(으)로 (euro) - Direction/Method

The particle (으)로 (euro) expresses direction, means, and method. It indicates which way something moves or how something is done, making it essential for describing both physical and abstract pathways.

Form

• 로 (ro) - after vowels or ㄹ
• 으로 (euro) - after other consonants

Main Functions

1. Direction / Toward

Indicates which direction something moves or faces.

Examples:

• 왼쪽으로 가세요. (Oenjjog-euro gaseyo.) - Go to the left.
• 오른쪽으로 도세요. (Oreunjjog-euro doseyo.) - Turn to the right.
• 북쪽으로 가요. (Bukjjog-euro gayo.) - Go toward the north.
• 이쪽으로 오세요. (Ijjog-euro oseyo.) - Come this way.

2. Means / Method

Indicates the means, method, or tool used to do something.

Examples:

• 버스로 가요. (Beoseu-ro gayo.) - Go by bus.
• 한국어로 말해요. (Hangugeo-ro malhaeyo.) - Speak in Korean.
• 손으로 먹어요. (Son-euro meogeoyo.) - Eat with hands.
• 컴퓨터로 일해요. (Keompyuteo-ro ilhaeyo.) - Work with computer.

3. Material / Composition

Indicates what something is made of.

Examples:

• 나무로 만들었어요. (Namu-ro mandeureosseoyo.) - Made with wood.
• 종이로 만들었어요. (Jongi-ro mandeureosseoyo.) - Made with paper.

Direction in Detail

Physical Directions

Cardinal directions:

• 북쪽으로 (bukjjog-euro) - toward north
• 남쪽으로 (namjjog-euro) - toward south
• 동쪽으로 (dongjjog-euro) - toward east
• 서쪽으로 (seojjog-euro) - toward west

Relative directions:

• 왼쪽으로 (oenjjog-euro) - to the left
• 오른쪽으로 (oreunjjog-euro) - to the right
• 앞으로 (ap-euro) - forward
• 뒤로 (dwi-ro) - backward
• 위로 (wi-ro) - upward
• 아래로 (arae-ro) - downward

Directional Phrases

이쪽/그쪽/저쪽으로 - this way/that way:

• 이쪽으로 오세요. (Come this way.)
• 그쪽으로 가세요. (Go that way.)
• 저쪽으로 가세요. (Go over that way.)

With Movement Verbs

• 가다 (to go) → 왼쪽으로 가요 (go left)
• 돌다 (to turn) → 오른쪽으로 도세요 (turn right)
• 오다 (to come) → 이쪽으로 오세요 (come this way)

Means and Method

Transportation

Vehicles:

• 버스로 (beoseu-ro) - by bus
• 지하철로 (jihacheol-lo) - by subway
• 기차로 (gicha-ro) - by train
• 비행기로 (bihaenggi-ro) - by airplane
• 택시로 (taeksi-ro) - by taxi
• 자전거로 (jajeongeo-ro) - by bicycle
• 차로 (cha-ro) - by car

Examples:

• 학교에 버스로 가요. (Go to school by bus.)
• 한국에 비행기로 왔어요. (Came to Korea by plane.)

Communication Methods

Languages:

• 한국어로 (hangugeo-ro) - in Korean
• 영어로 (yeongeo-ro) - in English
• 중국어로 (junggugeo-ro) - in Chinese

Media:

• 전화로 (jeonhwa-ro) - by phone
• 이메일로 (imeil-lo) - by email
• 편지로 (pyeonji-ro) - by letter

Examples:

• 한국어로 말해 주세요. (Please speak in Korean.)
• 전화로 연락했어요. (Contacted by phone.)

Tools and Instruments

Body parts:

• 손으로 (son-euro) - with hands
• 발로 (bal-lo) - with feet
• 눈으로 (nun-euro) - with eyes

Tools:

• 칼로 (kal-lo) - with knife
• 가위로 (gawi-ro) - with scissors
• 펜으로 (pen-euro) - with pen
• 젓가락으로 (jeotgarak-euro) - with chopsticks

Examples:

• 손으로 만들었어요. (Made with hands.)
• 펜으로 써 주세요. (Please write with pen.)
• 젓가락으로 먹어요. (Eat with chopsticks.)

Material and Composition

Indicating what something is made from:

Materials:

• 나무로 (namu-ro) - with/from wood
• 철로 (cheol-lo) - with/from iron
• 종이로 (jongi-ro) - with/from paper
• 플라스틱으로 (peullaseutik-euro) - with/from plastic
• 유리로 (yuri-ro) - with/from glass

Examples:

• 이 책상은 나무로 만들었어요. (This desk is made from wood.)
• 종이로 만든 상자예요. (It's a box made from paper.)

(으)로 vs 에

Both can indicate destination, but with nuances:

에 (Specific destination)

Point destination:

• 학교에 가요. (Go to school.) - specific place

(으)로 (Direction toward)

General direction:

• 서울로 가요. (Go toward Seoul.) - directional sense
• 집으로 가요. (Go toward home.) - direction

With large areas:

• 한국으로 가요. (Go to Korea.) - often used with countries
• 미국으로 왔어요. (Came to America.)

Practical difference

Both are often acceptable:

• 집에 가요. (Go to home.) - neutral
• 집으로 가요. (Go to/toward home.) - slightly emphasizes direction

With countries, (으)로 is more common:

• 한국으로 가요. (More natural)
• 한국에 가요. (Also correct)

Common Patterns

Pattern 1: Direction

[Direction + (으)로] + [Movement Verb]

• 왼쪽으로 가세요. (Go left.)
• 앞으로 오세요. (Come forward.)

Pattern 2: Transportation

[Destination + 에] + [Vehicle + (으)로] + [가다/오다]

• 학교에 버스로 가요. (Go to school by bus.)
• 집에 택시로 왔어요. (Came home by taxi.)

Pattern 3: Method

[Tool/Method + (으)로] + [Verb]

• 한국어로 말해요. (Speak in Korean.)
• 손으로 만들어요. (Make with hands.)

Pattern 4: Material

[Material + (으)로] + [만들다/되다]

• 나무로 만들었어요. (Made from wood.)
• 종이로 만든 꽃 (flowers made from paper)

Special Uses

Time Expressions

With duration or deadline:

• 일주일로 (within one week)
• 한 달로 (within one month)

Example:

• 일주일로 끝낼 수 있어요? (Can finish within one week?)

Selection / Choice

Indicating what is chosen:

• 이것으로 할게요. (I'll take this one.)
• 커피로 주세요. (Give me coffee. / I'll have coffee.)

Capacity / Role

Indicating capacity or role:

• 선생님으로 일해요. (Work as a teacher.)
• 친구로 생각해요. (Think of as a friend.)

로 After ㄹ

When a word ends in ㄹ, use 로 (not 으로):

✅ 서울로 (Seoul-lo) - to Seoul ❌ 서울으로 (Wrong)

✅ 물로 (mul-lo) - with water ❌ 물으로 (Wrong)

Multiple Uses in Sentence

Can use (으)로 multiple times for different functions:

• 버스로 학교로 가요. (Go toward school by bus.)
  • 버스로 = by bus (means)
  • 학교로 = toward school (direction)

Common Expressions

이쪽으로 (ijjog-euro) - this way 그쪽으로 (geujjog-euro) - that way 저쪽으로 (jeojjog-euro) - that way (over there)

앞으로 (ap-euro) - forward / in the future

• 앞으로 잘 부탁합니다. (Please treat me well in the future.)

뒤로 (dwi-ro) - backward 위로 (wi-ro) - upward / comfort/consolation 아래로 (arae-ro) - downward

With Verbs of Motion

가다 (to go):

• 왼쪽으로 가세요. (Go left.)

오다 (to come):

• 이쪽으로 오세요. (Come this way.)

돌다 (to turn):

• 오른쪽으로 도세요. (Turn right.)

가리키다 (to point):

• 북쪽으로 가리켜요. (Point north.)

Summary Table

Function	Example	Translation
Direction	왼쪽으로 가요	Go left
Transportation	버스로 가요	Go by bus
Language	한국어로 말해요	Speak in Korean
Tool	손으로 먹어요	Eat with hands
Material	나무로 만들었어요	Made from wood
Choice	이것으로 할게요	I'll take this

Key Points

• ✅ Form: 로 after vowels/ㄹ, 으로 after other consonants
• ✅ Three main functions: Direction, means/method, material
• ✅ Direction: Which way (왼쪽으로, 앞으로)
• ✅ Means: How/by what (버스로, 한국어로)
• ✅ Material: Made from what (나무로)
• ✅ With countries: Often preferred over 에
• ✅ After ㄹ: Always 로, never 으로

Understanding (으)로 is essential for expressing direction and method in Korean. It adds clarity about how and which way things happen.