Nouns: Instrumental Case Marker '로'

01

Formation Rules

The choice between 로 (rororolo) and 으로 (ŭ·roeu·roŭ·rou·lo) depends on the final letter of the noun it attaches to.

1. Nouns ending in a vowel

Add 로 (rororolo).

• 차 (chʰachach'acha) - car + 로 (rororolo) = 차로 (chʰa·rocha·roch'a·rocha·lo)
• 기차 (ki·chʰagi·chaki·ch'aki·cha) - train + 로 (rororolo) = 기차로 (ki·chʰa·rogi·cha·roki·ch'a·roki·cha·lo)

2. Nouns ending in a consonant (batchim)

Add 으로 (ŭ·roeu·roŭ·rou·lo). This extra vowel makes pronunciation smoother.

• 트럭 (tʰŭ·rŏkteu·reokt'ŭ·rŏkthu·lek) - truck + 으로 (ŭ·roeu·roŭ·rou·lo) = 트럭으로 (tʰŭ·rŏ·gŭ·roteu·reo·geu·rot'ŭ·rŏ·gŭ·rothu·le·ku·lo)
• 펜 (pʰenpenp'enpheyn) - pen + 으로 (ŭ·roeu·roŭ·rou·lo) = 펜으로 (pʰe·nŭ·rope·neu·rop'e·nŭ·rophey·nu·lo)

3. The 'ㄹ' Exception

If a noun ends in the consonant ㄹ (l), do not add the extra vowel. Treat it like a vowel ending and simply add 로 (rororolo).

• 지하철 (chi·ha·chʰŏlji·ha·cheolchi·ha·ch'ŏlci·ha·chel) - subway + 로 (rororolo) = 지하철로 (chi·ha·chʰŏl·loji·ha·cheol·lochi·ha·ch'ŏl·loci·ha·chel·lo) (NOT 지하철으로 (chi·ha·chʰŏ·rŭ·roji·ha·cheo·reu·rochi·ha·ch'ŏ·rŭ·roci·ha·che·lu·lo))
• 칼 (kʰalkalk'alkhal) - knife + 로 (rororolo) = 칼로 (kʰal·lokal·lok'al·lokhal·lo)

02

Means of Transport and Tools

This is the most common usage. It translates to by, with, or using in English. It marks the instrument used to carry out the action.

Transportation

Use this to say how you travel.

• 택시로 가요.

  tʰæk·si·ro ka·yo.taek·si·ro ga·yo.t'aek·si·ro ka·yo.thayk·si·lo ka·yo.

  I go by taxi.

• 서울에 기차로 갔어요.

  sŏ·u·re ki·chʰa·ro kass·ŏ·yo.seo·u·re gi·cha·ro gass·eo·yo.sŏ·u·re ki·ch'a·ro kass·ŏ·yo.se·u·ley ki·cha·lo kass·e·yo.

  I went to Seoul by train.

• 지하철로 오세요.

  chi·ha·chʰŏl·lo o·se·yo.ji·ha·cheol·lo o·se·yo.chi·ha·ch'ŏl·lo o·se·yo.ci·ha·chel·lo o·sey·yo.

  Please come by subway.

Tools and Instruments

Use this to describe the object used to perform a task.

• 연필로 쓰세요.

  yŏn·pʰi·llo ssŭ·se·yo.yeon·pi·llo sseu·se·yo.yŏn·p'i·llo ssŭ·se·yo.yen·phi·llo ssu·sey·yo.

  Please write with a pencil.

• 이것을 카드로 샀어요.

  i·gŏ·sŭl kʰa·dŭ·ro sass·ŏ·yo.i·geo·seul ka·deu·ro sass·eo·yo.i·gŏ·sŭl k'a·dŭ·ro sass·ŏ·yo.i·ke·sul kha·tu·lo sass·e·yo.

  I bought this with a card.

Language

When speaking about languages, this particle indicates which language is being used as the "tool" of communication.

• 한국어로 말해요.

  han·gu·gŏ·ro mal·hæ·yo.han·gu·geo·ro mal·hae·yo.han·gu·gŏ·ro mal·hae·yo.han·ku·ke·lo mal·hay·yo.

  Speak in Korean.

• 영어로 할 수 있어요?

  yŏng·ŏ·ro hal su iss·ŏ·yo?yeong·eo·ro hal su iss·eo·yo?yŏng·ŏ·ro hal su iss·ŏ·yo?yeng·e·lo hal su iss·e·yo?

  Can you do it in English?

03

Direction and Destination

When used with motion verbs like "to go" or "to come", (으)로 ((ŭ)ro) indicates the direction towards a place. While the particle 에 (eeeey) focuses on the specific destination, (으)로 ((ŭ)ro) focuses more on the direction of movement.

• 오른쪽으로 가세요.

  o·rŭn·jjok·ŭ·ro ka·se·yo.o·reun·jjok·eu·ro ga·se·yo.o·rŭn·tchok·ŭ·ro ka·se·yo.o·lun·ccok·u·lo ka·sey·yo.

  Please go to the right.

• 뒤로 가!

  dwi·ro ga!dwi·ro ga!dwi·ro ga!tui·lo ka!

  Go back! (Go towards the back)

• 어디로 가요?

  ŏ·di·ro ka·yo?eo·di·ro ga·yo?ŏ·di·ro ka·yo?e·ti·lo ka·yo?

  Where are you going? (In which direction are you going?)

04

Ingredients and Materials

This particle is used to describe what something is made of or from. It corresponds to made of or made with.

• 나무로 만들었어요.

  na·mu·ro man·dŭ·rŏss·ŏ·yo.na·mu·ro man·deu·reoss·eo·yo.na·mu·ro man·dŭ·rŏss·ŏ·yo.na·mu·lo man·tu·less·e·yo.

  It was made of wood.

• 밀가루로 빵을 만들어요.

  mil·ga·ru·ro ppang·ŭl man·dŭ·rŏ·yo.mil·ga·ru·ro bbang·eul man·deu·reo·yo.mil·ga·ru·ro ppang·ŭl man·dŭ·rŏ·yo.mil·ka·lu·lo ppang·ul man·tu·le·yo.

  I make bread with flour.

• 우유로 치즈를 만들어요.

  u·yu·ro chʰi·jŭ·rŭl man·dŭ·rŏ·yo.u·yu·ro chi·jeu·reul man·deu·reo·yo.u·yu·ro ch'i·jŭ·rŭl man·dŭ·rŏ·yo.u·yu·lo chi·cu·lul man·tu·le·yo.

  I make cheese from milk.

05

Status, Role, or Identity

Finally, (으)로 ((ŭ)ro) can express the role or capacity in which someone acts. It translates to as in English. This is often used when talking about professions or the function of an object.

• 가수로 일해요.

  ka·su·ro il·hæ·yo.ga·su·ro il·hae·yo.ka·su·ro il·hae·yo.ka·su·lo il·hay·yo.

  He works as a singer.

• 선물로 줬어요.

  sŏn·mul·lo jwŏss·ŏ·yo.seon·mul·lo jwŏss·eo·yo.sŏn·mul·lo jwŏss·ŏ·yo.sen·mul·lo jwŏss·e·yo.

  I gave it as a gift.

• 친구로 지내요.

  chʰin·gu·ro chi·næ·yo.chin·gu·ro ji·nae·yo.ch'in·gu·ro chi·nae·yo.chin·ku·lo ci·nay·yo.

  Let's stay as friends.