Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 8 - Advanced Korean #1 (Lessons 211 to 240) ᚛ Lesson 217 - Formal intention in Korean [-고자]
Formal intention in Korean [-고자]
We already know two ways of saying "in order to", "with the aim of": -(으)려고, the most common in speech, and -기 위해(서), more neutral. The ending -고자 expresses the same intention in a formal register: the press, reports, speeches, official announcements. Followed by 하다, it gives -고자 하다, "to intend to", "to seek to", which also serves in presentation formulas: 말씀드리고자 합니다, "I would like to tell you".
"In order to" with -고자
-고자 attaches directly to the stem, with no distinction between final consonant and vowel:
[Stem]고자 [Action undertaken for that purpose]
The subject is the same in both clauses, and the verb of the first is an action verb the subject controls. The meaning is that of -(으)려고, but the tone is that of writing: it appears in newspapers, administrative texts and narratives, and in speech in a prepared address. As with -(으)려고, the main clause is neither a command nor a suggestion.
재현이는 민지와의 오해를 풀고자 매일 집 앞으로 찾아가 민지를 기다렸어요.
→ In order to clear up the misunderstanding with Minji, Jaehyun went to wait for her in front of her house every day.
연구진은 매번 동일한 문제가 발생하자 문제에 대한 해결 방법을 찾고자 노력했어요.
→ As the same problem kept occurring every time, the research team strove to find a solution to it.
놀이공원에서 하루 종일 놀았는데도 아이들은 조금 더 놀고자 엄마를 졸랐어요.
→ Even after playing all day at the amusement park, the children pestered their mother in order to play a little longer.
토마는 한국에서 살고자 많은 노력을 했지만 비자 문제로 인해 다시 프랑스로 돌아가야만 했어요.
→ Thomas made great efforts in order to live in Korea, but because of a visa problem he had to go back to France.
회사는 고객의 의견을 반영하고자 설문 조사를 실시했습니다.
→ The company conducted a survey in order to take its customers' opinions into account.
저는 한국 문화를 더 깊이 이해하고자 한국어를 배우기 시작했습니다.
→ I started learning Korean in order to understand Korean culture more deeply.
"To intend to" with -고자 하다
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