jabi-으려고 / -려고
-으려고: Intending To / In Order To
Intending to / in order to — a connective that marks the speaker's planned action or aim.
How to form it
| When | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Stem ends in a consonant (not ㄹ) | -으려고 | 먹다 → 먹으려고 / 앉다 → 앉으려고 |
| Stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ | -려고 | 가다 → 가려고 / 살다 → 살려고 |
| With 하다 (common) | -으려고 하다 / -려고 하다 | 먹으려고 해요 / 가려고 해요 |
-으려고 / -려고 marks what you intend to do.
우리말샘 describes -으려고 after consonant verb stems (excluding ㄹ) as a connective for intention or desire. Classroom Korean pairs it with -려고 after vowel stems and ㄹ stems.
Forms
| Stem ends with | Shape | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Consonant (not ㄹ) | -으려고 | 먹으려고, 읽으려고 |
| Vowel | -려고 | 가려고, 사려고 |
| ㄹ | -려고 (ㄹ stays) | 살려고, 놀려고 |
한국어를 배우려고 해요. I’m intending to learn Korean.
표를 사려고 왔어요. I came to buy tickets.
일찍 자려고요. I’m trying to sleep early.The everyday frame -으려고 하다 is enough to start speaking.
Intention vs desire
| Form | Feel | |
|---|---|---|
| Desire | -고 싶다 → -고 싶다 | I want to |
| Intention | -으려고 하다 | I mean to / I’m going to |
You can want something without planning it. -으려고 leans toward plan and aim.
Not -으러
Learners mix this with -으러, the purpose ending that loves 가다 / 오다.
| Typical use | |
|---|---|
| -으려고 | Intention generally: 먹으려고 해요 |
| -으러 | Purpose of movement: 먹으러 가요 (later slot) |
If there is no coming/going in the idea, do not force -으러.
Same-unit partner
-기 전에 orders time (before doing). -으려고 marks aim (in order to / intending to). Travel talk needs both: Before I go home, I’m going to travel — -기 전에 for the clock, -으려고 for the plan.
When intention becomes a condition
-으려고 states the aim. When that aim is the if-clause for advice or a requirement (if you mean to…), Korean switches to -으려면: 가려고 해요 vs 가려면 일찍 출발하세요.
Do not confuse it with
Taught alongside this
In the Sejong course this appears in 고향에 가기 전에 여행을 할 거예요 — Sejong Korean 1, Unit 14, on the theme of 여행. These come with it:
Words used above
Quick check
No sign-up, no score saved — just see if it stuck.
1. What is 먹다 in this pattern?
2. What is 가다 in this pattern?
3. How is -으려고 different from -고 싶다?
Common questions
Is -으려고 the same as -으러?
No. -으러 (Sejong slot later) is the purpose marker that typically pairs with coming and going. -으려고 is broader intention — often with 하다: 먹으려고 해요.
Can adjectives take -으려고?
This page is for action verbs and intention. Do not build *예쁘려고 as a beginner pattern for 'in order to be pretty' — use other later tools for that meaning.
Do I need 하다 after -으려고?
Very common: 가려고 해요, 사려고요. You will also hear -으려고 linking into another verb in longer plans. Start with -으려고 하다.
What does the dictionary say about -으려고?
우리말샘 lists -으려고 after consonant verb stems (ㄹ excluded) for intention or desire, and related senses. Vowel/ㄹ allomorph -려고 is the classroom pair you need beside it.