Korean -(으)려고: "In Order To" and "Plan To" Explained
Learn -(으)려고 for "in order to", -(으)려고 하다 for "I plan to" and "I was going to", and when to use -(으)러 가다 instead. With clear examples.
IntermediateWant, can, must8 min readTap any Korean word to see it explained
The short answer
Add (으)려고 to a verb to say why you do something: 살을 빼려고 운동해요 (I exercise to lose weight). Add 하다 to say what you plan to do: 내일 쉬려고 해요 (I plan to rest tomorrow). With 가다 and 오다, you can also use (으)러: 밥 먹으러 가요 (I’m going to eat).
English says “to” or “so that” to give a purpose. Korean puts the purpose first and adds an ending to it. You already know the main verb goes last. The purpose comes before it, ending in 려고. Tap the chips to see each part.
1. How to make -(으)려고
Take the verb stem (drop 다). If it ends in a vowel, add 려고. If it ends in a consonant, add 으려고. Stems that end in ㄹ act like vowel stems and just add 려고.
| Dictionary form | + (으)려고 | + (으)러 |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 (go) | 가려고 | 가러 |
| 보다 (see, watch) | 보려고 | 보러 |
| 하다 (do) | 하려고 | 하러 |
| 먹다 (eat) | 먹으려고 | 먹으러 |
| 만들다 (make) | 만들려고 | 만들러 |
| 듣다 (listen) | 들으려고 | 들으러 |
듣다 is irregular: its ㄷ turns into ㄹ before a vowel, just like in 들어요.
2. -(으)려고: in order to
Put the purpose first, then the action you take for it. The person doing both parts is the same.
살을 빼다 is the everyday way to say 'lose weight'.
The tense goes on the last verb only. 려고 itself never takes the past.
3. -(으)려고 하다: plan to, about to
Add 하다 after 려고 and it becomes a whole verb: “to intend to”, “to plan to”. It is softer and less certain than the future (으)ㄹ 거예요.
In the past, 려고 했어요 usually means “I was going to”, and often hints that it didn’t happen.
With things that are not people, like the weather, it means “about to”.
4. -(으)러 가다/오다: go to do
When the main verb is a movement verb, like 가다 (go), 오다 (come) or 다니다 (go regularly), Koreans usually use (으)러. It means “go somewhere to do something”.
5. 려고 or 러?
- (으)러 only goes with movement verbs: 가다, 오다, 다니다, 나가다.
- (으)려고 works with any verb: 배워요, 만들었어요, 걸어요.
- Suggestions and requests (“let’s”, “please”, “shall we”) need (으)러. 먹으러 가요! is fine. 먹으려고 가요 cannot mean “let’s go eat”.
- With 가다 and 오다 in a plain statement, both work. 러 sounds more natural in everyday talk.
Hear it in songs
Songs often sing about what someone tried or meant to do: 잊으려고 했지만 (I tried to forget, but...). Open a song in Hanbok Lyrics and tap a line to see every ending explained. Next, review the future with -(으)ㄹ 거예요, or learn -고 싶다 (want to).
Check yourself
Quick check · 1 of 4먹다 (eat) + (으)려고 = ?
The stem ends in a consonant.
Questions learners ask
What does 려고 mean in Korean?
려고 means "in order to" or "intending to". It shows the purpose of an action: 살을 빼려고 운동해요 (I exercise to lose weight). After a consonant it becomes 으려고: 먹으려고.
What is the difference between 려고 and 러?
러 is only used with movement verbs like 가다 and 오다: 밥 먹으러 가요 (I am going to eat). 려고 works with any verb. Also, 러 can be used in suggestions and requests (먹으러 갑시다), but 려고 cannot.
What does 려고 하다 mean?
It means "to plan to" or "to be going to": 내일 쉬려고 해요 (I plan to rest tomorrow). In the past, 려고 했어요 often means "I was going to, but it didn't happen."
Is 갈려고 correct?
You will hear 갈려고 and 먹을려고 a lot in speech, but they are not standard spelling. The correct forms are 가려고 and 먹으려고. Only verbs whose stem ends in ㄹ, like 만들다, get 려고 right after the ㄹ: 만들려고.