Expressing Purpose with '려고'

01

Construction Rules

This ending attaches directly to the verb stem. The choice between -려고 (-ryŏ·go-ryeo·go-ryŏ·go-lye·ko) and -으려고 (-ŭ·ryŏ·go-eu·ryeo·go-ŭ·ryŏ·go-u·lye·ko) depends on the final letter of the stem.

• Vowel stems: If the verb stem ends in a vowel, add -려고 (-ryŏ·go-ryeo·go-ryŏ·go-lye·ko).
• Consonant stems: If the verb stem ends in a consonant, add -으려고 (-ŭ·ryŏ·go-eu·ryeo·go-ŭ·ryŏ·go-u·lye·ko).
• 'ㄹ' stems: If the stem ends in the consonant ㄹ (r/l), it acts like a vowel stem. Keep the ㄹ (r/l) and add -려고 (-ryŏ·go-ryeo·go-ryŏ·go-lye·ko).

• 사다 → 사려고

  sa·da → sa·ryŏ·gosa·da → sa·ryeo·gosa·da → sa·ryŏ·gosa·ta → sa·lye·ko

  to buy → in order to buy

• 먹다 → 먹으려고

  mŏg·da → mŏg·ŭ·ryŏ·gomeog·da → meog·eu·ryeo·gomŏg·da → mŏg·ŭ·ryŏ·gomeg·ta → meg·u·lye·ko

  to eat → in order to eat

• 놀다 → 놀려고

  nol·da → nol·ryŏ·gonol·da → nol·ryeo·gonol·da → nol·ryŏ·gonol·ta → nol·lye·ko

  to play → in order to play

02

Usage in Sentences

The clause containing the purpose always comes first. The tense (past, present, or future) is determined by the final verb of the sentence, not the verb attached to -(으)려고 (-(ŭ)ryŏ·go-(ŭ)ryŏ·go-(ŭ)ryŏ·go-(ŭ)ryŏ·ko). Never add past tense markers like 았 (ass) or 었 (ŏsseossŏssess) before -(으)려고 (-(ŭ)ryŏ·go-(ŭ)ryŏ·go-(ŭ)ryŏ·go-(ŭ)ryŏ·ko).

• 친구를 만나려고 일찍 나갔어요.

  chin·gu·rŭl man·na·ryŏ·go il·jjig na·gass·ŏ·yo.jin·gu·reul man·na·ryeo·go il·jjig na·gass·eo·yo.chin·gu·rŭl man·na·ryŏ·go il·tchig na·gass·ŏ·yo.cin·ku·lul man·na·lye·ko il·ccig na·kass·e·yo.

  I left early to meet a friend.

• 한국어를 배우려고 책을 샀어요.

  han·gug·ŏ·rŭl bæ·u·ryŏ·go chʰæ·gŭl sass·ŏ·yo.han·gug·eo·reul bae·u·ryeo·go chae·geul sass·eo·yo.han·gug·ŏ·rŭl bae·u·ryŏ·go ch'ae·gŭl sass·ŏ·yo.han·kug·e·lul pay·u·lye·ko chay·kul sass·e·yo.

  I bought a book to learn Korean.

• 살을 빼려고 운동해요.

  sa·rŭl bbæ·ryŏ·go un·dong·hæ·yo.sa·reul bbae·ryeo·go un·dong·hae·yo.sa·rŭl ppae·ryŏ·go un·dong·hae·yo.sa·lul ppay·lye·ko un·tong·hay·yo.

  I exercise in order to lose weight.

03

Expressing Plans with '하다'

A very common way to say "I am planning to" or "I intend to" is to end the sentence with -(으)려고 하다 (-(ŭ)ryŏ·go ha·da-(ŭ)ryŏ·go ha·da-(ŭ)ryŏ·go ha·da-(ŭ)ryŏ·ko ha·ta). This indicates a plan that is not yet a concrete scheduled future, but rather an intention held by the speaker.

• 저는 내일 쉬려고 해요.

  jŏ·nŭn næ·il swi·ryŏ·go hæ·yo.jeo·neun nae·il swi·ryeo·go hae·yo.jŏ·nŭn nae·il shwi·ryŏ·go hae·yo.ce·nun nay·il sui·lye·ko hay·yo.

  I plan to rest tomorrow.

• 주말에 여행을 가려고 해요.

  ju·ma·re yŏ·hæng·ŭl ga·ryŏ·go hæ·yo.ju·ma·re yeo·haeng·eul ga·ryeo·go hae·yo.ju·ma·re yŏ·haeng·ŭl ga·ryŏ·go hae·yo.cu·ma·ley ye·hayng·ul ka·lye·ko hay·yo.

  I intend to go on a trip on the weekend.

04

Important Restrictions

While this grammar point is versatile, it cannot be used when the main sentence is a command (imperative) or a suggestion (propositive). You cannot say "Please do X in order to Y" using this structure.

For example, "Eat this to be healthy" cannot use -(으)려고 (-(ŭ)ryŏ·go-(ŭ)ryŏ·go-(ŭ)ryŏ·go-(ŭ)ryŏ·ko). In those cases, other structures like -(으)러 (-(ŭ)rŏ) (specifically with movement verbs) or -도록 (-do·rog-do·rog-do·rog-to·log) are used, but -(으)려고 (-(ŭ)ryŏ·go-(ŭ)ryŏ·go-(ŭ)ryŏ·go-(ŭ)ryŏ·ko) is strictly for stating facts about intentions.

Additionally, the subject of both clauses must be the same. You cannot do something in order for someone else to do something using this specific pattern.