-(으)ㄹ지
Whether, If
-ㄹ지 is used to create a clause expressing uncertainty about a future action or state. It's like saying 'whether...' or 'if...' in English and is often followed by verbs like 모르다 (to not know), 궁금하다 (to be curious), or 걱정되다 (to be worried).
How It Works
This pattern is essential for forming indirect questions about future or uncertain situations. It attaches directly to verb and adjective stems.
Conjugation Rules:
- Stems ending in a vowel or the consonant ㄹ: Add -ㄹ지.
- 가다 (to go) → 갈지
- 만들다 (to make) → 만들지 - Stems ending in a consonant (except ㄹ): Add -을지.
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹을지
- 좋다 (to be good) → 좋을지
Common Usage:
It is most frequently paired with a set of verbs that relate to knowing, thinking, or feeling about the uncertain clause:
- -ㄹ지 모르다/알다: to (not) know whether...
- 회의가 언제 끝날지 아무도 몰라요. (Nobody knows when the meeting will end.) - -ㄹ지 궁금하다: to be curious whether...
- 그 사람이 제 선물을 좋아할지 궁금해요. (I'm curious whether that person will like my gift.) - -ㄹ지 걱정되다: to be worried whether...
- 혼자 여행할 수 있을지 걱정돼요. (I'm worried if I'll be able to travel alone.) - -ㄹ지 고민하다/생각하다: to contemplate/think about whether...
- 이사를 갈지 말지 고민 중이에요. (I'm contemplating whether to move or not.)
Past Tense Speculation:
You can also speculate about a past event by using -았/었을지.
- 그가 시험에 합격했을지 모르겠어요. (I don't know if he passed the exam.)
This pattern is a key part of the broader -ㄴ/는/ㄹ지 알다/모르다 structure, specifically handling future and speculative cases, whereas -ㄴ/는지 is used for present or past facts.
Examples (5)
- 내일 날씨가 좋을지 모르겠어요.
I don't know if the weather will be good tomorrow.
Word by Word: Tomorrow weather-is good-whether I don't know.
- 점심에 뭘 먹을지 아직 못 정했어요.
I haven't decided what to eat for lunch yet.
Word by Word: For lunch what to eat-whether still not decided.
- 이 옷이 저한테 맞을지 한번 입어 볼게요.
I'll try on these clothes to see if they fit me.
Literally, 'I'll try wearing them once (to see) whether these clothes will fit me'.
- 그 사람이 올지 안 올지 아무도 몰라요.
Nobody knows whether that person will come or not.
Word by Word: That person will come-whether not come-whether nobody knows.
- 어느 대학교에 가야 할지 고민이에요.
I'm worried about which university I should go to.
Word by Word: Which university-to have to go-whether is a worry.
Common Mistakes
Thinking -ㄹ지 can't be used with 말하다 — it can.
Different Meaning내가 갈지 안 갈지 이따가 알려 줄게.Better제가 뭘 도와줄지 말해 주세요.'제가 뭘 도와줄지 말해 주세요' ('Tell me what I should help with') is natural: it's a -(으)ㄹ지 embedded question of an undecided action + 말하다. Do not treat it as a mistake. A real contrast worth teaching is -(으)ㄹ지 (whether/what to do) vs -(으)ㄹ게 (the speaker's own promise: 내가 갈게).
Using -ㄹ지 for a present or past fact, where -ㄴ/는지 should be used.
Different Meaning지금 밖에 누가 있을지 알아요?Better지금 밖에 누가 있는지 알아요?-ㄹ지 is for future possibilities or speculation. To ask about a current, existing fact (who is outside right now), you must use -ㄴ/는지. The incorrect sentence means 'Do you know who might be outside now?', which is a question about possibility, not a question about a current fact.
Learn This First
To express uncertainty 'whether/if', you need conjugation and question knowledge.
Related Patterns
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ지 알다/모르다(Don't) Know If/whether
-ㄹ지 is the component of this larger pattern that deals with future or speculative uncertainty. This pattern shows the most common usage of -ㄹ지, which is being the object of verbs like 알다 (to know) and 모르다 (to not know).
- -(으)ㄹ까Shall We, I Wonder
Both express wondering or speculation. However, -ㄹ까 is typically a sentence ending used to ask a question or talk to oneself (e.g., '비가 올까? - I wonder if it will rain?'). -ㄹ지 embeds that same uncertainty into a larger sentence (e.g., '비가 올지 모르겠어요 - I don't know if it will rain').
- -(으)ㄹ까 봐For Fear That, Worried That
Both deal with future uncertainty. -ㄹ까 봐 is more specific, expressing worry about a negative potential outcome ('for fear that...'). '시험에 떨어질지 걱정돼요' (I'm worried whether I'll fail) is very similar to '시험에 떨어질까 봐 걱정돼요' (I'm worried for fear that I'll fail).
- -ㄴ지/는지Whether, If
This is the counterpart to -ㄹ지 for expressing uncertainty. While -ㄹ지 is used for future actions or speculation, -ㄴ/는지 is used for present actions, current states, or past events. For example: '어디로 갈지 몰라요' (I don't know where we will go) vs. '어디로 가는지 몰라요' (I don't know where he is going right now).