.)- ("I intend to study for the test tomorrow.") — This emphasizes your specific plan.
-(으)ㄹ 것이다: Focuses on the future event itself or a promise.내일 시험 공부를 할 거예요.(nae-il si-heom gong-bu-reul hal geo-ye-yo.)- ("I will study for the test tomorrow.") — This could be a statement of fact, a prediction, or a promise without explicitly detailing the internal planning.
- Explanation: The distinction is subtle but crucial.
-(으)려고 하다personalizes the future action by grounding it in the subject's will, while-(으)ㄹ 것이다is more objective or a direct commitment.
-(으)려고 했어요-(으)려고 했어요 inherently implies that the intention was not fulfilled. A common error is to use it when the action did actually happen.- Incorrect:
저는 어제 도서관에 가려고 했는데 정말 갔어요.(jeo-neun eo-je do-seo-gwan-e ga-ryeo-go haess-neun-de jeong-mal gass-eo-yo.) - (Intended: "I intended to go to the library yesterday and I really went.") — This sounds contradictory.
- Correct (if the action occurred):
저는 어제 도서관에 가기로 했고 정말 갔어요.(jeo-neun eo-je do-seo-gwan-e ga-gi-ro haess-go jeong-mal gass-eo-yo.) - ("I decided to go to the library yesterday and I really went.")
- Correct (if the action was planned but prevented):
저는 어제 도서관에 가려고 했는데 못 갔어요.(jeo-neun eo-je do-seo-gwan-e ga-ryeo-go haess-neun-de mot gass-eo-yo.) - ("I was going to go to the library yesterday, but I couldn't.")
- Explanation: If the action was performed, simply state the past action or use
-(으)기로 하다for a decided action. Only use-(으)려고 했어요if the intention remained unexecuted.
-(으)러 가다/오다-(으)러 가다/오다 already means "to go/come in order to do something." Combining it directly with -(으)려고 하다 creates a grammatical redundancy.- Incorrect:
밥 먹으러 가려고 해요.(bap meo-geu-reo ga-ryeo-go hae-yo.) - (Intended: "I intend to go to eat.")
- Correct:
밥 먹으러 갈 거예요.(bap meo-geu-reo gal geo-ye-yo.) - ("I will go to eat.")
- Correct Alternative:
밥을 먹으려고 해요.(bap-eul meo-geu-ryeo-go hae-yo.) - ("I intend to eat.")
- Explanation: Choose either
-(으)러 가다(movement for purpose) or-(으)려고 하다(general intention), but avoid direct nesting of their meaning. If the intention includes movement,-(으)러 가다is often more direct.
Real Conversations
-(으)려고 하다 is a ubiquitous expression in modern Korean, appearing in both casual and formal contexts. Its utility lies in clearly stating personal agency and forthcoming actions. Observing its use in typical dialogues offers valuable insight into its natural application.
#### Casual Conversations (Among friends or family)
Scenario 1
- A: 지수 씨, 이번 주말에 뭐 할 거예요? (Ji-su ssi, i-beon ju-mal-e mwo hal geo-ye-yo?)
- "Jisoo, what are you doing this weekend?"
- B: 음… 집에서 영화 보려고요. 피곤해서 쉬려고 해요. (eum… jib-e-seo yeong-hwa bo-ryeo-go-yo. pi-gon-hae-seo swi-ryeo-go hae-yo.)
- "Hmm… I'm planning to watch movies at home. I'm tired, so I intend to rest."
Scenario 2
- A: 어디 가? (eo-di ga?)
- "Where are you going?"
- B: 지금 막 편의점에 과자 사려고. (ji-geum mak pyeon-ui-jeom-e gwa-ja sa-ryeo-go.)
- "I'm just about to go to the convenience store to buy snacks."
- (Note: The 하다 is often omitted in very casual speech when the context is clear.)
#### Semi-formal to Formal Contexts (Work, school, public speaking)
Scenario 3
- Manager: 김대리님, 이번 분기 목표는 무엇입니까? (Gim-dae-ri-nim, i-beon bun-gi mok-pyo-neun mu-eot-im-ni-kka?)
- "Assistant Manager Kim, what are this quarter's objectives?"
- Kim: 이번 프로젝트를 다음 달까지 마무리하려고 합니다. (i-beon peu-ro-jek-teu-reul da-eum dal-kka-ji ma-mu-ri-ha-ryeo-go ham-ni-da.)
- "I intend to complete this project by next month."
Scenario 4
- Professor: 어제 과제 왜 안 냈어요? (eo-je gwa-je wae an naess-eo-yo?)
- "Why didn't you submit your assignment yesterday?"
- Student: 죄송합니다, 교수님. 어제 과제를 다 하려고 했는데, 갑자기 아파서 병원에 갔습니다. (joe-song-ham-ni-da, gyo-su-nim. eo-je gwa-je-reul da ha-ryeo-go haess-neun-de, gap-ja-gi a-pa-seo byeong-won-e gass-seup-ni-da.)
- "I apologize, Professor. I was going to finish all my assignments yesterday, but I suddenly fell ill and went to the hospital."
#### Social Media & Texting
- Status Update: 주말에 혼자 여행 가려고 계획 중! (ju-mal-e hon-ja yeo-haeng ga-ryeo-go gye-hoek jung!)
- "Planning to travel alone this weekend!"
- Text Message: 야, 너 지금 어디야? 나 집 도착해서 씻으려고 해. (ya, neo ji-geum eo-di-ya? na jip do-chak-hae-seo ssiss-eu-ryeo-go hae.)
- "Hey, where are you? I just got home and I'm about to wash up."
These examples demonstrate how -(으)려고 하다 is fluidly integrated into various communication styles, making it an essential pattern for expressing one's deliberate actions and plans in Korean.
Quick FAQ
- Q1: Can I use
-(으)려고 하다with싶다(to want)? - No,
-(으)려고 싶다is grammatically incorrect.-(으)려고already expresses intention, and싶다expresses desire. You typically useV-고 싶다(I want to V) orV-고 싶어 하다(someone else wants to V). For example, if you want to express an intention to want something, you'd rephrase, perhaps usingV-고 싶게 만들려고 해요(I intend to make myself want to V), which is a more complex and less common construction.
- Q2: What is the formality level of
-(으)려고 하다? - The formality depends entirely on the conjugation of the final
하다.-(으)려고 해요is polite informal (해체), suitable for most everyday conversations.-(으)려고 합니다is formal (합니다체), appropriate for respectful and formal settings like business meetings, news broadcasts, or addressing elders/superiors.
- Q3: Is it possible to use this pattern to ask someone else about their intentions?
- Absolutely. It's a very common way to inquire about someone's plans. For instance,
주말에 뭐 하려고 해요?(ju-mal-e mwo ha-ryeo-go hae-yo?) means "What are you planning to do this weekend?" This directly asks about the interlocutor's intentions or plans.
- Q4: Is
-(으)려고 하다interchangeable with "trying to"? - Not exactly.
-(으)려고 하다primarily conveys intention or plan. "Trying to" implies effort or attempt. While an intention often precedes an attempt,-(으)려고 하다doesn't inherently carry the nuance of struggle or repeated effort. To explicitly express "trying to," you would typically use노력하다(no-ryeok-ha-da, to make an effort) or combine it with-(으)려고as in-(으)려고 노력하다(to try hard to do something). For example,한국어를 배우려고 노력하고 있어요(han-gu-geo-reul bae-u-ryeo-go no-ryeok-ha-go iss-eo-yo) means "I am trying to learn Korean," emphasizing the effort.
- Q5: Can
-(으)려고 하다be used for suggestions or proposals? - No,
-(으)려고 하다is strictly for expressing the subject's own intention. For suggestions or proposals involving others, different grammatical patterns are used. For example,-(으)ㄹ까요?(shall we?/how about…?) or-(으)ㅂ시다(let's…) are appropriate for collective actions or suggestions. Using-(으)려고 해요?in a questioning tone would typically inquire about their intention, not make a suggestion. For example,점심 먹으려고 해요?(jeom-sim meo-geu-ryeo-go hae-yo?) asks "Are you planning to eat lunch?" rather than suggesting "How about we eat lunch?".
Formation Table
| Verb Stem | Ending | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
가
|
-려고
|
가려고 하다
|
|
먹
|
-으려고
|
먹으려고 하다
|
|
공부하
|
-려고
|
공부하려고 하다
|
|
읽
|
-으려고
|
읽으려고 하다
|
|
사
|
-려고
|
사려고 하다
|
|
듣
|
-으려고
|
들으려고 하다
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction |
|---|---|
|
하려고 해요
|
할래요
|
|
먹으려고 해요
|
먹을래요
|
Meanings
This pattern expresses the speaker's intention or plan to perform an action. It focuses on the internal state of wanting to do something.
Personal Intention
Expressing what the speaker plans to do.
“운동을 하려고 해요.”
“한국어를 배우려고 합니다.”
Imminent Action
Expressing that an action is about to happen.
“비가 오려고 해요.”
“문이 닫히려고 합니다.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb + (으)려고 하다
|
가려고 해요
|
|
Negative
|
안 + Verb + (으)려고 하다
|
안 가려고 해요
|
|
Question
|
Verb + (으)려고 해요?
|
가려고 해요?
|
|
Past
|
Verb + (으)려고 했다
|
가려고 했어요
|
|
Formal
|
Verb + (으)려고 합니다
|
가려고 합니다
|
|
Informal
|
Verb + (으)려고 해
|
가려고 해
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Formality Spectrum
가려고 합니다. (General)
가려고 해요. (General)
가려고 해. (General)
갈 거야. (General)
Intention Map
Personal
- 공부하다 study
Imminent
- 비가 오다 rain
Examples by Level
한국어를 공부하려고 해요.
I plan to study Korean.
친구를 만나려고 해요.
I plan to meet a friend.
영화를 보려고 해요.
I plan to watch a movie.
집에 가려고 해요.
I plan to go home.
내일은 일찍 일어나려고 해요.
I plan to wake up early tomorrow.
점심에 비빔밥을 먹으려고 해요.
I plan to eat bibimbap for lunch.
이번 주말에 여행을 가려고 해요.
I plan to go on a trip this weekend.
숙제를 안 하려고 해요.
I don't plan to do homework.
이번 학기에 장학금을 받으려고 노력하고 있어요.
I am trying to get a scholarship this semester.
내일 회의에서 제 의견을 말하려고 합니다.
I plan to state my opinion at the meeting tomorrow.
그는 이번에 꼭 성공하려고 해요.
He intends to succeed this time.
비가 오려고 해서 우산을 챙겼어요.
It looked like it was going to rain, so I brought an umbrella.
그는 자신의 잘못을 인정하려고 하지 않았어요.
He did not intend to admit his mistake.
모두가 잠들려고 하는 시간에 전화가 왔어요.
The phone rang just as everyone was about to fall asleep.
새로운 프로젝트를 시작하려고 준비 중입니다.
I am preparing to start a new project.
그녀는 이번 기회를 놓치지 않으려고 해요.
She intends not to miss this opportunity.
그는 역사의 흐름을 바꾸려고 시도했다.
He attempted to change the course of history.
어둠이 내리려고 하는 찰나에 그가 나타났다.
He appeared just as darkness was about to fall.
진실을 은폐하려고 하는 자들의 음모가 드러났다.
The conspiracy of those who intended to cover up the truth was revealed.
그는 자신의 신념을 굽히지 않으려고 애썼다.
He struggled not to bend his convictions.
시대의 변화를 거스르려고 하는 것은 무모한 일이다.
It is reckless to try to go against the changes of the times.
그는 마지막 순간까지 포기하지 않으려고 안간힘을 썼다.
He tried with all his might not to give up until the very last moment.
자연의 섭리를 인위적으로 조작하려고 하는 것은 오만이다.
It is arrogance to try to artificially manipulate the laws of nature.
그는 자신의 존재를 증명하려고 평생을 바쳤다.
He dedicated his life to trying to prove his existence.
Easily Confused
Both involve future actions.
Common Mistakes
가려고해요
가려고 해요
갔으려고 해요
가려고 해요
먹려고 해요
먹으려고 해요
공부하려고 하다해요
공부하려고 해요
가려고 했다
가려고 해요
안 가려고
안 가려고 해요
가려고 합니까?
가려고 해요?
비가 오려고 했다
비가 오려고 해요
먹으려고 했어요
먹으려고 했어요
가려고 하는 중이에요
가려고 해요
가려고 하겠다
가려고 한다
먹으려고 하였음
먹으려고 했다
가려고 할 것이다
가려고 한다
먹으려고 하더라
먹으려고 하더라
Sentence Patterns
저는 ___ (으)려고 해요.
Real World Usage
뭐 하려고?
The "About to" Shortcut
No Adjectives Allowed
행복하려고 하다 is weird). You have to 'plan to BECOME happy' (행복해지려고 하다).Softening Rejections
-(으)려고 했는데... (I was planning to...) to soften a rejection. 'I was planning to go, but...' implies you wanted to, making the 'no' less harsh.Smart Tips
Conjugate the last one.
Pronunciation
Liaison
The 'ㄹ' sound carries over.
Rising
가려고 해요? ↑
Question
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Yo-go' (려고) as 'Yo, I'm going to do this!'
Visual Association
Imagine a person with a thought bubble above their head showing a calendar with a big circle around a future date.
Rhyme
When you have a plan to do, add 려고 to the verb for you.
Story
Min-su wants to learn Korean. He says '한국어를 공부하려고 해요.' He is very excited. He tells his friend, '내일 친구를 만나려고 해요.'
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about your plans for tomorrow using this pattern.
Cultural Notes
Used to show politeness by stating intentions clearly.
Derived from the verb '하다' (to do) and the intent marker.
Conversation Starters
주말에 뭐 하려고 해요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
저는 한국어를 ___ 해요.
Score: /1
Practice Exercises
1 exercises저는 한국어를 ___ 해요.
Score: /1
Practice Bank
12 exercises점심을 ___ 해요.
서울에서 ___ 해요.
Match the pairs
Arrange these words:
Identify the error:
Translate the sentence into Korean (polite).
Correct the verb conjugation for 'help'.
집에서 ___ 해요. (쉬다 - to rest)
Choose the best description:
Build the sentence:
Choose the correct translation:
공부___ 해요.
Score: /12
FAQ (1)
Yes, use -려고 했다.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
tener la intención de
Korean is agglutinative.
avoir l'intention de
French uses prepositions.
vorhaben
Word order.
つもりだ
Japanese uses a noun-based marker.
أنوي أن
Arabic is SVO.
打算
No conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
Related Grammar Rules
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