Lesson 28
You have already learned a handful of Korean particles and how to use them through the previous lessons in this book. Get ready to add a new one to the bunch! Learn the meaning and usage of -(으)로 [-(eu)-ro] with this lesson.
Conjugation
Nouns ending with a consonant + -으로
Nouns ending in a vowel or the consonant “ㄹ” + -로
-(으)로 connects a noun and a verb very closely and can have various functions. -(으)로 can mark the ingredients an object is made of, the cause of a disease or something that happened, the direction in which someone is going, or the status or identity of a person doing something. Take a look at some examples:
Ex)
(1) 나무로 만들다 [na-mu-ro man-deul-da]
= 나무 (wood) + -로 + 만들다 (to make)
= to make (something) with wood
Someone made this table with wood. = 누가 이 테이블을 나무로 만들었어요. [nu-ga i te-i-beu-reul na-mu-ro man-deu-reo-sseo-yo.]
(2) 왼쪽으로 가다 [oen-jjo-geu-ro ga-da]
= 왼쪽 (left side) + -으로 + 가다 (to go)
= to go to the left
= to go through the left side
(3) 이 길로 가다 [i gil-lo ga-da]
= 이 (this) 길 (street / road) + -로 + 가다 (to go)
= to go down this path
= to go down this road
(4) 펜으로 쓰다 [pe-neu-ro sseu-da]
= 펜 (pen) + -으로 + 쓰다 (to write)
= to write with a pen
(5) 한국어로 말하다 [han-gu-geo-ro mal-ha-da]
= 한국어 (Korean) + 로 + 말하다 (to speak / to talk)
= to speak in Korean
(6) 치즈로 유명하다 [chi-jeu-ro yu-myeong-ha-da]
= 치즈 (cheese) + 로 + 유명하다 (to be famous)
= to be famous for cheese
(7) 사고로 다치다 [sa-go-ro da-chi-da]
= 사고 (accident) + 로 + 다치다 (to get hurt)
= to get hurt in (from) an accident
There is a common factor in the way -(으)로 was used in the previous sentences. Can you identify it?
By using -(으)로, something is used as a channel, tool, device, or a method.
Sample Sentences
이거 뭐로 만들었어요?
[i-geo mwo-ro man-deu-reo-sseo-yo?]
= What did you make this with?
= What is this made of?
오늘 택시로 왔어요?
[o-neul taek-si-ro wa-sseo-yo?]
= Did you come by taxi today?
버스로 갈 거예요.
[beo-sseu-ro gal kkeo-ye-yo.]
= I am going to go by bus.
저를 친구로 생각해요?
[jeo-reul chin-gu-ro saeng-ga-kae-yo?]
= Do you think of me as a friend?
2번 출구로 나오세요.
[i-beon chul-gu-ro na-o-se-yo.]
= Come out through exit number 2.
저는 Talk To Me In Korean으로 한국어 공부해요.
[jeo-neun Talk To Me In Korean-eu-ro han-gu-geo gong-bu-hae-yo.]
= I study Korean through Talk To Me In Korean.