-기로 하다
Decide to, Plan to
Use -기로 하다 to say you have 'decided to' or 'plan to' do something. It attaches to a verb stem.
How It Works
This pattern combines the nominalizer -기 (which turns a verb into a noun) with the particle -로 and the verb 하다 (to do). The literal meaning is something like 'to do towards the act of...'.
Usage:
It's attached directly to the verb stem, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant.
- 가다 (to go) → 가기로 하다
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹기로 하다
Tense:
The tense is expressed in the 하다 part of the pattern. Since a decision is usually made before the moment of speaking, the past tense form -기로 했다 is extremely common.
- 내일부터 운동하기로 했어요. (I decided to exercise from tomorrow.)
- 우리는 다음 주에 만나기로 할 거예요. (We will decide to meet next week.)
Usage with others:
It's often used to talk about a promise or an agreement made with other people.
- 친구와 같이 여행 가기로 했어요. (I decided/agreed to go on a trip with my friend.)
Comparison with -려고 하다:
While both relate to future actions, they have different nuances.
- -기로 하다: Emphasizes the decision or agreement. It implies a conscious choice was made.
- -려고 하다: Emphasizes the intention. It's more about a mental plan or being on the verge of doing something.
Examples (4)
- 내년부터 한국어를 배우기로 했어요.
I decided to learn Korean starting next year.
Word by Word: From next year Korean language to learn decided.
- 우리는 주말에 영화를 보기로 했어요.
We decided (or agreed) to watch a movie this weekend.
Word by Word: We on the weekend a movie to watch decided.
This example shows how -기로 하다 can be used to express a mutual agreement or plan between people.
- 건강을 위해서 담배를 끊기로 했어요.
I've decided to quit smoking for my health.
Word by Word: Health for the sake of cigarettes to quit decided.
- 늦잠을 자서 아침을 먹지 않기로 했어요.
I overslept, so I decided not to eat breakfast.
Word by Word: Overslept so breakfast not to eat decided.
To make a negative decision, you use the -지 않다 form before attaching -기로 하다.
Common Mistakes
Using -기로 하다 with adjectives.
Not Quite내일부터 부지런하기로 했어요.Better내일부터 부지런해지기로 했어요.-기로 하다 attaches to action verbs, not descriptive verbs (adjectives). To express a decision to 'become' a certain state, you must first change the adjective into a verb using a pattern like -아/어지다 (to become). So, 'to become diligent' (부지런해지다) is correct.
Confusing the nuance of a 'decision' (-기로 하다) with an 'intention' (-려고 하다).
Different Meaning버스가 와서 타기로 했어요.Better버스가 와서 타려고 했어요.-기로 하다 implies a pre-meditated decision. For a spontaneous action or immediate intention, like getting on a bus that has just arrived, -려고 하다 ('was about to', 'intended to') is much more natural. The incorrect sentence sounds strange, as if you held a meeting to decide to get on the bus.
Learn This First
To express decisions 'decide to/plan to', you need nominalization and 하다.
Related Patterns
- -(으)려고 하다Intend to, Plan to
Both express future plans. However, '-기로 하다' emphasizes a firm decision or agreement, while '-려고 하다' focuses on a more general intention or being on the verge of an action.
- -(으)ㄹ 계획이다Plan to, Intend to
Similar to '-기로 하다', this means 'to plan to'. '-ㄹ 계획이다' is slightly more formal and literally means 'it is the plan to...'. '-기로 하다' is more common in conversation and highlights the act of deciding.
- -(으)ㄹ게Will Do
'-ㄹ게' is a promise or statement of intent made directly to the listener, often in response to something. '-기로 하다' is a statement about a decision that has been made, which may be personal and not necessarily a promise to the listener.