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-으려고Korean connective · TOPIK 1

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TOPIK 1 1급Connectives 연결 어미intention 의도2 senses

One connective with 2 distinct uses in the dictionary. Each is below with its own usage rule and examples.

형태Forms

-으려고-려고으려려

Which one you use is decided by what comes in front of it — see the usage rule under each meaning below.

A connective ending used to indicate that one has an intention or desire of doing a certain act.

어떤 행동을 할 의도나 욕망을 가지고 있음을 나타내는 연결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs ending in a consonant other than ㄹ.

‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

할머니는 책을 읽으려고 안경을 찾고 계신다.

Grandma is looking for her glasses to read a book.

영수는 돈을 찾으려고 은행에 가는 길이다.

Yeongsu is on his way to the bank to withdraw money.

아이는 엄마의 손을 잡으려고 손을 내밀었다.

The child reached out to grab his mother's hand.

대화In conversation

너 이 밤에 안 자고 뭘 하는 거니?

What are you doing up at this hour instead of sleeping?

배가 고파서 라면을 먹으려고 물을 끓이고 있어요.

I'm boiling water to make ramen because I'm hungry.

A connective ending used to indicate the change of a movement or state that is soon to happen.

곧 일어날 움직임이나 상태의 변화를 나타내는 연결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs ending in a consonant other than ㄹ.

‘ㄹ’을 제외한 받침 있는 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

상처에 새살이 돋으려고 한다.

New skin is about to grow over the wound.

냄비의 국이 끓어서 넘으려고 한다.

The soup in the pot is boiling and about to spill over.

날씨가 따뜻해지자 얼음이 녹으려고 한다.

As the weather warmed up, the ice was about to melt.

대화In conversation

벌레한테 물린 건 괜찮아?

Is the bug bite okay?

약을 발랐더니 부어올랐던 게 가라앉으려고 해요.

I applied some medicine, and the swelling is starting to go down.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other connectives you will meet alongside this one.

-고 -go A connective ending used when listing more than two equal facts. TOPIK 1 -어서 -eoseo -아서 · -여서 · -어 A connective ending used to indicate that the preceding event and the following one happened sequentially. TOPIK 1 -으니까 -eunikka -니까 A connective ending used to emphasize that the preceding statement is the cause, reason, or premise for the following statement. TOPIK 1 -으러 -eureo -러 A connective ending used to express the purpose of an action such as going and coming. TOPIK 1 -지만 -jiman A connective ending used to recognize the truth of the preceding statement and add facts that are the opposite of it or different. TOPIK 1

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -으려고 mean in Korean?

-으려고 is a connective introduced at 1급 (TOPIK 1). A connective ending used to indicate that one has an intention or desire of doing a certain act. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

When do you use -으려고?

Attaches after verbs ending in a consonant other than ㄹ. The other shape is -려고, 으려, 려 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -으려고 and -려고?

None in meaning — they are two shapes of the same connective, and which one appears is decided by the sound in front of it, not by what you want to say.

What TOPIK level is -으려고?

1급 — TOPIK 1, beginner. It is one of 45 grammar points at that level.

Definition, usage note, examples and dialogue from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.