3 · Linking clauses, further
If you want to: -(으)려면
the condition of an intention
-(으)려면 says what is needed if somebody intends to do something.
After a vowel the ending is -려면 (가려면, 보려면), after a consonant -으려면 (먹으려면, 찾으려면). A stem ending in l takes -려면 without 으: 만들려면, 살려면. Irregular stems change before 으 as usual: 들으려면, 도우려면, 나으려면.
It is a contraction of -(으)려고 하면, “if (you) intend to”, and it means “if you want to A, (you need) B”. The second half says what it takes: -아야 해요 or -아야 돼요, -(으)세요, 필요해요, -(으)면 돼요. 그 식당에서 먹으려면 예약해야 돼요, “if you want to eat at that restaurant, you have to book”.
It is the natural way to ask the way and to ask about procedures: 시청에 가려면 어디에서 내려야 돼요?, 환불을 받으려면 뭐가 필요해요?. A plain -(으)면 states a condition; -(으)려면 states a goal and asks what leads to it.
English “to get to the station, …” tempts learners into -(으)려고, “in order to”. But -(으)려고 reports an intention that is being carried out and cannot be followed by a question about what to do or by a request. Adjectives describe states, not intentions, so a goal such as “healthier” is first turned into a verb with -아/어지다: 건강해지려면.
The form
| after a vowel | 가려면, 보려면 |
| after a consonant | 먹으려면, 찾으려면 |
| a stem ending in l | 만들려면, 살려면 |
| irregular stems | 들으려면, 도우려면 |
| the usual second half | 가려면 버스를 타야 해요. |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
After a vowel or a stem in l add -려면; after another consonant add -으려면.
김치를 만들려면 배추가 필요해요.To make kimchi, you need napa cabbage.
The second half says what is necessary: -아/어야 하다, -(으)세요, 필요하다.
비자를 받으려면 서류를 준비해야 해요.To get a visa, you have to prepare documents.
It is the natural way to ask for directions.
시청에 가려면 어디에서 내려야 돼요?Where do I get off for City Hall?
For a state you want to reach, turn an adjective into a verb with -아/어지다 first.
건강해지려면 잘 자야 해요.If you want to get healthier, you need to sleep well.
A closer look
A contraction of -(으)려고 하면
The ending is literally -(으)려고, “intending to”, plus 하면, “if (you) do”: “if you intend to”. Careful speakers sometimes still use the full form, and it explains the meaning: the condition is not an event but a plan.
This is also why the second half so often contains -아/어야. Once a plan has been named, the natural thing to say is what the plan requires. And it is why the pattern shows up in so many questions to strangers: a ticket office, a station, a bank counter.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the verb is irregular and changes before a vowel (듣다, 돕다, 낫다)
the changed stem takes -으려면: 들으려면, 도우려면, 나으려면.
음악을 크게 들으려면 이어폰을 쓰세요.If you want to listen to music loudly, use earphones.
The ending begins with the vowel 으, and these verbs change their stem before any vowel, just as in 들어요 and 도와요.
How to spot it
- -(으)려면
- -아야 해요
- 필요해요
Example sentences
일찍 도착하려면 지금 나가야 해요.If we want to arrive early, we have to leave now.
그 식당에서 먹으려면 예약해야 돼요.If you want to eat at that restaurant, you need to book.
한국어를 잘하려면 매일 조금씩 연습하세요.If you want to be good at Korean, practise a little every day.
환불을 받으려면 영수증이 있어야 해요.To get a refund, you need the receipt.
공항에 가려면 몇 번 버스를 타야 돼요?Which bus do I take to get to the airport?
살을 빼려면 단 음식을 줄이세요.If you want to lose weight, cut down on sweet food.
7 more example sentences
이 문을 열려면 카드가 필요해요.You need a card to open this door.
좋은 자리에 앉으려면 일찍 와야 해요.If you want a good seat, you have to come early.
그 박물관에 가려면 지하철을 두 번 갈아타야 돼요.To get to that museum, you have to change trains twice.
푹 쉬려면 휴대폰을 꺼 두세요.If you want a proper rest, switch your phone off.
사진을 잘 찍으려면 빛이 중요해요.If you want to take good photos, the light is important.
감기가 빨리 나으려면 물을 많이 마셔야 해요.If you want your cold to get better quickly, you need to drink lots of water.
이 노래를 부르려면 목을 충분히 풀어야 해요.To sing this song, you have to warm up your voice properly.
Worth knowing (1)
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Still a long way off
With 멀었다, the pattern makes a set phrase: “to do this, it is still far off” — it will be a while yet. Children in the back of a car hear it often.
도착하려면 아직 멀었어요.We are not going to be there for a while yet.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English “to get to the station” sounds like a purpose, and -(으)려고 means “in order to”. But a question about what to do, or an instruction, needs the condition: “if you want to go to the station, how do you have to go?” — -(으)려면.
Ryeomyeon means “if you mean to”: the second half says what it takes.
Your turn
9 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.