My Korean Grammar & Usage Note #7: -기로 하다 To decide to…

We use -기로 하다 to express a promise to yourself or to another. It is added directly to the verb stem, regardless of whether the verb stem ends in a vowel or a consonant (with/without batchim). This form indicates a decision or a plan and is usually expressed in the past tense.

01 To decide to…

Verb + 기로 하다

듣다 (to listen) 듣기로 하다
보다 (to watch) 보기로 하다
먹다 (to eat) 먹기로 하다
놀다 (to play) 놀기로 하다
가다 (to go) 가기로 하다
만나다 (to meet) 만나기로 하다

담배를 끊기로 했어요.
dambaereul kkeungiro haesseoyo
I decided to quit smoking.

여행을 가기로 했어요.
yeohaengeul gagiro haesseoyo
I decided to go on a trip.

02 Negative forms

There are two ways to express negation.

a. To decide not to…

Verb + 지 않기로 하다

먹지 않기로 했어요.
meokji angiro haesseoyo
I decided not to eat.

b. Do not decide to…

Verb + 기로 하지 않다

먹기로 하지 않았어요.
meokgiro haji anasseoyo
I haven’t decided to eat.

03 To make plans to…

내일은 친구하고 영화를 보기로 했어요.
naeileun chinguhago yeonghwareul bogilo haesseoyo
I made plans with my friend to watch a movie tomorrow.

오늘은 시간이 없으니까 도서관에는 내일 가기로 할까요?
oneureun sigani eopseunikka doseogwaneneun naeil gagiro halkkayo
Since we don’t have time today, why don’t we go to the library tomorrow?

04 Others

‘하다’ can be replaced by 약속하다 (to promise), 결심하다 (to resolve) or other similar verbs.

a. To promise to…

Verb + 기로 약속하다

친구와 같이 한국에 가기로 약속했어요.
chinguwa gachi hanguke gagiro yaksokaesseoyo
I promised my friend that we would go to Korea together.

b. To resolve to…

Verb + 기로 결심하다

좀 더 다이어트를 엄격하게 하기로 결심했어요.
jom deo daieoteureul eomgyeokage hagiro gyeolsimhaesseoyo
I resolved to go on a stricter diet.

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