-기로 하다: How to Express Decisions in Korean
Master the TOPIK grammar -기로 하다 to express firm decisions. Learn the difference from -려고 하다 with examples and a mini-quiz.
Master the TOPIK grammar -기로 하다 to express firm decisions. Learn the difference from -려고 하다 with examples and a mini-quiz.
Learn how to use -기로 하다 to talk about plans and resolutions without confusing it for simple intentions.
Many learners say 내일부터 운동하기로 해요naeilbuteo undonghagiro haeyo when they mean they've already made the choice. In Korean, if the decision is already made, you must use the past tense 했어요haesseoyo.
Wrong: 친구랑 영화를 보기로 해요.chingurang yeonghwareul bogiro haeyo. (I decide to watch a movie with a friend - sounds like a general habit or a weirdly present-tense declaration).
Right: 친구랑 영화를 보기로 했어요.chingurang yeonghwareul bogiro haesseoyo. (I decided/planned to watch a movie with a friend).
Quick cheat sheet
Expressions in this post
Form (how to attach)
Attach -기로 하다-giro hada directly to the verb stem. It does not matter if the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.
가다gada →가기로 하다gagiro hada (Decide to go)먹다meokda →먹기로 하다meokgiro hada (Decide to eat)
Meaning range (what it can/can’t mean)
This pattern indicates that a decision has been reached after deliberation or an agreement with others. It is most commonly used in the past tense -기로 했다-giro haetda because the act of "deciding" usually happened before the moment of speaking.
Register (neutral/polite)
It is neutral and safe for all contexts, from business meetings to casual chats with friends.
Common mistakes (wrong → right)
- Wrong:
담배를 끊기로 해요.dambaereul kkeungiro haeyo. (I decide to quit smoking - sounds like a suggestion to yourself). Right:담배를 끊기로 했어요.dambaereul kkeungiro haesseoyo. (I have decided to quit smoking). - Wrong:
비가 오기로 했어요.biga ogiro haesseoyo. (It decided to rain). Right:비가 온다고 했어요.biga ondago haesseoyo. (They said it would rain). Note: Nature cannot "decide" using this grammar. - Wrong:
어제 공부하기로 해요.eoje gongbuhagiro haeyo. (Tense mismatch). Right:어제 공부하기로 했어요.eoje gongbuhagiro haesseoyo.
Examples
올해는 한국어 공부를 열심히 하기로 했어요.olhaeneun hangugeo gongbureul yeolsimhi hagiro haesseoyo. — I decided to study Korean hard this year.우리 내일 7시에 만나기로 했어요.uri naeil 7sie mannagiro haesseoyo. — We agreed to meet at 7 o'clock tomorrow.건강을 위해서 매일 운동하기로 했어요.geongaeul wihaeseo maeil undonghagiro haesseoyo. — I decided to exercise every day for my health.부모님께 비밀로 하기로 했어요.bumonimkke bimilro hagiro haesseoyo. — I decided to keep it a secret from my parents.졸업 후에 취직하기로 했어요.joreop hue chwijikhagiro haesseoyo. — I decided to get a job after graduation.
-려고 하다 문법 · Form & Meaning
Form (how to attach)
- Verb stem ending in vowel:
-려고 하다-ryeogo hada (e.g.,사려고 하다saryeogo hada) - Verb stem ending in consonant:
-으려고 하다-euryeogo hada (e.g.,읽으려고 하다ilgeuryeogo hada)
Meaning range (what it can/can’t mean)
Unlike -기로 하다-giro hada, which implies a fixed decision or appointment, -려고 하다-ryeogo hada expresses a state of mind or a loose intention. It's the difference between "I've decided to" and "I'm planning to/thinking of."
Common mistakes (wrong → right)
Wrong: 친구랑 약속을 잡으려고 했어요.chingurang yaksogeul jabeuryeogo haesseoyo. (I was intending to make an appointment - implies you didn't actually do it).
Right: 친구랑 약속을 잡기로 했어요.chingurang yaksogeul japgiro haesseoyo. (I decided/agreed to make an appointment).
Examples
이번 주말에 쉬려고 해요.ibeon jumare swiryeogo haeyo. — I'm planning to rest this weekend.새 차를 사려고 해요.sae chareul saryeogo haeyo. — I'm thinking of buying a new car.한국 음식을 만들려고 해요.hanguk eumsigeul mandeulryeogo haeyo. — I intend to make Korean food.일찍 자려고 했지만 못 잤어요.iljjik jaryeogo haetjiman mot jasseoyo. — I intended to sleep early, but I couldn't.살을 빼려고 운동을 시작했어요.sareul ppaeryeogo undoeul sijakhaesseoyo. — I started exercising to (intending to) lose weight.
Decision Tree: Which one to use?
- Is it a firm agreement with someone else? → Use
-기로 했다-giro haetda. - Is it a personal resolution you've finalized? → Use
-기로 했다-giro haetda. - Is it just a vague plan or something you are currently considering? → Use
-려고 하다-ryeogo hada.
Mini quiz (2 minutes)
Notes:
- Q1:
-기로 했어요-giro haesseoyo is used because meeting a friend involves a social agreement or a fixed plan. - Q2:
-려고 해요-ryeogo haeyo is correct because the speaker mentions they are "not sure yet," indicating a loose intention rather than a finalized decision. - Q3:
-기로 했어요-giro haesseoyo is the standard way to express a firm personal resolution or a decision already made.
Next steps
Practice by converting these 5 verbs into the -기로 했다-giro haetda (decided to) form to describe your weekend plans:
집에서 쉬다jibeseo swida (To rest at home)친구를 만나다chingureul mannada (To meet a friend)한국어를 공부하다hangugeoreul gongbuhada (To study Korean)영화를 보다yeonghwareul boda (To watch a movie)일찍 자다iljjik jada (To sleep early)
