4 · The written style
In order to, formally: -고자
formal purpose and intention
-고자 states a purpose or an intention in formal writing and speeches; -고자 하다 means “intend to”.
-고자 is the formal counterpart of -(으)려고. It attaches to any verb stem without change — after a vowel, a consonant or l alike: 알리고자, 듣고자, 만들고자. Like -(으)려고, it needs the same subject in both clauses: 그는 꿈을 이루고자 고향을 떠났다, “he left his home town in order to fulfil his dream”.
With 하다 it states an intention: -고자 한다. This is the fixed way in which essays, theses and reports announce what they are going to do: 이 글에서는 한국의 식생활 변화를 살펴보고자 한다, “this essay sets out to examine changes in Korean eating habits”. Before a noun it becomes -고자 하는: 하고자 하는 말, “what I wish to say”.
In formal speech — a presentation, a ceremony, a business letter — it combines with -습니다: 오늘은 새로운 계획에 대해 말씀드리고자 합니다, “today I would like to tell you about our new plan”. It sounds measured and official.
That is exactly why it does not belong in casual speech. Said to a friend, 영화 보고자 해 sounds like a press release. -고자 is also never used with adjectives, and it takes no tense of its own; the tense goes on the main verb.
The form
| any verb stem | 알리다 → 알리고자 |
| after a consonant | 듣다 → 듣고자 |
| intention, written | 살펴보고자 한다 |
| intention, formal speech | 말씀드리고자 합니다 |
| before a noun | 하고자 하는 일 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
-고자 attaches to every verb stem without change.
시민들의 의견을 듣고자 공청회를 열었다.A public hearing was held to hear the citizens' views.
It states a purpose; both clauses have the same subject.
그는 꿈을 이루고자 고향을 떠났다.He left his home town to fulfil his dream.
-고자 하다 announces an intention, above all the aim of an essay or report.
이 글에서는 한국의 식생활 변화를 살펴보고자 한다.This essay sets out to examine changes in Korean eating habits.
In formal speech it goes with -습니다.
오늘은 새로운 계획에 대해 말씀드리고자 합니다.Today I would like to tell you about our new plan.
A closer look
Three ways to say “in order to”
-(으)려고 is the everyday form and the one to use in conversation. -기 위해(서) is neutral and works in both speech and writing: 건강을 지키기 위해 운동한다. -고자 is the most formal of the three and is almost confined to writing and to speeches.
In the opening of an academic paper, -고자 한다 is practically obligatory: a paper does not say what it “wants” to do with -고 싶다, which would sound personal and childish, but what it “sets out” to do.
How to spot it
- -고자
- -고자 하다
- -고자 합니다
- -고자 하는
Example sentences
환경을 보호하고자 일회용 컵 사용을 줄였다.The use of disposable cups was reduced in order to protect the environment.
감사의 마음을 전하고자 이 편지를 씁니다.I am writing this letter to express my gratitude.
더 많은 정보를 제공하고자 홈페이지를 새로 만들었습니다.We have rebuilt our website in order to provide more information.
본 연구는 청소년의 수면 습관을 조사하고자 하였다.This study set out to investigate the sleeping habits of teenagers.
그녀는 새로운 기술을 배우고자 해외로 떠났다.She went abroad to learn a new skill.
지원하고자 하는 분은 다음 달 말까지 서류를 제출해 주십시오.Anyone wishing to apply should submit the documents by the end of next month.
8 more example sentences
교통 문제를 해결하고자 버스 노선을 바꾸었다.The bus routes were changed in order to solve the traffic problem.
고객 여러분께 더 나은 서비스로 보답하고자 최선을 다하겠습니다.We will do our best to repay our customers with better service.
그 작가는 가족의 역사를 기록하고자 이 소설을 썼다.The writer wrote this novel in order to record her family's history.
우리는 서로를 더 잘 이해하고자 자주 대화를 나눈다.We talk often in order to understand each other better.
이 책은 초보자도 쉽게 이해할 수 있도록 쓰고자 노력했다.I tried to write this book so that even beginners can understand it easily.
저희는 지역 주민을 돕고자 이 행사를 준비했습니다.We organised this event in order to help local residents.
이 보고서는 학생들의 독서 습관을 분석하고자 한다.This report sets out to analyse students' reading habits.
그는 자신이 하고자 하는 일을 끝까지 해냈다.He saw through to the end the work he had set out to do.
Worth knowing (1)
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The opening sentence of a paper
Reports and theses usually say what they will do in their first paragraph, in a sentence ending with -고자 한다. The subject is the text itself, introduced with 이 글에서는 or 본 연구에서는, not the author.
본 연구에서는 도시 생활과 수면 시간의 관계를 살펴보고자 한다.This study examines the relationship between city life and sleep.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
The two endings mean the same, but they live in different worlds. -고자 belongs to essays, speeches and official letters; in a casual question to a friend it sounds absurdly stiff. Conversation uses -(으)려고.
-goja is -ryeogo in a suit: the same purpose, for paper and podium.
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.