The Korean grammar pattern ‘-고자 하다’ is used to express intention or purpose in a polite and formal way. It often appears in formal speech, writing, or announcements. In this post, you’ll learn how to use ‘-고자 하다’ correctly, with clear examples, usage tips, and common mistakes. Mastering this structure will help you speak more naturally in formal and professional contexts.
Contents
1. Definition
‘-고자 하다’ is used to express one’s intention or purpose to do something, similar to “intend to”, “plan to”, or “want to” in English.
It is often used in formal or written Korean, such as in speeches, announcements, and essays.
2. Form (Structure)
Verb stem + -고자 하다
- Attach ‘-고자 하다’ to the verb stem.
- Do not use with adjectives.
- Used in both present and past tense.
- Often appears in formal and written Korean.
Conjugation Table
| Tense | Structure | Example | Note |
| Present | Verb stem + -고자 합니다 | 공부하고자 합니다 (I intend to study.) | Most commonly used; standard in formal and written contexts. |
| Past | Verb stem + -고자 했습니다 | 배우고자 했습니다 (I intended to learn.) | Used to express past intentions; appears in formal and written contexts. |
| Future | Verb stem + -고자 할 것입니다 | 떠나고자 할 것입니다 (I will intend to leave.) | Very rarely used; appears almost exclusively in very formal or written statements. |
3. Meaning & Usage
1. To Express an Intention or Plan Politely
Use this pattern when talking about what you plan to do in a polite or formal way.
- 한국 문화를 더 잘 이해하고자 한국어를 배우고 있습니다.
(I am learning Korean to better understand Korean culture.) - 이번 프로젝트를 성공적으로 마치고자 열심히 준비했습니다.
(I prepared hard to complete this project successfully.) - 건강을 위해 매일 운동하고자 합니다.
(I intend to exercise every day for my health.) - 회사를 그만두고자 합니다.
(I intend to quit my job.) - 유학을 가고자 영어를 공부하고 있습니다.
(I am studying English because I want to study abroad.)
2. To Explain the Purpose of an Action
It can be used to explain the reason or purpose behind an action.
- 새로운 기술을 배우고자 교육을 신청했습니다.
(I registered for the training to learn new skills.) - 손님들에게 더 나은 서비스를 제공하고자 직원 교육을 강화했습니다.
(We enhanced staff training to provide better service to customers.) - 문제를 해결하고자 전문가의 도움을 받았습니다.
(I got help from an expert to solve the problem.) - 고객 만족도를 높이고자 다양한 이벤트를 준비했습니다.
(We prepared various events to improve customer satisfaction.) - 환경을 보호하고자 일회용품 사용을 줄이고 있습니다.
(We are reducing the use of disposables to protect the environment.)
3. In Formal Writing or Speeches
This structure is common in speeches, essays, and official notices.
- 본 연구는 한국인의 언어 습관을 분석하고자 합니다.
(This study aims to analyze Koreans’ language habits.) - 이번 발표는 최신 기술 동향을 소개하고자 준비되었습니다.
(This presentation was prepared to introduce recent technology trends.) - 정책의 효과를 검토하고자 자료를 수집하고 있습니다.
(We are collecting data to examine the effectiveness of the policy.) - 이 글은 외국인을 위한 여행 정보를 제공하고자 작성되었습니다.
(This article was written to provide travel information for foreigners.) - 본 행사는 전통문화를 알리고자 기획되었습니다.
(This event was planned to promote traditional culture.)
4. Key Points to Remember
- ‘-고자 하다’ is used only with verbs, not adjectives.
- It’s commonly used in formal or written contexts.
- Avoid using it in very casual conversations.
- It can sound polite and goal-oriented, especially in professional or academic settings.
5. Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks using the correct form of ‘-고자 하다’.
- 저는 한국에서 __________ 합니다.
(I plan to work in Korea.) - 건강을 __________ 매일 걷고 있어요.
(I’m walking every day to stay healthy.) - 우리는 손님 만족을 __________ 서비스를 개선했습니다.
(We improved the service to increase customer satisfaction.) - 이 자료는 학생들에게 도움을 __________ 작성되었습니다.
(This material was written to help students.) - 작가의 생각을 __________ 여러 번 책을 읽었어요.
(I read the book several times to understand the writer’s thoughts.) - 회의 내용을 __________ 메모를 했어요.
(I took notes to record the meeting content.) - 문제를 빨리 __________ 팀과 논의했어요.
(I discussed with the team to solve the problem quickly.) - 외국인을 위한 안내서를 __________ 하고 있습니다.
(We are planning to create a guidebook for foreigners.) - 그는 경험을 __________ 다양한 아르바이트를 했어요.
(He did various part-time jobs to gain experience.) - 이 행사는 지역 문화를 알리__________ 기획되었습니다.
(This event was planned to promote the local culture.)
6. Answers
- 일하고자
- 지키고자
- 높이고자
- 주고자
- 이해고자
- 기록하고자
- 해결하고자
- 만들고자
- 쌓고자
- 알리고자
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Using ‘-고자 하다’ with adjectives
Incorrect: 행복하고자 합니다. ❌ (I want to be happy.)
Correct: 행복해지고자 합니다. ✅ (I want to become happy.)
💡 Tip: ‘-고자 하다’ can only be used with verbs. Use adjectives only when they are changed into verb-like expressions.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Using it in casual speech
Incorrect: 나 지금 영화 보려고 고자 해. ❌ (I’m going to watch a movie now.)
Correct: 나 지금 영화 보려고 해. ✅ (I’m going to watch a movie now.)
💡 Tip: ‘-고자 하다’ sounds formal and is usually used in formal or written contexts. Use more casual forms like ‘려고 해’ in everyday conversation.
⚠️ Mistake 3: Using it to describe past experiences instead of intention
Incorrect: 어제 친구를 만나고자 했어요. ❌ (I intended to meet my friend yesterday.)
Correct: 어제 친구를 만나려고 했어요. ✅ (I was going to meet my friend yesterday.)
💡 Tip: ‘-고자 하다’ is rarely used for past intentions in spoken Korean. Use ‘-(으)려고 하다’ for past intentions in everyday conversation.
‘-고자 하다’ is a useful Korean grammar pattern for expressing purpose and intention in a formal or polite way. It’s especially common in writing, speeches, and formal announcements. Understanding when and how to use it correctly will help you sound more professional and clear in your Korean communication.
8. Korean Grammar Patterns to Express Intention, Plan, and Purpose
Click below 👇👇👇 to explore key Korean grammar patterns for expressing intention and plan! 📚
| Pattern | Category | Description |
| -고자 하다 | Intention / Plan | Expression of intention, plan, or purpose (formal/written) |
| -(으)려고 하다 | Intention / Plan | Expression of intention or plan (casual/spoken) |
| -ㄹ/을 생각이다 | Intention / Plan | Expression of intention or plan (with some uncertainty) |
| -겠(다)/겠어요 | Intention / Plan | Expression of strong intention, will, or promise (formal/polite) |
| -기로 하다 | Plan | Expression of decision or determination |
| -ㄹ/을 예정이다 | Plan | Expression of scheduled or planned action |
| -(으)ㄹ 거예요 | Plan | Expression of future plan or intention (casual, commonly used in conversation) |
| -하려는 중이다 / 생각하고 있다 | Plan | Expression of an intention or plan in progress (e.g., “in the process of planning/thinking”) |
9. Korean Grammar Patterns to Express Purpose
Click below 👇👇👇 to explore key Korean grammar patterns for expressing purpose in Korean! 📚
| Pattern | Category | Description |
| -(으)려고 | Purpose | Expression of purpose (to do something in order to…) |
| -고자 | Purpose | More formal/written version of ‘-(으)려고’ |
| -(으)러 가다/오다 | Purpose | Expression of purpose for going/coming (in order to…) |
| -게 | Purpose | Expression of purpose or result (so that, in order to) |
| -(으)려면 | Purpose | Expression of condition for achieving a purpose/intention (if you intend to…) |
| -도록 하다 | Purpose | Expression of purpose, recommendation, or instruction |
| -기 위해(서) | Purpose | Expression of purpose (in order to) |