Expressing a Desire with '래' — Korean Grammar

The ending (-(ŭ)l·læ) is a verb suffix used in spoken Korean to express an immediate intention, a choice, or to ask for the listener's preference. It combines the meaning of "want to" with "will".

This form is colloquial and is primarily used in casual conversations. It indicates that the speaker has made a decision to do something or is inviting the listener to do something together.

Construction

This suffix attaches directly to the verb stem. The spelling changes depending on the final letter of the stem.

Vowel-ending stems: Add (-l·læ-l·lae-l·lae-l·lay).
Consonant-ending stems: Add (-ŭl·læ-eul·lae-ŭl·lae-ul·lay).
Stems ending in (l): The (l) remains, and you simply add (lælaelaelay).

가다 → 갈래
ga·da → kal·læga·da → gal·laega·da → kal·laeka·ta → kal·lay
to go → I will go / I want to go
먹다 → 먹을래
mŏk·da → mŏ·gŭl·læmeok·da → meo·geul·laemŏk·da → mŏ·gŭl·laemek·ta → me·kul·lay
to eat → I will eat / I want to eat
놀다 → 놀래
nol·da → nol·lænol·da → nol·laenol·da → nol·laenol·ta → nol·lay
to play → I will play / I want to play

Expressing Personal Intent (First Person)

When used with "I" (the speaker), (-(ŭ)l·læ-(ŭ)l·lae-(ŭ)l·lae-(ŭ)l·lay) expresses a firm intention or a choice made in the moment. It is often translated as "I will" or "I wanna." Unlike a simple future tense, this emphasizes the speaker's active will or preference.

나는 집에 갈래.
na·nŭn ji·be kal·læ.na·neun ji·be gal·lae.na·nŭn ji·be kal·lae.na·nun ci·pey kal·lay.
I'm going to go home (I want to go home).
나는 비빔밥 먹을래.
na·nŭn pi·bim·bap mŏ·gŭl·læ.na·neun bi·bim·bap meo·geul·lae.na·nŭn pi·bim·bap mŏ·gŭl·lae.na·nun pi·pim·pap me·kul·lay.
I'll have bibimbap (I choose to eat bibimbap).

Asking for Opinions (Second Person)

When used in a question addressed to "you" (the listener), it functions as a soft invitation or a query about their preference. It translates to "Do you want to...?" or "Shall we...?"

우리 영화 볼래?
u·ri yŏng·hwa bol·læ?u·ri yeong·hwa bol·lae?u·ri yŏng·hwa bol·lae?u·li yeng·hwa pol·lay?
Do you want to watch a movie with us?
커피 마실래?
kʰŏ·pʰi ma·sil·læ?keo·pi ma·sil·lae?k'ŏ·p'i ma·sil·lae?khe·phi ma·sil·lay?
Do you want to drink coffee?

Comparison with '-고 싶다 (-go sip·da)'

While (-go sip·da-go sip·da-go sip·da-ko sip·ta) also means "want to," there is a distinct difference in nuance.

(-go sip·da-go sip·da-go sip·da-ko sip·ta): Expresses a general desire, wish, or dream. It does not necessarily imply immediate action.
(-(ŭ)l·læ-(ŭ)l·lae-(ŭ)l·lae-(ŭ)l·lay): Expresses a decision or immediate intent. It implies that the action is about to happen.

For example, saying "I want to buy a car" using (-go sip·da-go sip·da-go sip·da-ko sip·ta) sounds like a wish for the future. Using (-(ŭ)l·læ-(ŭ)l·lae-(ŭ)l·lae-(ŭ)l·lay) sounds like you are at the dealership making the decision to buy it now.

Politeness Levels

The form (-(ŭ)l·læ-(ŭ)l·lae-(ŭ)l·lae-(ŭ)l·lay) is inherently casual ( (pan·malban·malpan·malpan·mal)). To make it polite enough for general conversation with people you are not close with, you must add (yo) to the end.

저도 갈래요.
jŏ·do kal·læ·yo.jeo·do gal·lae·yo.jŏ·do kal·lae·yo.ce·to kal·lay·yo.
I want to go too (polite).
뭐 먹을래요?
mwŏ mŏ·gŭl·læ·yo?mwŏ meo·geul·lae·yo?mwŏ mŏ·gŭl·lae·yo?mwŏ me·kul·lay·yo?
What do you want to eat? (polite).

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Korean course

10 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 72. A few of them, with the words “Expressing a Desire with '래'” is about in bold:

메시지를 다시 보내 줄래?
me·si·ji·rŭl da·si bo·næ jul læ?me·si·ji·reul da·si bo·nae jul lae?me·si·ji·rŭl da·si bo·nae jul lae?mey·si·ci·lul ta·si po·nay cul lay?
Can you send the message again? (cas.)
Lesson 426

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