-(으)러 가다/오다 expresses the purpose of going or coming somewhere. It means "go/come to [do verb]" or "go/come in order to [verb]."
Structure
Verb stem + -(으)러 가다/오다
Breakdown:
- -(으)러: Purpose marker for movement
- 가다: Go
- 오다: Come
Meaning: "Go/come (in order) to [verb]"
Conjugation Rules
After Vowel or ㄹ: -러 가다/오다
No final consonant:
- 보다 → 보러 가다 (go to see)
- 사다 → 사러 가다 (go to buy)
- 하다 → 하러 가다 (go to do)
After ㄹ (drop ㄹ):
- 만들다 → 만들러 가다 (go to make)
- 놀다 → 놀러 가다 (go to play/hang out)
After Consonant: -으러 가다/오다
Final consonant present:
- 먹다 → 먹으러 가다 (go to eat)
- 입다 → 입으러 가다 (go to wear/try on)
- 듣다 → 듣으러 가다 (go to listen)
Core Usage: Purpose of Movement
Going to Do Something
Pattern: Place + Verb + -러 가다
Examples:
- 학교에 공부하러 가요 (I go to school to study)
- 도서관에 책 읽으러 가요 (I go to the library to read)
- 식당에 밥 먹으러 가요 (I go to the restaurant to eat)
- 극장에 영화 보러 가요 (I go to the theater to watch a movie)
Coming to Do Something
Pattern: Place + Verb + -러 오다
Examples:
- 한국에 여행하러 왔어요 (I came to Korea to travel)
- 집에 놀러 왔어요 (I came home to hang out)
- 여기 공부하러 왔어요 (I came here to study)
- 만나러 왔어요 (I came to meet)
Common Patterns
Everyday Activities
Going somewhere for a purpose:
- 시장에 장 보러 가요 (Go to the market to shop)
- 병원에 검사받으러 가요 (Go to the hospital for a checkup)
- 은행에 돈 찾으러 가요 (Go to the bank to withdraw money)
- 우체국에 소포 보내러 가요 (Go to the post office to send a package)
Social Activities
Meeting and socializing:
- 친구 만나러 가요 (Go to meet a friend)
- 집에 놀러 와요 (Come to my house to hang out)
- 카페에 수다 떨러 가요 (Go to the cafe to chat)
- 친구 집에 놀러 가요 (Go to a friend's house to play)
Entertainment
Fun activities:
- 영화 보러 가요 (Go to watch a movie)
- 노래방 가러 가요 (Go to go to karaoke)
- 쇼핑하러 가요 (Go to shop)
- 여행하러 가요 (Go to travel)
Special Verb: 놀러 가다/오다
Go/Come to Play/Hang Out
놀다 → 놀러 가다/오다: Very common expression
Examples:
- 주말에 놀러 갈까요? (Shall we hang out this weekend?)
- 집에 놀러 오세요 (Come to my house to hang out)
- 서울에 놀러 갔어요 (I went to Seoul to hang out)
- 언제 놀러 올래요? (When will you come visit?)
Usage: Casual visits, hanging out, playing
Tense Conjugations
Present Tense
Polite:
- 먹으러 가요 (go to eat)
- 보러 와요 (come to see)
Past Tense
Polite:
- 먹으러 갔어요 (went to eat)
- 보러 왔어요 (came to see)
Future Tense
Polite:
- 먹으러 갈 거예요 (will go to eat)
- 보러 올 거예요 (will come to see)
With Location Markers
Common Particles
에: To (location)
- 학교에 가러 가요 (go to school to go)
으로/로: Toward (direction)
- 집으로 가러 가요 (go toward home to go)
Often particle is omitted in casual speech:
- 학교 가러 가요 (go to go to school)
Question Forms
Asking About Purpose
어디 + Purpose + -러 가다/오다?:
- 어디 가러 가요? (Where are you going to go?)
- 뭐 하러 가요? (What are you going to do?)
- 누구 만나러 가요? (Who are you going to meet?)
Common Questions
뭐 하러 왔어요? (What did you come to do?) 어디 놀러 갈래요? (Where do you want to go hang out?) 언제 보러 올 거예요? (When will you come to see?)
Restrictions
Only for Verbs of Movement
✓ Works with:
- 가다 (go)
- 오다 (come)
- 다니다 (commute, attend)
✗ Cannot use with:
- Static verbs (있다, 앉다)
- Other action verbs
Wrong: ×먹으러 먹다 Correct: 먹으러 가다/오다
Contrast with Similar Forms
-(으)러 가다 vs -(으)려고 가다
-(으)러 가다: Natural, common purpose of movement
- 영화 보러 가요 (Go to watch a movie)
- → Simple, natural
-(으)려고 가다: Also purpose, slightly more formal
- 영화 보려고 가요 (Go in order to watch a movie)
- → More emphasis on intention
Both are correct, -(으)러 more common
-(으)러 가다 vs -(으)러
-(으)러 가다/오다: Complete form with movement verb
- 먹으러 가요 (Go to eat)
-(으)러: Incomplete, needs context
- Can be used in casual speech when movement is understood
- 뭐 하러? (What for? / To do what?)
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Weekend Plans
A: 주말에 뭐 할 거예요?
(What will you do this weekend?)
B: 친구 만나러 갈 거예요.
(I'll go to meet a friend.)
A: 어디서 만날 거예요?
(Where will you meet?)
Dialogue 2: Coming Home
A: 오늘 언제 와요?
(When are you coming today?)
B: 저녁 먹으러 6시에 갈게요.
(I'll come at 6 to eat dinner.)
Dialogue 3: Shopping
A: 어디 가요?
(Where are you going?)
B: 시장에 장 보러 가요.
(I'm going to the market to shop.)
Dialogue 4: Visit
A: 언제 우리 집에 놀러 올래요?
(When will you come to our house to hang out?)
B: 다음 주에 놀러 갈게요.
(I'll come hang out next week.)
Common Expressions
Daily Activities
- 회사 출근하러 가요 (Go to work to go to work)
- 수업 들으러 가요 (Go to attend class)
- 운동하러 가요 (Go to exercise)
- 산책하러 가요 (Go for a walk)
Shopping
- 쇼핑하러 가요 (Go shopping)
- 옷 사러 가요 (Go to buy clothes)
- 구경하러 가요 (Go to look around)
Social
- 데이트하러 가요 (Go on a date)
- 친구 보러 가요 (Go to see a friend)
- 파티하러 가요 (Go to party)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 가러 가다
Redundant
✅ Correct: 가다 or specific verb + -러 가다
보러 가다, 먹으러 가다, etc.
❌ Incorrect: 먹으러 먹다
Wrong auxiliary verb
✅ Correct: 먹으러 가다/오다
Must use 가다/오다
❌ Incorrect: 공부러 가요
Missing -하
✅ Correct: 공부하러 가요
하다 verbs need -하
With Time Expressions
When Movement Happens
Time + -러 가다/오다:
- 내일 만나러 갈게요 (I'll go to meet tomorrow)
- 주말에 놀러 올래요? (Will you come hang out this weekend?)
- 지금 먹으러 가요 (I'm going to eat now)
Summary Table
| Verb | -(으)러 가다 | -(으)러 오다 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | 보러 가다 | 보러 오다 | Go/come to see |
| 먹다 | 먹으러 가다 | 먹으러 오다 | Go/come to eat |
| 놀다 | 놀러 가다 | 놀러 오다 | Go/come to play |
| 만나다 | 만나러 가다 | 만나러 오다 | Go/come to meet |
| 사다 | 사러 가다 | 사러 오다 | Go/come to buy |
Key Takeaways
✅ Purpose of movement: "Go/come to [verb]"
✅ After vowel/ㄹ: -러 가다/오다
✅ After consonant: -으러 가다/오다
✅ Only with 가다/오다: Movement verbs required
✅ Very common: Essential for daily conversation
✅ 놀러 가다/오다: Special common usage "hang out"
-(으)러 가다/오다 is one of the most natural and frequently used patterns in Korean for expressing the purpose of going or coming somewhere. It's essential for describing daily activities, making plans, and explaining where you're going and why.