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Easy Korean - Level 9, Unit 21: To assume that... (-(으)려니 하다)

When you blindly assume or expect that something will happen (or that someone will do something) based on a guess or a feeling, you use the structure -(으)려니 하다.

It translates to "I assume that..." or "I figure that..."

Structure Breakdown

  • -(으)려니 = A contracted form of -(으)려고 하니 (thinking that it will...)
  • 하다 = to do/think

How to Conjugate

You attach it to the verb or adjective stem.

1. Vowel stem: Add -려니 하다 * 가다 -> 가려니 하다 (I assume they will go) * 비싸다 -> 비싸려니 하다 (I assume it is expensive)

2. Consonant stem: Add -으려니 하다 * 먹다 -> 먹으려니 하다 (I assume they will eat) * 좋다 -> 좋으려니 하다 (I assume it's good)

3. ㄹ stem: Add -려니 하다 (ㄹ drops!) * 알다 -> 아려니 하다 (I assume they know)

4. Past Tense: Add to the past stem (-았/었/였) * 하다 -> 했 -> 했으려니 하다 (I assume they did it)

When is it used?

It is often used when you didn't check the facts directly, but just let something happen because you figured it would be fine. Because of this, it is frequently paired with phrases about being wrong or things turning out differently than expected.

  • 알아서 하려니 했어요. (I assumed you would take care of it [but you didn't]).

Example Sentences

  1. 민수 씨가 알아서 잘 하려니 했어요. (I assumed Minsoo would take care of it well.)

  2. 오늘도 비가 오려니 하고 우산을 챙겼어요. (I figured it would rain again today, so I packed an umbrella.)

  3. 사람이 많아서 비싸려니 했는데 생각보다 쌌어요. (Because there were many people, I assumed it would be expensive, but it was cheaper than I thought.)

  4. 다 이해했으려니 했는데 아직 모르는 것 같아요. (I assumed they understood everything, but it seems they still don't know.)