TL;DR
- -을까 하다 expresses that you're considering or thinking about doing something 🤔
- Attach -을까 하다 to verb stems: 먹다 → 먹을까 하다, 가다 → 갈까 하다 ✨
- It's softer and more tentative than directly stating a plan—like saying "I'm thinking of..." instead of "I will..." 💭
What does -을까 하다 mean? 🧐
This grammar pattern shows you're considering doing something, but you haven't fully decided yet 💡
It's like the difference between:
- "I'm thinking about getting coffee" ☕ (tentative, considering)
- "I'm going to get coffee" (decided)
The -을까 하다 form is the first one! 🎯
How to form it 🔨
It's super straightforward! Just add it to verb stems 🌟
Verb stem + -을까 하다
If the stem ends in a vowel → add -ㄹ까 하다
→ 가다 → 갈까 하다 (thinking about going)
→ 자다 → 잘까 하다 (thinking about sleeping)
→ 마시다 → 마실까 하다 (thinking about drinking)
If the stem ends in a consonant → add -을까 하다
→ 먹다 → 먹을까 하다 (thinking about eating)
→ 입다 → 입을까 하다 (thinking about wearing)
→ 읽다 → 읽을까 하다 (thinking about reading)
When do we use it? 🕐
Use -을까 하다 when you're considering or contemplating an action but haven't committed yet 🤷♀️
It sounds more polite and less direct than stating a firm plan! 💝
→ 내일 친구를 만날까 해요 (I'm thinking about meeting a friend tomorrow)
→ 다음 주에 여행을 갈까 해요 (I'm considering traveling next week)
→ 저녁에 영화를 볼까 해요 (I'm thinking about watching a movie tonight)
→ 한국어 수업을 들을까 해요 (I'm considering taking a Korean class)
Nuance tip 🎨
This pattern feels humble and non-committal 🌸
It's perfect when you want to:
- Share a tentative plan without sounding too definite 📋
- Ask for someone's opinion indirectly (they might respond with advice!) 👂
- Sound less pushy or assertive 🙏
Compare these:
→ 내일 머리를 자를 거예요 (I'm going to cut my hair tomorrow) ← decided! ✂️
→ 내일 머리를 자를까 해요 (I'm thinking about cutting my hair tomorrow) ← still considering 💇♀️
Exceptions ⚠️
ㄹ irregular verbs 🌀
For verbs with stems ending in ㄹ (like 만들다, 살다, 놀다), drop the ㄹ and add -ㄹ까 하다
→ 만들다 → 만들까 하다 (NOT 만들ㄹ까 하다)
→ 살다 → 살까 하다
→ 놀다 → 놀까 하다
하다 verbs 💼
Just attach -ㄹ까 하다 to the 하다 part!
→ 공부하다 → 공부할까 하다
→ 요리하다 → 요리할까 하다
→ 운동하다 → 운동할까 하다
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using -을까 하다/-ㄹ까 하다 to express consideration or contemplation. 💭
- 주말에 부산에 __. (가다)
Answer
갈까 해요 / 갈까 합니다
- 오늘 저녁은 집에서 __. (먹다)
Answer
먹을까 해요 / 먹을까 합니다
- 이번 학기에 중국어 수업을 __. (듣다)
Answer
들을까 해요 / 들을까 합니다
- 머리를 짧게 __. (자르다)
Answer
자를까 해요 / 자를까 합니다
- 다음 달부터 운동을 __. (시작하다)
Answer
시작할까 해요 / 시작할까 합니다
- 내일 회사에 __. (안 가다)
Answer
안 갈까 해요 / 안 갈까 합니다
- 친구 생일 선물로 책을 __. (사다)
Answer
살까 해요 / 살까 합니다
- 이 영화는 재미없어서 __. (안 보다)
Answer
안 볼까 해요 / 안 볼까 합니다
- 방학 때 아르바이트를 __. (하다)
Answer
할까 해요 / 할까 합니다
- 이사를 __. (준비하다)
Answer
준비할까 해요 / 준비할까 합니다
Vocabulary
주말 - weekend
부산 - Busan
가다 - to go
저녁 - dinner, evening
집 - home
먹다 - to eat
학기 - semester
중국어 - Chinese language
수업 - class
듣다 - to take (a class)
머리 - hair
짧게 - short
자르다 - to cut
다음 달 - next month
운동 - exercise
시작하다 - to start
회사 - company
생일 선물 - birthday gift
책 - book
사다 - to buy
영화 - movie
재미없다 - to be boring
보다 - to watch
방학 - vacation
아르바이트 - part-time job
하다 - to do
이사 - moving (house)
준비하다 - to prepare
Common mistakes
- 🚫 Don't confuse -을까 하다 with -을까요. The former expresses your own consideration, while the latter asks for someone else's opinion or makes a suggestion.
- 🚫 Remember to use -ㄹ까 하다 after verb stems ending in a vowel or ㄹ, and -을까 하다 after stems ending in a consonant.
- 🚫 This pattern is only used with verbs, not adjectives. Don't try to use it to express "I'm thinking of being tired" - that doesn't work!
- 🚫 When using the negative, place 안 or -지 않다 before the verb, not after 하다. It's "안 갈까 해요," not "갈까 안 해요."