-고자
In Order to, With Intention to
-고자 is a formal way to say 'in order to' or 'with the intention of doing something'. It connects your goal with the action you take to achieve it.
How It Works
-고자 is a formal connective ending that expresses the intention or purpose for performing an action. It's a more literary and formal equivalent of the more common conversational patterns -(으)려고 ('in order to') and -(으)러 ('in order to go/come').
Usage Rules:
1. Attach -고자 directly to the verb stem, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant.
- 가다 (to go) → 가고자 (in order to go)
- 읽다 (to read) → 읽고자 (in order to read)
- 만들다 (to make) → 만들고자 (in order to make)
2. The subject of the first clause (the intention) and the second clause (the action) must be the same.
3. The main clause cannot be an imperative (command) or a propositive (suggestion). For example, you cannot say '...하고자 하세요' (Please do... in order to...). In such cases, you would use a different pattern like -도록.
Due to its formality, you will most often encounter -고자 in:
- News articles and reports
- Academic papers
- Formal speeches and presentations
- Official documents
Examples (5)
- 한국의 문화를 더 깊이 이해하고자 유학을 결심했습니다.
I decided to study abroad in order to understand Korean culture more deeply.
Word by Word: Korea's culture / more deeply / understand with the intention to / study abroad / decided.
- 정부는 경제를 활성화하고자 새로운 정책을 발표했습니다.
The government announced a new policy in order to stimulate the economy.
Word by Word: The government / the economy / stimulate with the intention to / new policy / announced.
- 본 연구는 문제의 원인을 분석하고자 시작되었습니다.
This research was started with the intention of analyzing the cause of the problem.
Word by Word: This research / problem's cause / analyze with the intention to / was started.
This phrasing is very common in academic writing and formal reports to state the purpose of a study or project.
- 그는 자신의 꿈을 이루고자 밤낮으로 노력했습니다.
He worked day and night in order to achieve his dream.
Word by Word: He / his own dream / achieve with the intention to / day and night / worked hard.
- 참석자들은 회사의 미래 발전 방향을 논의하고자 여러 의견을 냈습니다.
The attendees presented various opinions in order to discuss the company's future development direction.
Word by Word: The attendees / the company's future development direction / discuss with the intention to / various opinions / presented.
This shows how -고자 can be used to state the purpose of a gathering or discussion. Note that the subject, 'the attendees' (참석자들), is the same for both the intention (discussing) and the action (presenting opinions).
Common Mistakes
Using -고자 with commands or suggestions.
Not Quite시험에 합격하고자 열심히 공부하세요.Better시험에 합격하려면 열심히 공부하세요.-고자 cannot be followed by an imperative (command) like -세요 or a propositive (suggestion) like -ㅂ시다. To express a purpose for a command, use a conditional like -(으)려면 ('if you intend to...') or a pattern like -도록.
Using different subjects in the two clauses.
Not Quite제가 한국어를 배우고자 선생님께서 가르쳐 주셨어요.Better제가 한국어를 배울 수 있도록 선생님께서 가르쳐 주셨어요.The subject who has the intention (-고자) must be the same subject who performs the main action. In the incorrect sentence, 'I' have the intention, but the 'teacher' does the action of teaching. In this case, -도록 ('so that...') is the correct pattern to use.
Using -고자 in casual, everyday conversation.
Not Quite점심 먹고자 식당에 가자.Better점심 먹으러 식당에 가자.-고자 is too formal for casual situations. For everyday intentions, especially with verbs of motion like 가다/오다, use -(으)러. For other general intentions, use -(으)려고.
Learn This First
To express formal intention 'in order to', you need connectors and conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -(으)려고In Order to, So That
Both mean 'in order to' and express intention. However, -려고 is the standard form used in both spoken and written Korean, while -고자 is much more formal and literary, reserved for speeches, presentations, and formal writing.
- -(으)러In Order to
Both express purpose. -(으)러 is specifically used with verbs of motion (e.g., 가다, 오다, 다니다) to state the purpose of the movement. -고자 is more general and can be used with any action verb, but it is much more formal.
- -기 위해서For the Sake of, In Order to
This pattern, often used with the nominalizer -기 (as in -기 위해서), also means 'for the sake of' or 'in order to'. It is also formal, but it is more versatile than -고자 and can be used in a slightly wider range of formal situations in both speech and writing.
- -도록So That, In Order to
Both can express purpose. A key difference is that -도록 can be used when the subjects of the two clauses are different, and it can also be followed by commands or suggestions, which -고자 cannot.