Example Sentences#

1. 잡으려 하면 멀어지는 꿈¹
   A dream that drifts away when I try to catch it

   • 잡다 means ‘to catch’ or ‘to grab’.
   • -으려 is a contraction of -으려고, a connective ending used to express intention or purpose, similar to ‘in order to’.

2. 어느 날 그들은 강 옆에 도착했는데, 그곳에는 젊고 아름다운 여자가 강을 건너려 하다가 어려움을 겪고 있었다.²
   One day, they arrived beside a river, where there was a young and beautiful woman having difficulty trying to cross the river.

   • 건너다 means ‘to cross’.
   • -려 is a contraction of -려고, a connective ending used to express intention or purpose, similar to ‘in order to’.

3. 그래서 먹을 것을 찾으려고 마을로 내려왔습니다.³
   So, he came down to the village to look for something to eat.

   • 찾다 means ‘to find’ or ‘to look for’.
   • -(으)려고 is a connective ending used to express intention or purpose, similar to ‘in order to’.

4. 도둑은 소를 훔치려고 몰래 올라갔지만, 어두워서 호랑이를 소로 착각하고 뛰어내린 것이었습니다.³
   The thief had secretly climbed up to steal a cow, but because it was dark, he mistook the tiger for a cow and jumped down.

   • 훔치다 means ‘to steal’.
   • -(으)려고 is a connective ending used to express intention or purpose, similar to ‘in order to’.

5. 호랑이는 등에 있는 것을 떼어내려고 더 빨리 달렸습니다.³
   The tiger ran even faster, trying to shake off whatever was on its back.

   • 떼어내다 means ‘to tear off’ or ‘to shake off’, formed from 떼다 (to detach or remove) and the pattern -어 내다, where 내다 (to cause or bring about) functions as an auxiliary verb indicating that the preceding action is ultimately accomplished through one’s effort, often with difficulty or persistence.
   • -(으)려고 is a connective ending used to express intention or purpose, similar to ‘in order to’.