Intention -으려고

Category
Intermediate Grammar
Keyword #
목적, 의도

TL;DR

  • -으려고 is attached to verb stems to express intention or purpose — "in order to" or "planning to" 🎯
  • Use -려고 after vowel-ending stems and -으려고 after consonant-ending stems 📝
  • It connects two clauses where the first action is done with the intention of achieving the second action 🔗

What is -으려고? 🤔

-으려고 expresses your intention or purpose for doing something! ✨
Think of it as saying "in order to..." or "planning to..." in English 🎯
It shows that you're doing Action A because you want to do Action B 💪

How to Use It 🛠️

Verb stem + -으려고
The conjugation is super simple! 😊
Vowel ending → add -려고
Consonant ending → add -으려고

Examples 💬

→ 친구를 만나려고 카페에 갔어요.
(I went to the cafe in order to meet my friend) ☕
→ 한국어를 배우려고 한국에 왔어요.
(I came to Korea in order to learn Korean) 🇰🇷
→ 돈을 모으려고 아르바이트를 해요.
(I'm doing a part-time job in order to save money) 💰
→ 건강해지려고 운동을 시작했어요.
(I started exercising in order to get healthy) 🏃
→ 영화를 보려고 표를 샀어요.
(I bought a ticket in order to watch the movie) 🎬

Key Points to Remember 🔑

It Shows Your Intention 👤

-으려고 specifically expresses your own intention or plan — not someone else's! 🙋
You're saying what you intend to do 💭

Two Actions, One Purpose 🎯

The structure always involves two actions:
Action 1 (intention) + -으려고 + Action 2 (the actual thing you did) 🔗
The first clause explains why you're doing the second action! 💡

Time Connection ⏰

Both actions should be happening around the same timeframe 📅
The intention and the action are closely linked in time! ⚡

Common Verbs with -으려고 📚

Here are some verbs you'll use all the time with this pattern! 🌟
→ 가다 → 가려고 (in order to go) 🚶
→ 먹다 → 먹으려고 (in order to eat) 🍽️
→ 사다 → 사려고 (in order to buy) 🛍️
→ 보다 → 보려고 (in order to see/watch) 👀
→ 하다 → 하려고 (in order to do) ✅
→ 공부하다 → 공부하려고 (in order to study) 📖

Exceptions & Special Cases ⚠️

With 듣다 (to listen/take a class) 🎧

Even though 듣다 ends in ㄷ (consonant), it becomes:
→ 듣다 → 들으려고 ✨
The ㄷ changes to ㄹ before adding -으려고! 🔄

With 걷다 (to walk) 🚶

Same irregular pattern:
→ 걷다 → 걸으려고 👟
The ㄷ becomes ㄹ! 💫
You've got this! 🎉 Start using -으려고 to talk about your plans and intentions in Korean! 화이팅! 💪✨
 
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using -으려고 or -려고 to express intention. 📝
 
 
  • 저는 한국어를 배우_____ 한국에 왔어요.
      • Answer
      려고
 
 
  • 친구를 만나_____ 카페에 갔어요.
      • Answer
      려고
 
 
  • 건강해지_____ 매일 운동을 해요.
      • Answer
      려고
 
 
  • 돈을 모으_____ 아르바이트를 시작했어요.
      • Answer
      려고
 
 
  • 시험을 잘 보_____ 열심히 공부하고 있어요.
      • Answer
      려고
 
 
  • 요리를 하_____ 재료를 샀어요.
      • Answer
      려고
 
 
  • 사진을 찍_____ 카메라를 가져왔어요.
      • Answer
      려고
 
 
  • 늦지 않_____ 일찍 출발했어요.
      • Answer
      으려고
 
 
  • 한국 문화를 이해하_____ 드라마를 봐요.
      • Answer
      려고
 
 
  • 새로운 경험을 하_____ 여행을 계획하고 있어요.
      • Answer
      려고
Vocabulary
배우다 - to learn
만나다 - to meet
건강해지다 - to become healthy
돈을 모으다 - to save money
아르바이트 - part-time job
시험을 보다 - to take a test
재료 - ingredients
찍다 - to take (a photo)
늦다 - to be late
출발하다 - to depart
이해하다 - to understand
경험 - experience
계획하다 - to plan
Common mistakes
  • ⚠️ Don't forget: Use -으려고 after consonants (먹으려고) and -려고 after vowels (보려고)
  • 🚫 -으려고 shows intention, not actual results - don't confuse it with -아서/어서
  • ❌ The subject must be the same in both clauses - you can't say "나는 공부하려고 동생이 집에 왔어요"
  • 💡 Remember: -으려고 is typically followed by action verbs like 가다, 오다, 하다 in the main clause