Korean Pattern ~기로 하다: How to Say "decide to ~"

Verb stem + 기로 하다. A firm decision or agreement. Past tense: ~기로 했다 (decided).

The Rule

~기로 하다 = "decide to ~" Verb stem + 기로 하다. A firm decision or agreement. Past tense: ~기로 했다 (decided). This is one of the essential Korean grammar patterns. Mastering it unlocks the ability to express "decide to ~" naturally in conversation — something you'll need almost every day.

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

In English, "decide to ~" is expressed with separate words (auxiliary verbs, modals). In Korean, ~기로 하다 is a grammatical ENDING attached to the verb stem. You can't just translate word-by-word. The common mistake: trying to combine Korean words the way English does instead of attaching the pattern to the verb stem. Korean grammar works by stacking endings, not by adding separate helper words.

How It Works

Formation: Verb stem + 기로 하다 Verb stem + 기로 하다. A firm decision or agreement. Past tense: ~기로 했다 (decided). Step by step: 1. Take any verb (e.g., 가다 = to go) 2. Remove 다 to get the stem (가) 3. Add the pattern: 가기로 하다 This works with virtually any Korean verb.

Real Examples

• 한국에 가기로 했어요. (hanguke gagiro haeteoyo.) — "I decided to go to Korea." • 다이어트하기로 했어요. (daieoteuhagiro haeteoyo.) — "I decided to go on a diet."

Common Mistakes

❌ Trying to translate "decide to ~" word-by-word from English ✅ Use the pattern ~기로 하다 attached to the verb stem → Korean expresses "decide to ~" as a single grammatical construction, not separate words. ❌ Forgetting vowel harmony or consonant rules ✅ Check if the verb stem ends in a vowel or consonant — the pattern may change form → Pay attention to the verb stem's final sound when attaching the pattern.

Quick Tip

Practice ~기로 하다 with 5 verbs you already know. Write them out: • 가다 (go) → 가기로 하다 • 먹다 (eat) → 먹기로 하다 Repetition with familiar verbs builds the pattern into muscle memory. Once automatic, you can use it with ANY verb.

~기로 하다 = "decide to ~"

Examples

한국에 가기로 했어요. — hanguke gagiro haeteoyo. — I decided to go to Korea.

다이어트하기로 했어요. — daieoteuhagiro haeteoyo. — I decided to go on a diet.