-(으)려나
I Wonder if
-려나 is a sentence ending used when you're wondering about something, like talking to yourself. It translates to 'I wonder if...'
How It Works
-려나 is a grammar pattern used to express one's own curiosity or doubt about a future event or situation. It's a form of self-questioning, as if the speaker is thinking aloud.
Conjugation:
1. Verb stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: Add -려나
- 가다 (to go) → 가려나? (I wonder if they'll go?)
- 만들다 (to make) → 만들려나? (I wonder if they'll make it?)
2. Verb stem ends in a consonant (except ㄹ): Add -으려나
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹으려나? (I wonder if they'll eat?)
- 찾다 (to find) → 찾으려나? (I wonder if they'll find it?)
This pattern is very similar to -ㄹ까 when used for self-questioning. However, -려나 is almost exclusively for monologues, whereas -ㄹ까 can also be used to ask another person a question or make a suggestion.
It can also be used with the past tense marker -았/었- to wonder about something that might have happened in the past.
- 오다 (to come) + -았- → 왔으려나? (I wonder if they came?)
- 끝나다 (to end) + -았- → 끝났으려나? (I wonder if it ended?)
Examples (4)
- 내일 비가 오려나?
I wonder if it will rain tomorrow.
Word by Word: Tomorrow rain will come-I wonder?
- 시험에 합격하려나?
I wonder if I'll pass the exam.
Word by Word: Exam to pass-I wonder?
- 그 사람이 벌써 도착했으려나?
I wonder if that person has already arrived.
Word by Word: That person already arrived-I wonder?
Here, -려나 is attached to the past tense form (도착했다) to express wondering about a past event.
- 회의가 언제쯤 끝나려나?
I wonder when the meeting will end.
Word by Word: Meeting when-about will end-I wonder?
Common Mistakes
Using -려나 to ask a direct question to another person.
Different MeaningA: (To B) 우리 내일 영화 보려나?BetterA: (To B) 우리 내일 영화 볼까?-려나 is for self-questioning or thinking aloud. It sounds unnatural to use it to ask someone else a direct question. To ask for an opinion or make a suggestion, use -ㄹ까? instead.
Learn This First
To wonder about intentions 'I wonder if', you need conjugation and question knowledge.
Related Patterns
- -(으)ㄹ까Shall We, I Wonder
Both can mean 'I wonder if...'. However, -ㄹ까 can also be used to make suggestions to others ('Shall we...?'), while -려나 is almost exclusively for talking to oneself.
- -나 보다It Seems/looks Like
-나 보다 means 'it seems/looks like...' and is used when making a guess based on some evidence. In contrast, -려나 is used for pure speculation or wondering, often without any specific evidence.
- -ㄴ가/나I Wonder, Is It?
-려나 is a combination of -(으)려 and -나. The ending -나 is a general questioning form for wondering about a current state or fact, while -려나 specifically focuses on future possibilities or intentions.
- -(으)ㄹ지도 모르다Might, May Possibly
Both express uncertainty about the future. -ㄹ지도 모르다 ('might', 'may possibly') states a possibility, while -려나 ('I wonder if') poses it as a self-directed question.