-으로

Korean

Alternative forms

로 (-ro) — after vowels and ㄹ (l)
ㄹ로 (-llo) — after vowels, colloquially for certain pronouns

Etymology

From Middle Korean 으〮로〮 (Yale: -úlwó), from Old Korean 乙留 (*-ulwo).

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɯɾo̞]
Phonetic hangul: [으로]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	euro
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	eulo
McCune–Reischauer^?	ŭro
Yale Romanization^?	ulo

Particle

으로 • (-euro)

to, toward: directional case marker, in a physical sense
나무 방향으로 가 자. ― Namu banghyang-euro ga-ja. ― Let's go toward the direction of the tree.

집으로 가다가 노숙자 를 만났다.
Jib-euro gadaga nosukja-reul mannatda.
I met a homeless person while going home [lit. going towards home].
into, direction of a change: directional case marker in a metaphorical sense; expresses transformation or direction towards a certain time
사람 이 호랑이로 변 했 다. ― Saram-i horang'i-ro byeonhaetda. ― The person turned into a tiger.

나무 를 풀로 바꾸자. ― Namu-reul pul-lo bakkuja. ― Let's switch out the trees for grass.

올해로 한국어 를 배운 지 3 년 이 됐다. ― Olhaero han'gugeo-reul bae'un ji 3nyeon-i dwaetda. ― This year it's been 3 years since I've started learning Korean.
using, out of; with: instrumental case marker, marking material, instruments, or means of doing something
종이로 옷 을 만들어 봤다. ― Jong'i-ro os-eul mandeureo-bwatda. ― I tried making clothes out of paper.

칼로 돌 을 깎았다. ― Kal-lo dor-eul kkakkatda. ― I carved the stone with a knife.

오랑캐로 오랑캐 를 제어한다. ― Orangkae-ro orangkae-reul jeeohanda. ― One controls barbarians using [other] barbarians.

뒷문으로 둘어와. ― Dwinmuneuro dureowa. ― Come in through the back door.
due to; from: instrumental case marker, marking causation
독감으로 돌아가셨다. ― Dokgam-euro doragasyeotda. ― He passed away from influenza.

로또로 부자 됐어. ― Rotto-ro buja dwaesseo. ― I got rich from the lottery.
as; as being; in the state of: instrumental case marker, marking state, manner, status, or capacity
몇 년 간 거지로 살았다. ― Myeot nyeon gan geoji-ro saratda. ― I lived as a beggar for several years.

좋 은 친구로 생각한다. ― Jo-eun chin'gu-ro saenggak-handa. ― I consider her as being a good friend.

긍정적으로 생각 을 해 야 돼. ― Geungjeongjeogeuro saenggag-eul haeya dwae. ― You have to think positively.
as of: instrumental case marker, marking an update in a list of previous events
오늘 부로 너 는 지각 을 다섯 번 했어.
Oneul bu-ro neo-neun jigag-eul daseot beon haesseo.
As of today, you've been late five times.
(archaic) from; egressive case marker, in a physical or chronological sense
- 1901, 神(신)學(학)月(월)報(보) [Theological Monthly], volume 4:
  아홉 시로 열두 시 ᄭᅡ지 는 이경 이 오 十(십)二(이)시로브터 상오 세 시 ᄭᅡ지 는 삼경 이 라
  ahop-si-ro yeoldu-si-kkaji-neun igyeong-io sibi-si-ro-beuteo sang'o se-si-kkaji-neun samgyeong-ira
  From nine to twelve, it is the second watch; from twelve to three in the afternoon, it is the third watch.
(Gyeongsang) Marks the direct object for certain action verbs, especially verbs that have a direct impact on the object.
Synonym: (Standard Korean) 을 (-eul)
Used in various expressions:
1. See 으로 하여 (-euro hayeo, “because of; via”).
2. See 으로 하여금 (-euro hayeogeum, expresses the agent in a causative construction).
3. See 으로 더불어 (-euro deobureo, “together with”).

Usage notes

Usually in the first sense, 으로 (-euro) is more indirect as it expresses going towards a certain direction or a certain location. 에 (-e) on the other hand, expresses a direct location, which is similar to 를 (-reul).
- In this directional sense, only 으로 (-euro) can be used with expressions ending with 쪽 (jjok). Using 에 (-e) in such case would result in a locative sense.

Derived terms

으로서 (-euroseo)
으로써 (-eurosseo)
으로부터 (-eurobuteo)