If you are studying Korean grammar eulkka hada, this lesson is the one to keep. You will learn how -(으)ㄹ까 하다 works in real conversation, when to use it, and the mistakes English speakers make first. This is a Korean intermediate grammar guide with examples, romanization, and a five-minute speaking drill.
By the end you should be able to hear -(으)ㄹ까 하다 in dramas and K-talk, then reuse it in your own sentences. Read once. Say the examples out loud. Then drill the same lines on Practice.
What -(으)ㄹ까 하다 means
-(으)ㄹ까 하다 means you are considering an action, not locking it in. English “I might…” or “I’m thinking of…” is the mood. It is the grammar you want for moving, job changes, and weekend plans that are still mushy.
Vowel-final stems take -ㄹ까 하다 (갈까 하다). Consonant-final stems take -을까 하다 (먹을까 하다).
How to form it
- Verb stem + -(으)ㄹ까 하다
- Present: 이사를 할까 해요
- Past consideration: 이사를 할까 했어요 (I was thinking of moving)
- Negative: 안 갈까 해요 / 그만둘까 해요
-(으)ㄹ까 하다 examples
Use these Korean grammar eulkka hada example sentences as a speaking list. Korean first, then pronunciation, then English.
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 이번에 이사를 할까 해요. | ibeone isareul halkka haeyo. | I’m thinking of moving this time. |
| 주말에 부산에 갈까 해요. | jumare busane galkka haeyo. | I might go to Busan this weekend. |
| 직장을 바꿀까 하고 있어요. | jikjangeul bakkulkka hago isseoyo. | I’m considering changing jobs. |
| 저녁은 그냥 해 먹을까 해요. | jeonyeogeun geunyang hae meogeulkka haeyo. | I might just cook dinner. |
| 한국어 수업을 더 들을까 했어요. | hangugeo sueobeul deo deureulkka haesseoyo. | I was thinking of taking more Korean class. |
| 오늘은 일찍 잘까 해요. | oneureun iljjik jalkka haeyo. | I’m thinking of going to bed early today. |
When to use it
- The plan is 60%, not 100%.
- You do not want pressure: 갈까 해요 is softer than 갈 거예요.
- You are talking through options with a friend.
Common mistakes
These are the traps English speakers hit when they translate word-for-word. Fix the pattern, not just the vocabulary.
Watch-out
❌ 내일 갈까 해요. (when the ticket is bought)
✅ 내일 갈 거예요.
If it is decided, use 을 거예요 or 기로 했어요. 을까 하다 is for undecided.
Watch-out
❌ 갈까요 하다
✅ 갈까 하다
을까요? is a question to someone else. 을까 하다 is your inner maybe.
Watch-out
❌ Using it with adjectives a lot
✅ Prefer verbs of action
예쁠까 해요 is odd. 머리를 자를까 해요 is natural.
Mini dialogue
Read it twice. Second time, cover the English.
| Speaker | Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 이번 달에 뭐 할 거예요? | ibeon dare mwo hal geoyeyo? | What are you doing this month? |
| B | 아직 모르겠어요. 이사를 할까 해요. | ajik moreugesseoyo. isareul halkka haeyo. | I’m not sure yet. I’m thinking of moving. |
| A | 그래요? 어디로요? | geuraeyo? eodiroyo? | Oh? Where to? |
| B | 회사 근처로 갈까 해요. 아직 결정은 안 했어요. | hoesa geuncheoro galkka haeyo. ajik gyeoljeongeun an haesseoyo. | Maybe near the office. I haven’t decided. |
Don’t mix these up
고 싶어요 is desire. 을 거예요 is a plan you are treating as set. 을까 하다 sits between them: desire is not required, commitment is not claimed.
Five-minute Korean speaking practice
Korean speaking practice beats extra grammar notes. Do this once today, then again tomorrow without looking.
- Read each example slowly, Korean only.
- Say it at natural speed. Record yourself if you can.
- Cover the Korean and rebuild the sentence from English.
- Swap in your own details: your job, your city, your weekend.
Starter lines for today:
- 이번 주말에 뭐 할까 해요?
- 저는 집에서 쉴까 해요.
- 운동을 시작할까 해요.
Lesson summary
- Pattern: -(으)ㄹ까 하다
- Search topic: Korean grammar eulkka hada
- Use -(으)ㄹ까 하다 when the plan is still being weighed.
- Say it out loud on Practice, then come back to Guides if a particle still feels sticky.
Homework
- Write four 을까 해요 sentences about this month.
- Change two of them into 을 거예요 and feel the certainty jump.
- Ask a friend 뭐 할까 해요? instead of 뭐 할 거예요?
Korean grammar eulkka hada: quick answers
Is 을까 하다 the same as 을까요?
No. 을까요? asks the other person. 을까 하다 reports your own consideration.
Can I use it in TOPIK writing?
Yes, for personal essays about plans. In formal reports, prefer 할 예정이다.
Keep going
Want a path, not a single grammar point? Open Learn or browse the rest of this series in Korean intermediate.