Korean Grammar Beginner -Particles- (14): N(으)로

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I. Examples

(으)로 is used when expressing a direction or means. It equivalent to ‘to’ or ‘toward’ / ‘by’ or ‘with/using’ and ‘from’ in English. Use “로” when the noun ends in a vowel or ㄹ, and use “으로” when it ends in a consonant.

여기에서 왼쪽으로 가세요.
(Please turn left from here.)

서울에서 제주도까지 비행기로 가요.
((I) go from Seoul to Jeju Island by plane.)

가위로 종이를 잘라요.
((I) cut the paper with scissors.)

땅콩으로 잼을 만들었어요.
((I) made jam from peanuts.)

II. Grammar Point

1. Expressing a Direction

A. (으)로

(으)로 indicates a direction towards a place. It can be translated as ‘to’ or ‘toward’ in English. When the preceding noun ends in a vowel or ㄹ, 로 is used, while when the noun ends in a consonant, 으로 is used.

앞으로 쭉 가세요. 그리고 오른쪽으로 가세요.
(Go straight forward. Then go to the right.)

B. (으)로 가다 vs 에 가다

Korean Grammar Beginner -Particles- (6): N에1

When ‘(으)로’ is used to indicate direction, it is mostly accompanied by the verb ‘가다’ (to go). However, there is also the directional particle ‘에’, which is often used with ‘가다’. (으)로 가다 indicates moving in a specific direction, with emphasis on the direction itself.
Conversely, 에 가다 emphasizes the destination, solely expressing the endpoint without conveying a sense of direction.

레아가 집으로 가요. (O)
= 레아가 집에 가요. (O)
(Lea is going home.)

오른쪽으로 / 동쪽으로 가세요. (O)
(Go to the right / east.)

<오른쪽에 / 동쪽에 가세요. (?)>

Grammar-wise, the above usage is wrong. Therefore, when taking TOPIK or any Korean language-related exams, bear in mind that such usage is not considered correct. However, in spoken language, be aware that people sometimes use it without much thought. Just keep this in mind as a point of reference.

2. Expressing Means

(으)로 also indicates when expressing means of transport, other means, tools and materials used to make something. In this case, (으)로 can be translated as ‘by’ or ‘with/using’ and ‘from’ in English.

A. (으)로

부산에 버스로 갈 거에요.
(I will go to Busan by bus.)

가위로 종이를 잘라요.
(I cut the paper with scissors.)

두부는 콩으로 만들어요.
(Tofu is made from soybeans.)

라면은 젓가락으로 먹고 파스타는 포크로 먹어요.
(Ramen is eaten with chopsticks,
while pasta is eaten with a fork.)

B. -아/어서

Meanwhile, when representing a means of transport with a verb instead of a noun, -아/어서 is added to the verb. Examples include 걷다(walk) –> 걸어서(by foot), 달리다(run) –> 달려서(by running), 운전하다(drive) –> 운전해서(by driving), 수영하다(swim) –> 수영해서(by swimming).

학교에서 집까지 걸어서 가요.
(I walk from school to home.
= I go home from school by foot.)

서울에서 부산까지 운전해서 갔어요.
(I drove from Seoul to Busan.
= I went from Seoul to Busan by driving a car.)

그는 한강을 수영해서 건넜다.
(He swam across the Han River.
= He crossed the Han River by swimming.)

III. Practice

집에서 회사까지 차___ 가요.
집에서 한강공원까지 ___ 가요. (걷다)
계란, 밀가루랑 설탕___ 케이크를 만들어요.

I. Examples

II. Grammar Point

1. Expressing a Direction

A. (으)로

B. (으)로 가다 vs 에 가다

2. Expressing Means

A. (으)로

B. -아/어서

III. Practice

IV. See More