🟠 Talking About Hopes and Plans in Korean (-려고 하다) – Intermediate Level (TOPIK 3–4)

Ever wanted to say, “I plan to study Korean every morning” or “I’m hoping to travel to Busan next month”? In Korean, -려고 하다 is your go-to grammar for expressing plans, intentions, and even near-future actions. Let’s dive into how to use it naturally and sound like a native!

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

Express your future plans and intentions using -려고 하다
Combine it with verbs and time expressions naturally
Differentiate between hopeful plans vs. firm decisions

💡 Key Concept

The grammar -려고 하다 is used to indicate a speaker’s **intention** or **plan** to do something. It can translate to “I plan to…,” “I intend to…,” or “I’m about to…”.

Verb stem + -려고 하다 → 미래 의도 표현
Often combined with time words (내일, 이번 주말, 곧)

Note: It can also mean “about to do something,” especially in present continuous situations.

📝 Sentence Patterns

Pattern: [Verb Stem + 려고 하다] + Additional info

내일 친구를 만나려고 해요.
I plan to meet a friend tomorrow.
한국어를 더 열심히 공부하려고 합니다.
I intend to study Korean harder.
곧 집에 가려고 해요.
I’m about to go home soon.

🗣 Practice Dialogue

A: 주말에 뭐 할 거예요?
What are you going to do this weekend?

B: 부모님을 보려고 시골에 가려고 해요.
I plan to visit my parents in the countryside.

A: 와, 좋네요! 저도 여행 가려고 해요.
Wow, nice! I’m planning to go on a trip too.

🧩 Teacher’s Tips

You might be thinking: “When do I use -려고 하다 instead of -을 거예요 (will)?” Here’s my tip: use -려고 하다 when it’s **your personal plan or intention** (like “I’m planning to do this”). When teaching, I always encourage students to add a time word — it makes the sentence clearer, like “내일 공부하려고 해요” (I plan to study tomorrow). Try making 3 sentences about your week’s plan — it’s fun and great practice!

🗯 Say what?

오늘의 한국어 표현 – “빡세다”
This slang means something is “really tough or intense.” Example: “이번 시험 빡세!” = “This test is intense!” It’s informal and mostly used among young people or in casual contexts.

🎯 Pop Quiz

1. Translate: “I plan to study Korean tomorrow.”

Answer

내일 한국어를 공부하려고 해요.

2. How do you say “I’m about to leave home now” in Korean?

Answer

지금 집에서 나가려고 해요.

3. Translate: “We intend to move next year.”

Answer

내년에 이사하려고 해요.

🌏 Did You Know?

Did you know South Korea has one of the fastest internet speeds in the world? According to 2024 global rankings, Korea’s average broadband speed is consistently in the top three — making online learning and streaming super convenient!

📦 Final Thoughts

Using -려고 하다 helps you share your future plans more naturally and confidently. Next time someone asks what you’re doing this weekend, try answering with this pattern — it’ll sound polite yet casual.

If this post was helpful, please bookmark, share, or comment — your feedback keeps me motivated to create more lessons! 🙏

📘 More Posts You’ll Find Helpful!

❶ Talking About Food You Like – Beginner Level

❷ How to Commute in Korea – Intermediate Level

❸ Social Justice Topics in Korean – Advanced Level

Keep exploring more posts like these and grow your Korean skills step by step!

📚 Want to practice making future plans in Korean conversation?
Book a lesson with me on italki and learn how to use -려고 하다 naturally!

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About the Author

I’m an office worker with 20 years of experience who enjoys studying English and Japanese. Through this blog, I share simple guides to help you learn Korean and understand Korean culture better.