When you're learning Korean, it's really helpful to know how to talk about setting goals. The phrase 목표를 세우다 literally means 'to set a goal' or 'to establish an objective.' It's a common and practical expression you'll use often, whether you're talking about personal ambitions or professional targets.
You can use this phrase in many contexts. For example, if you want to say 'I set a goal to learn Korean,' you would say '저는 한국어를 배우는 목표를 세웠어요.' The '를' is the object particle, marking '목표' as the object of the verb '세우다.'
Understanding this phrase will help you express your plans and aspirations clearly in Korean. It's a fundamental part of communicating about future actions and intentions.
목표를 세우다 in 30 Seconds
- Setting personal or professional goals
- Establishing objectives for a project
- Planning for future achievements
§ What does it mean and when do people use it?
Let's learn about a really useful Korean phrase: 목표를 세우다.
- Korean Phrase
- 목표를 세우다 (mok-pyo-reul se-u-da)
- Meaning
- To establish an aim or objective; to set a goal.
This phrase is essential for talking about planning, personal development, or any situation where you're aiming for something in the future. Think about it: whether you're learning Korean, saving money, or trying to get fit, you're setting a goal.
The word 목표 (mok-pyo) means 'goal', 'target', or 'objective'. The verb 세우다 (se-u-da) literally means 'to set up', 'to establish', or 'to erect'. When combined, they form 'to set up a goal' or more simply, 'to set a goal'.
You'll hear and use 목표를 세우다 in many contexts:
- Personal development: When someone wants to improve themselves or achieve something personal.
- Work or study: When discussing targets, deadlines, or academic achievements.
- New beginnings: Often at the start of a new year, a new project, or a new phase in life.
- Discussions about future plans: Anytime you're talking about what you intend to do.
Here are some examples to help you understand how it's used in sentences:
새해에는 한국어 공부 목표를 세웠어요. (For the new year, I set a goal to study Korean.)
시험 합격을 위해 매일 공부 목표를 세웠습니다. (I set a daily study goal to pass the exam.)
그녀는 큰 목표를 세우고 열심히 노력하고 있습니다. (She set a big goal and is working hard.)
Notice how 목표를 세우다 is always used with '을/를', which is the object particle in Korean. This indicates that '목표 (goal)' is the direct object of the verb '세우다 (to set/establish)'.
Understanding this phrase at an A2 level means you can start talking about your own aspirations and plans more effectively. It's a fundamental expression for communicating intentions and ambitions. Practice using it when you talk about what you want to achieve, whether in your Korean studies or your daily life.
§ What it means
- Korean Word
- 목표를 세우다
- Part of Speech
- Verb
- CEFR Level
- A2
- Definition
- To establish an aim or objective; to set a goal.
§ How to use it in a sentence — grammar, prepositions
The verb phrase 목표를 세우다 literally means 'to set a goal'. It's a fundamental expression you'll use often when talking about plans, ambitions, or things you want to achieve. Let's break down how to use it correctly in sentences.
The core structure here is 목표 (goal) + 를 (object particle) + 세우다 (to set/establish). The particle 를 clearly marks 목표 as the direct object of the verb 세우다.
You'll often use 목표를 세우다 with various verb endings depending on the formality and tense you need. Here are some common ways you'll see it:
- Casual/Informal: 목표를 세워요 (present tense, polite) or 목표를 세웠어요 (past tense, polite)
- Formal/Declarative: 목표를 세웁니다 (present tense, formal) or 목표를 세웠습니다 (past tense, formal)
- Future/Intention: 목표를 세울 거예요 or 목표를 세우려고 해요 (I am going to set a goal / I intend to set a goal)
Let's look at some examples to make this clear:
새로운 시작을 위해 목표를 세웠어요.
- Translation Hint
- I set a goal for a new start.
저는 항상 매년 새로운 목표를 세웁니다.
- Translation Hint
- I always set new goals every year.
성공하려면 구체적인 목표를 세워야 합니다.
- Translation Hint
- To succeed, you must set specific goals.
이번 학기에는 한국어 시험 합격이라는 목표를 세울 거예요.
- Translation Hint
- This semester, I will set the goal of passing the Korean exam.
You can also combine 목표를 세우다 with other grammatical structures to express more complex ideas. For instance, to talk about *why* you are setting a goal, you might use the '-기 위해' (in order to) structure:
한국어를 잘하기 위해 목표를 세웠어요.
- Translation Hint
- I set a goal in order to speak Korean well.
Examples by Level
저는 한국어를 배우는 목표를 세웠어요.
I set a goal to learn Korean.
우리는 새로운 계획의 목표를 세울 거예요.
We will set goals for the new plan.
매일 운동하는 목표를 세우는 것이 중요해요.
It's important to set a goal to exercise every day.
그는 큰 목표를 세웠어요.
He set a big goal.
이번 학기에 좋은 성적을 받는 목표를 세웠습니다.
I set a goal to get good grades this semester.
내년에는 여행하는 목표를 세울까요?
Shall we set a goal to travel next year?
친구와 함께 목표를 세우고 있어요.
I am setting goals with my friend.
작은 목표부터 세우는 것이 좋아요.
It's good to start by setting small goals.
새로운 해에는 목표를 세우고 싶어요.
I want to set goals in the new year.
저는 매일 작은 목표를 세워요.
I set small goals every day.
우리는 함께 큰 목표를 세웠어요.
We set a big goal together.
목표를 세우는 것은 중요해요.
It's important to set goals.
무엇이든 시작하기 전에 목표를 세우세요.
Before starting anything, set a goal.
그녀는 공부 목표를 세웠어요.
She set a study goal.
우리의 팀은 새로운 프로젝트 목표를 세웠습니다.
Our team set new project goals.
명확한 목표를 세우면 더 잘할 수 있어요.
If you set clear goals, you can do better.
우리의 첫 번째 목표를 세웁시다: 한국어로 자기소개를 할 수 있게 되는 것입니다.
Let's set our first goal: to be able to introduce ourselves in Korean.
A common way to express 'to become able to do X' is 'X할 수 있게 되다'.
새해에는 항상 운동 목표를 세우지만, 지키는 것이 어려워요.
I always set exercise goals for the New Year, but it's hard to stick to them.
'지키다' can mean 'to keep a promise/goal' or 'to protect'.
이번 프로젝트를 시작하기 전에 명확한 목표를 세우는 것이 중요합니다.
Before starting this project, it's important to set clear goals.
'~하기 전에' means 'before doing ~'.
그녀는 매년 새로운 언어를 배우는 목표를 세웁니다.
She sets a goal to learn a new language every year.
'~는 목표를 세우다' is a common structure for 'to set a goal to do X'.
너무 큰 목표를 세우면 쉽게 포기할 수 있으니, 작은 목표부터 시작하세요.
If you set too big goals, you might easily give up, so start with small goals.
'~면' indicates a conditional 'if'.
학생들은 학기 초에 각자의 학습 목표를 세웠습니다.
Students set their individual learning goals at the beginning of the semester.
'학습 목표' means 'learning goals'.
회사는 다음 분기를 위한 구체적인 판매 목표를 세우고 있습니다.
The company is setting specific sales goals for the next quarter.
'다음 분기' means 'next quarter'.
저는 한국어 능력 시험에서 4급을 따는 것을 목표로 세웠습니다.
I set the goal of achieving Level 4 on the Korean proficiency test.
'~는 것을 목표로 세우다' is another way to say 'to set X as a goal'.
Test Yourself 36 questions
Standard Korean sentence structure is Subject-Object-Verb. '나는' (I) is the subject, '학교에' (to school) is the location/object, and '갑니다' (go) is the verb.
'이것은' (This) is the subject, '제' (my) is a possessive pronoun, and '책입니다' (is a book) is the predicate.
'당신은' (You) is the subject, '무엇을' (what) is the object, and '좋아해요' (like) is the verb. In questions, the question word often comes before the verb.
This sentence expresses the desire to set goals in the new year.
This sentence emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals.
This sentence describes someone setting big goals and working to achieve them.
다음 중 '목표를 세우다'의 의미와 가장 가까운 것은 무엇입니까?
'목표를 세우다'는 특정한 결과를 얻기 위한 방향을 정하고 계획을 수립하는 행위를 의미합니다. 단순히 꿈을 꾸거나 희망하는 것보다 더 구체적이고 능동적인 행동입니다. 결심하는 것은 목표를 세우는 과정의 일부일 수 있지만, 목표를 세우는 행위 자체는 아닙니다.
성공적인 사업을 위해서는 명확한 __________ 것이 중요합니다.
사업의 성공은 명확한 목표 설정과 밀접하게 관련되어 있습니다. 돈을 버는 것, 친구를 사귀는 것, 여행을 가는 것은 사업의 목표가 될 수 있지만, 목표를 세우는 행위 자체가 성공의 중요한 요소입니다.
대학 입학이라는 큰 _________ 위해 매일 열심히 공부하고 있습니다.
대학 입학은 큰 목표이며, 이를 달성하기 위해 공부하는 것이 일반적입니다. 친구를 만나거나 게임을 하거나 잠을 자는 것은 목표 설정과 직접적인 관련이 없습니다.
목표를 세우는 것은 미래에 대한 구체적인 계획 없이 막연히 바라는 것을 의미한다.
목표를 세우는 것은 막연히 바라는 것이 아니라, 미래에 대한 구체적인 계획과 방향을 설정하는 능동적인 행위를 의미합니다.
개인의 성장을 위해서는 단기 목표보다 장기 목표만 세우는 것이 효과적이다.
개인의 성장을 위해서는 단기 목표와 장기 목표를 모두 세우고 조화롭게 관리하는 것이 효과적입니다. 단기 목표는 장기 목표 달성을 위한 발판이 됩니다.
명확한 목표를 세우는 것은 동기 부여와 실행력을 높이는 데 도움이 된다.
명확한 목표는 개인이 나아가야 할 방향을 제시하고, 목표 달성을 위한 동기 부여와 실행력을 높이는 데 중요한 역할을 합니다.
They convened a meeting to set new business goals.
Setting goals for personal growth is very important.
We need to clarify our long-term vision and short-term goals.
Read this aloud:
어떻게 하면 구체적인 목표를 효과적으로 세울 수 있을까요?
Focus: 구체적인
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
당신은 올해 어떤 목표를 세웠습니까? 그것들을 어떻게 달성할 계획입니까?
Focus: 달성할 계획입니까
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
회사의 전략적 목표를 세우는 과정에서 가장 중요한 고려 사항은 무엇이라고 생각하십니까?
Focus: 전략적 목표
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'He pondered to set life goals.' The standard Korean sentence structure is subject-object-verb, and '위해' (for the purpose of) often follows a verb stem.
This translates to 'I should set more specific goals in the new year.' The adverb '더욱' (more) modifies '구체적인' (specific), which then modifies '목표를'.
The sentence means 'The company set new goals for long-term growth.' '장기적인 성장' (long-term growth) is the object of '위해' (for the purpose of), and '새로운 목표' (new goals) is the object of '세웠다' (set).
This sentence means 'We need to set the company's quarterly goals.' The order follows a typical Korean sentence structure of Subject-Object-Verb, with modifiers preceding the nouns they describe.
This sentence translates to 'It is important to set clear goals for personal growth.' The structure emphasizes the purpose ('for personal growth') before stating the main action and its importance.
This means 'It is effective to start small and gradually set bigger goals.' The sentence flows logically from the initial action ('starting small') to the subsequent action ('gradually setting bigger goals') and the overall assessment ('it is effective').
/ 36 correct
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Summary
Using '목표를 세우다' is essential for talking about setting goals and making plans in Korean.
- Setting personal or professional goals
- Establishing objectives for a project
- Planning for future achievements
Related Content
More academic words
입체적
B2Having a three-dimensional effect or examining something from multiple perspectives rather than a single flat view. It implies a comprehensive and detailed analysis.
~에 관해
B1About, concerning.
~에 대하여
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
~대해
A2About; concerning; regarding.
~에 관하여
A2Regarding, concerning, about (a topic).
~에 대해(서)
A1Indicates the topic or subject of discussion, meaning 'about' or 'regarding'.
무엇보다
A2More than anything else; above all.
결석생
A2A student who is absent from class.
추상화하다
B2To consider something theoretically or separately from its physical reality. It involves extracting general principles from specific examples.
추상
A2Abstraction; the quality of dealing with ideas rather than events.
