Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 3 - Korean for Beginners #2 (Lessons 61 to 90) ᚛ Lesson 86 - Suggestion and intention in Korean [-(으)ㄹ래(요)]
In this chapter, we're going to talk about the ending -(으)ㄹ래(요), useful in several situations:
This structure attaches to a verb in the following manner:
Review: modifier -(으)ㄹ
This form is not used in formal situations. Instead, a question is asked in the usual way using the form with -(스)ㅂ니까? or -(으)시겠습니까?
The -(으)ㄹ래(요) ending is often used to make a suggestion to someone, to ask the listener if he/she wants to do something.
We saw the form with -(으)ㄹ까(요), which also allows one to make a suggestion, in the previous chapter. However, with -(으)ㄹ래(요), the speaker isn't necessarily included in the suggestion, even if he or she could be included. In ambiguous cases, 같이 or 함께 (= together) can be added to the question.
저녁밥으로 중국집에 갈래요?
→ Shall we go to the Chinese restaurant for dinner?
점심은 배달 주문해서 먹을래?
→ For lunch, should we order delivery to eat?
조금 더 드실래요?
→ Would you like to eat a little more?
오늘 학교 끝나고 우리 집에 올래?
→ Do you want to come to my place after school today? (Lit: Today, school ends and you will come to my place?)
여기 잠시 앉으실래요?
→ Would you like to sit here for a minute?
Note: Fans of Korean dramas know the following very informal phrase quite well:
죽을래!?
→ You want to die!?
It is possible to use the -(으)ㄹ래(요) ending in declarative sentences in the first person in order to express the intention to do something.
In this case, the meaning is similar to that of the structure -(으)ㄹ게(요) seen in a previous chapter, however -(으)ㄹ게(요) gives more of the idea of a promise made to someone, while the -(으)ㄹ래(요) structure represents an intention made for ourselves.
저도 거기 갈래요.
→ I'll go there too.
배가 너무 불러서 좀 걸을래.
→ Since my belly is too full, I'm going to walk a little.
저녁 먹고 운동할래요.
→ I’ll exercise after dinner.
이 책 읽을래.
→ I’ll read this book.
저는 떡볶이를 먹을래요.
→ I’ll eat a tteokbokki.
전 그 시계를 살래요.
→ I’ll buy the watch.
Get two printable eBooks containing EVERYTHING you need to know to master Korean conjugation. You’ll find all the most commonly used verb forms in Korea, explanations of the many exceptions, detailed conjugation tables for 500 essential verbs and adjectives, and over 1,000 example sentences for everyday situations to help you use these verbs correctly. An absolute must-have no matter your level in Korean!
Learn more