Intention -(으)려고 in Korean

Overview

The pattern -(으)려고 expresses intention or purpose at the CEFR B1 level: "in order to" or "intending to." It connects two clauses where the first states the purpose and the second states the action taken to achieve it. -(으)려고 하다 as a standalone means "intend to / plan to."

How It Works

Stem type	Pattern	Example
Vowel	-려고	가려고 (intending to go)
Consonant	-으려고	먹으려고 (intending to eat)

Key rules: Same subject in both clauses. Cannot use with past tense in the purpose clause.

Examples in Context

Korean	Romanization	English	Note
한국어를 배우려고 해요.	han-gu-geo-reul bae-u-ryeo-go hae-yo	I intend to learn Korean.	intention
사려고 왔어요.	sa-ryeo-go wa-sseo-yo	Came to buy.	purpose
뭐 하려고 해요?	mwo ha-ryeo-go hae-yo	What are you trying to do?	question
건강해지려고 운동해요.	geon-gang-hae-ji-ryeo-go un-dong-hae-yo	Exercise to become healthy.	purpose
일찍 자려고 해요.	il-jjik ja-ryeo-go hae-yo	I'm trying to sleep early.	intention
한국에 가려고 돈을 모아요.	han-gu-ge ga-ryeo-go do-neul mo-a-yo	Saving money to go to Korea.	purpose
졸업하려고 열심히 공부해요.	jo-reo-pa-ryeo-go yeol-sim-hi gong-bu-hae-yo	Study hard to graduate.	purpose
뭐 먹으려고요?	mwo meo-geu-ryeo-go-yo	What are you going to eat?	casual question

Common Mistakes

Using different subjects in both clauses

• Wrong: 제가 가려고 친구가 차를 빌려줬어요
• Right: Use -도록 or -(으)라고 for different subjects
• Why: -(으)려고 requires the same person doing both the purpose action and the main action.

Confusing -(으)려고 with -(으)러

• Wrong: Thinking they are identical
• Right: -(으)러 is used only with movement verbs (가다, 오다): 사러 가요 (go to buy)
• Why: -(으)려고 works with any verb; -(으)러 only with directional movement.

Usage Notes

-(으)려고 하다 is a standard way to express plans in conversation, similar to -(으)ㄹ 거예요 but more about intention than prediction. 뭐 하려고요? (What are you going to do?) is extremely common in casual Korean. In formal writing, -(으)려고 is standard for expressing purpose.

The distinction between -(으)려고 and -(으)ㄹ 거예요 is subtle: -(으)려고 emphasizes the purpose or intention behind an action, while -(으)ㄹ 거예요 states a plan or prediction. 한국어를 배우려고 해요 emphasizes the intention, while 한국어를 배울 거예요 states the plan.

In formal writing, -(으)고자 replaces -(으)려고: 논의하고자 합니다 (I wish to discuss). This is standard in academic and business Korean. -(으)려고 also appears in the negative pattern: -(으)려다가 (was going to but): 가려다가 안 갔어요 (was going to go but didn't).

Practice Tips

• Express daily intentions: 운동하려고 해요. 한국어 공부하려고 해요.
• Practice purpose clauses: ...하려고 왔어요 (came to...).
• Compare -(으)려고 with -(으)ㄹ 거예요 for the same intention.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Polite Ending -아/어요 — base conjugation