If you are studying Korean intention grammar, this lesson is the one to keep. You will learn how -(으)려고 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)려고 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)려고 하다 means
-(으)려고 하다 is intention in motion: I’m trying to / I’m about to. -(으)ㄹ 거예요 is the calendar plan. Intermediate Korean uses 려고 when the action is close or effortful, and 거예요 when you are informing someone of a decision.
How to form it
- Stem + -(으)려고 하다 → 가려고 해요, 먹으려고 해요
- About-to: 나가려고 하는데 전화가 왔어요
- Future plan: stem + -(으)ㄹ 거예요
- Negative: 안 가려고 해요 / 안 갈 거예요
-(으)려고 하다 examples
Use these Korean intention grammar example sentences as a speaking list. Korean first, then pronunciation, then English.
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 내년에 유학을 가려고 해요. | naenyeone yuhageul garyeogo haeyo. | I’m intending to study abroad next year. |
| 지금 나가려고요. | jigeum nagaryeogoyo. | I’m about to head out. |
| 내일은 집에서 쉴 거예요. | naeireun jibeseo swil geoyeyo. | I’m going to rest at home tomorrow. |
| 사진을 찍으려고 했는데 배터리가 없었어요. | sajineul jjigeuryeogo haenneunde baeteoriga eopseosseoyo. | I was going to take a photo, but the battery was dead. |
| 한국어로 말하려고 노력 중이에요. | hangugeoro malharyeogo noryeok jung-ieyo. | I’m trying to speak in Korean. |
| 8시에 출발할 거예요. | yeodeol sie chulbalhal geoyeyo. | We’ll leave at 8. |
When to use it
- Interrupted about-to moments (pair with 는데).
- Goals that still need effort.
- Announcing a decided schedule with 을 거예요.
Common mistakes
These are the traps English speakers hit when they translate word-for-word. Fix the pattern, not just the vocabulary.
Watch-out
❌ 갈려고 해요
✅ 가려고 해요
ㄹ-irregular: 갈다 is different. 가다 → 가려고, not 갈려고. 알다 → 알려고.
Watch-out
❌ 을 거예요 for an attempt that failed
✅ 으려고 했는데
Failed intention wants 으려고 했는데, not a fake future.
Watch-out
❌ 려고요 to mean a locked plan
✅ 을 거예요
려고요 is often immediate/about-to.
Mini dialogue
Read it twice. Second time, cover the English.
| Speaker | Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 지금 바빠요? | jigeum bappayo? | Are you busy now? |
| B | 지금 나가려고 했는데, 왜요? | jigeum nagaryeogo haenneunde, waeyo? | I was about to leave — what’s up? |
| A | 우산 놓고 갔어요. 잠깐만 기다려 줄래요? | usan noko gasseoyo. jamkkanman gidaryeo jullaeyo? | You left your umbrella. Can you wait a second? |
Don’t mix these up
을까 하다 is considering. 으려고 하다 is intending. 을 거예요 is planned. 기로 하다 is decided together or with resolve.
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:
- 저축하려고 카페를 줄였어요.
- 이번 주말에는 청소할 거예요.
- 말하려고 했는데 깜빡했어요.
Lesson summary
- Pattern: -(으)려고 하다
- Search topic: Korean intention grammar
- 려고 = intending/about to. 을 거예요 = I will (plan). Don’t use 갈려고 for 가다.
- Say it out loud on Practice, then come back to Guides if a particle still feels sticky.
Homework
- Write two about-to sentences with 으려고 하는데.
- Write two decided-plan sentences with 을 거예요.
- Fix any 갈려고 in your notes.
Korean intention grammar: quick answers
려고요 as a full sentence?
Yes in speech: 지금 자려고요.
기로 했어요?
That’s “I decided (to).” Stronger than 을 거예요.
Keep going
- Korean Grammar -(으)ㄹ까 하다: How to Say You’re Considering Something
- Korean Grammar -(으)려다가: I Was About To, But…
Want a path, not a single grammar point? Open Learn or browse the rest of this series in Korean intermediate.