려고(ryeo-go, ryeogo)
Expresses intention or purpose to do something
When to use
future intention, expressing purpose, formal contexts
The nuance
Attach to verb stem to indicate future intention or purpose; mainly used in written or formal contexts.
려고 vs 러 vs 고 싶어서: Comparing Intentions and Reasons
려고 (ryeo-go, ryeogo) · 러 (reo) · 고 싶어서 (gosip-eo-seo, gosipeoseo)
려고, 러, and 고 싶어서 all express intention or reason, but differ in usage and grammatical connection.
Word-by-word breakdown
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
러(reo)
Indicates going somewhere with the purpose to perform an action
When to use
purpose of going somewhere, combined with movement verbs, colloquial
The nuance
Attach to verb stem to indicate purpose of going/coming somewhere; used with movement verbs like ‘가다’, ‘오다’.
고 싶어서(gosip-eo-seo, gosipeoseo)
Expresses reason based on desire or wish to do something
When to use
reason from desire, emotional cause, colloquial
The nuance
Attach to verb stem with ‘-고 싶다’ plus ‘-어서/아서’ to express reason based on desire; used when emotion or wish is cause.
Real-world examples
시험 공부하려고 도서관에 갔어요.
si-heom gong-bu-ha-ryeo-go do-seo-gwan-e gass-eo-yo., si heom gong bu ha ryeo go do seo gwan e gass eo yo.
‘려고’ properly expresses future intention or purpose.
시험 공부러 도서관에 갔어요.
si-heom gong-bu-reo do-seo-gwan-e gass-eo-yo., si heom gong bu reo do seo gwan e gass eo yo.
‘러’ must follow verb stem and be used with movement verbs; ‘공부러’ is incorrect, correct form is ‘공부하러’.
친구를 만나고 싶어서 전화를 했어요.
chin-gu-reul man-na-go sip-eo-seo jeon-hwa-reul haess-eo-yo., chin gu reul man na go sip eo seo jeon hwa reul haess eo yo.
‘고 싶어서’ correctly expresses reason based on desire.
친구를 만나려고 전화를 했어요.
chin-gu-reul man-na-ryeo-go jeon-hwa-reul haess-eo-yo., chin gu reul man na ryeo go jeon hwa reul haess eo yo.
‘려고’ properly indicates intention or purpose.
영화를 보러 집에 갔어요.
yeong-hwa-reul bo-reo jip-e gass-eo-yo., yeong hwa reul bo reo jip e gass eo yo.
‘러’ correctly indicates purpose of going somewhere.
영화를 보려고 집에 갔어요.
yeong-hwa-reul bo-ryeo-go jip-e gass-eo-yo., yeong hwa reul bo ryeo go jip e gass eo yo.
‘려고’ expresses purpose but does not imply movement.
영화를 보고 싶어서 집에 갔어요.
yeong-hwa-reul bo-go sip-eo-seo jip-e gass-eo-yo., yeong hwa reul bo go sip eo seo jip e gass eo yo.
‘고 싶어서’ expresses reason based on desire.
영화를 보고 싶으려고 집에 갔어요.
yeong-hwa-reul bo-go sip-eu-ryeo-go jip-e gass-eo-yo., yeong hwa reul bo go sip eu ryeo go jip e gass eo yo.
‘고 싶으려고’ is ungrammatical; correct form is ‘고 싶어서’.
Quick quiz
Which expression is appropriate to indicate purpose of going somewhere?
어떤 표현이 장소 이동 목적을 나타낼 때 적절한가요?(eo-tteonpyo-hyeon-ijang-soi-dongmok-jeok-eulna-ta-naelttaejeok-jeol-han-ga-yo?, eotteonpyohyeonijangsoidongmokjeokeulnatanaelttaejeokjeolhangayo?)What kind of reason does ‘~고 싶어서’ mainly express?
‘~하고 싶어서’는 주로 어떤 이유를 나타내나요?(‘~ha-gosip-eo-seo’neunju-roeo-tteoni-yu-reulna-ta-nae-na-yo?, ‘~hagosipeoseo’neunjuroeotteoniyureulnatanaenayo?)Which expression is best for expressing future intention or purpose?
미래 의도나 목적을 표현할 때 가장 적절한 표현은?(mi-raeui-do-namok-jeok-eulpyo-hyeon-halttaega-jangjeok-jeol-hanpyo-hyeon-eun?, miraeuidonamokjeokeulpyohyeonhalttaegajangjeokjeolhanpyohyeoneun?)
More comparisons to explore
- 하려고 vs 려고: Differences in Expressing Intent
- 묻다 vs 여쭈다: Politeness and Situational Use in Asking
- 매우 vs 조금: Understanding Intensity Differences
- 경어 vs 반말: The Boundary Between Respect and Familiarity
- 주격 vs 목적격 vs 보격: Distinguishing Sentence Roles
- 거의 vs 대체로 vs 웬만큼: Understanding Subtle Differences
- 피동 vs 사동: Who is the Subject?
- 즐겨찾기 vs 최근: Key Differences Between 즐겨찾기 and 최근