Beginner (JSON) Estimated read: 3 mins

-(으)려고 하다

Used to express a plan or intention to do something. It implies that the action has not yet happened but the speaker is thinking of doing it.

Summary

Equivalent

To plan to / To intend to

Also: -(으)ㄹ 예정/계획이다 (Plan to - very formal/written)

Example

I plan to go study abroad in Korea next year.

내년에 한국으로 유학을 가려고 해요.

Grammar rules

  • Conjugate '하다' into the desired tense (해요, 했어요, 할 거예요).
  • When used in the past tense (-(으)려고 했다), it means 'I planned to...
  • (but couldn't/didn't)'.
  • Can also be used to describe non-human subjects about to do an action, meaning 'is about to'.

    비가 오려고 해요. (It looks like it's about to rain.)

Patterns

1

Verbs (Consonant)

Present/Plan · Verb Stem + 으려고 하다

2

Verbs (Vowel/ㄹ)

Present/Plan · Verb Stem (drop ㄹ) + 려고 하다

Example sentences

I plan to go study abroad in Korea next year.

내년에 한국으로 유학을 가려고 해요.

I intend to rest at home on the weekend.

주말에 집에서 쉬려고 합니다.

I planned to meet my friend yesterday, but I was so busy I couldn't.

어제 친구를 만나려고 했지만 바빠서 못 만났어요.

Conversation

A: Do you have any plans for vacation?

방학에 무슨 계획이 있어요?

B: I am planning to visit my relatives.

친척들을 방문하려고 해요.

Practice

Fill in the blank

Select the correct intention pattern.

Learning.

Eating (past failure).