Plans & Goals

Korean Basic Conversation 4

Chapter 12 · Plans & Goals: Where Next

🎯 Plans & Goals — 계획과 목표

In this last chapter you talk about the future: plans, intentions and goals. The grammar: -(으)ㄹ 계획이다 ("I plan to"), -(으)려고 하다 ("I intend to"), -(으)ㄹ 것이다 ("I will") and -고 싶다 ("I want to"). For the background see Korean Grammar 1 7 (Past and Future) and Korean Grammar 2 6 (Purpose, Time, Condition).

① Plans for the Year — 올해 계획

A:올해 계획이 뭐예요?What are your plans for this year?

B:한국어 시험을 볼 계획이에요. 6급까지 따고 싶어요.I plan to take a Korean exam. I want to get up to level 6.

A:대단하네요! 어떻게 준비할 거예요?Impressive! How will you prepare?

B:매일 한 시간씩 공부하려고 해요. 주말에는 드라마도 볼 거예요.I intend to study an hour every day. At weekends I'll watch dramas too.

A:좋은 방법이에요. 저도 같이 공부해도 될까요?That's a good method. May I study together with you?

B:물론이죠. 같이 하면 더 오래 할 수 있을 거예요.Of course. If we do it together we'll probably keep going longer.

Hard words: 계획 gye-hoek plan · 따다 tta-da get (a certificate) · 준비하다 jun-bi-ha-da prepare · 물론 mul-lon of course

② Career Goals — 직업 목표

A:졸업하면 뭐 할 계획이세요?What do you plan to do after graduating?

B:한국 회사에서 일해 보고 싶어요. 그래서 이력서를 준비하고 있어요.I'd like to try working at a Korean company. So I'm preparing my résumé.

A:한국어는 자신 있으세요?Are you confident in your Korean?

B:일상 대화는 괜찮지만 회의는 아직 어려워요. 더 연습해야 할 것 같아요.Everyday conversation is fine, but meetings are still hard. I think I need to practise more.

A:그럼 면접 연습도 같이 해 볼까요?Then shall we practise interviews together too?

B:정말요? 그러면 큰 도움이 될 거예요. 감사합니다.Really? That would be a big help. Thank you.

Hard words: 졸업하다 jol-eop-ha-da graduate · 이력서 i-ryeok-seo résumé · 자신 있다 ja-sin it-da be confident · 면접 myeon-jeop interview

③ A Change of Plan — 계획 바꾸기

A:다음 달에 부산에 가려고 했는데 못 갈 것 같아요.I was going to go to Busan next month, but I don't think I can.

B:왜요? 무슨 일이 생겼어요?Why? Did something come up?

A:회사에서 갑자기 출장을 가라고 해서요.The company suddenly told me to go on a business trip.

B:아쉽네요. 그럼 여행은 언제로 미룰 거예요?What a pity. Then when will you put the trip off to?

A:가을에 갈 계획이에요. 그때는 꼭 가고 싶어요.I plan to go in autumn. I really want to go then.

B:그때는 날씨도 좋을 테니까 더 좋을 거예요.The weather will be nice then too, so it'll be even better.

Hard words: 출장 chul-jang business trip · 아쉽다 a-swip-da be a pity · 미루다 mi-ru-da put off · 꼭 kkok definitely

④ A Formal Presentation — 발표

A:앞으로의 계획을 말씀드리겠습니다.I will tell you about my plans for the future.

A:저는 내년에 한국에서 일 년 동안 공부할 계획입니다.Next year I plan to study in Korea for one year.

A:그곳에서 현지 문화를 배우고 친구도 많이 사귀려고 합니다.There I intend to learn the local culture and make many friends.

B:구체적인 목표가 있으십니까?Do you have a specific goal?

A:네, 졸업할 때까지 한국어로 논문을 쓰는 것이 목표입니다.Yes, my goal is to write a thesis in Korean by the time I graduate.

B:훌륭한 목표입니다. 꼭 이루시기 바랍니다.An excellent goal. I hope you achieve it.

Hard words: 현지 hyeon-ji local (place) · 구체적 gu-che-jeok specific · 논문 non-mun thesis · 이루다 i-ru-da achieve

⑤ Making It Happen — 실천하기

A:새해 결심은 보통 오래 못 가잖아요.New Year's resolutions usually don't last long, do they?

B:맞아요. 그래서 이번에는 작은 목표부터 시작하려고 해요.True. So this time I intend to start from small goals.

A:예를 들면요?For example?

B:하루에 단어 열 개씩 외우는 거요. 그 정도면 할 수 있을 것 같아요.Memorising ten words a day. I think I can do that much.

A:좋아요. 일 년이면 삼천육백 개가 넘네요!Good. In a year that's over three thousand six hundred!

B:그러니까 포기하지 말고 계속 해 볼 거예요.So I won't give up and will keep at it.

Hard words: 결심 gyeol-sim resolution · 외우다 oe-u-da memorise · 정도 jeong-do degree, extent · 포기하다 po-gi-ha-da give up

⑥ Between Friends (casual) — 우리 뭐 할까?

A:방학에 뭐 할 거야?What will you do in the holidays?

B:서울에 놀러 가려고. 너도 같이 갈래?I'm planning to go to Seoul for fun. Want to come too?

A:좋지! 가서 한국어로만 말해 보고 싶어.Sure! When we get there I want to try speaking only in Korean.

B:그래, 그럼 영어는 금지다!Okay, then English is banned!

Hard words: 방학 bang-hak school holidays · 놀러 가다 nol-leo ga-da go for fun · -ㄹ래? -l-lae? want to? (casual) · 금지 geum-ji ban

🔑 Key Phrases — 중요한 표현

English	Polite (-요)	Casual (friends)
What are your plans?	계획이 뭐예요?	계획이 뭐야?
I plan to study abroad.	유학 갈 계획이에요.	유학 갈 계획이야.
I'm thinking of starting.	시작하려고 해요.	시작하려고.
I want to try it.	해 보고 싶어요.	해 보고 싶어.
I'll do my best.	열심히 할게요.	열심히 할게.
Let's keep going!	계속 힘내요!	계속 힘내자!

🔤 Three Verbs — 동사

Verb	Dictionary	Polite present	Past	-(으)려고 하다	-(으)ㄹ 계획이다
to plan	계획하다	계획해요	계획했어요	계획하려고 하다	계획할 계획이다
to prepare	준비하다	준비해요	준비했어요	준비하려고 하다	준비할 계획이다
to achieve	이루다	이뤄요	이뤘어요	이루려고 하다	이룰 계획이다

🧰 Grammar Tools — 문법

1. -(으)ㄹ 계획이다: "I plan to"

Add -(으)ㄹ 계획이다 to a verb stem for a settled plan: 내년에 이사할 계획이에요. ("I plan to move next year.") It sounds a little more deliberate and formal than -(으)ㄹ 거예요. Use -ㄹ after a vowel and -을 after a consonant. The noun 계획 can also be used directly: 여행 계획을 세웠어요. ("I made a travel plan.")

Plan	Meaning
시험을 볼 계획이에요.	I plan to take the exam.
일 년 동안 공부할 계획이에요.	I plan to study for a year.
책을 읽을 계획이에요.	I plan to read a book.
아직 정하지 않았어요.	I haven't decided yet.

2. -(으)려고 하다: "I intend to"

With -(으)려고 하다 you say what you are about to do or intend to do: 운동을 시작하려고 해요. ("I intend to start exercising.") It is less fixed than a plan. In the past, -(으)려고 했는데 means "I was going to…, but…" and signals that the plan did not work out: 가려고 했는데 못 갔어요. (Korean Grammar 2 6 shows the same ending with its purpose meaning.)

Form	Example	Meaning
present	이사하려고 해요.	I intend to move.
plan that failed	전화하려고 했는데 바빴어요.	I was going to call, but I was busy.
negative	그 일은 하지 않으려고 해요.	I intend not to do that job.

3. -(으)ㄹ 것이다 and -고 싶다: "will" and "want to"

-(으)ㄹ 것이다 (spoken -(으)ㄹ 거예요) states a decision or a prediction: 내일부터 달릴 거예요. ("I'll run from tomorrow.") -고 싶다 expresses your own wish: 한국에서 살고 싶어요. Note that -고 싶다 is for your own wishes (first person in statements, second person in questions); for a third person use -고 싶어 하다: 친구는 한국에서 살고 싶어 해요.

Pattern	Example	Meaning
-(으)ㄹ 거예요	주말에 쉴 거예요.	I will rest at the weekend.
-고 싶어요	영화감독이 되고 싶어요.	I want to become a film director.
-고 싶어 해요	동생은 의사가 되고 싶어 해요.	My younger sibling wants to become a doctor.
-(으)ㄹ게요	제가 할게요.	I'll do it (a promise made now).

Watch out: plan, intention or promise? -(으)ㄹ 계획이다 is a settled plan, -(으)려고 하다 is an intention, -(으)ㄹ 거예요 is a decision or a guess, and -(으)ㄹ게요 is a promise or offer made to the listener at the moment of speaking. Do not use -(으)ㄹ게요 in a question or for someone else.

4. Words for goals

Korean	English
목표를 세우다	set a goal
목표를 이루다	achieve a goal
꿈을 이루다	make a dream come true
계획을 바꾸다 / 미루다	change / postpone a plan
포기하지 않다	not give up

📰 Reading — 읽기

Read the text, then check the English and the word list. Then answer the true/false questions.

내 목표

저는 일 년 전에 한국어를 처음 배우기 시작했어요. 처음에는 한글도 읽지 못했지만 지금은 드라마를 자막 없이 조금 이해할 수 있어요. 내년에는 한국어 시험을 볼 계획이에요. 그리고 졸업하면 한국에서 일해 보고 싶어요. 목표를 이루려면 매일 조금씩 공부하는 것이 중요한 것 같아요. 어려울 때도 있겠지만 포기하지 않고 계속할 거예요.

English: I started learning Korean for the first time a year ago. At first I couldn't even read Hangul, but now I can understand dramas a little without subtitles. Next year I plan to take a Korean exam. And when I graduate I'd like to try working in Korea. To achieve my goal, I think studying a little every day is important. There will be hard times, but I won't give up and will keep going.

Words: 자막 subtitles · 이해하다 understand · 중요하다 be important · 계속하다 continue

1. The writer started learning Korean a year ago.

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True: 일 년 전에 … 배우기 시작했어요.

2. The writer can understand dramas completely.

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False: only a little (조금 이해할 수 있어요).

3. The writer plans to take an exam next year.

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True: 내년에는 … 시험을 볼 계획이에요.

4. The writer wants to work in Korea after graduating.

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True: 졸업하면 한국에서 일해 보고 싶어요.

📖 Vocabulary — 어휘

20 key words for plans and goals.

#	Korean	Say it	English	Type
1	계획	gye-hoek	plan	noun
2	목표	mok-pyo	goal	noun
3	꿈	kkum	dream	noun
4	미래	mi-rae	future	noun
5	결심	gyeol-sim	resolution	noun
6	준비	jun-bi	preparation	noun
7	노력	no-ryeok	effort	noun
8	성공	seong-gong	success	noun
9	유학	yu-hak	studying abroad	noun
10	졸업	jol-eop	graduation	noun
11	취업	chwi-eop	getting a job	noun
12	계획하다	gye-hoe-ka-da	plan	verb
13	준비하다	jun-bi-ha-da	prepare	verb
14	노력하다	no-ryeo-ka-da	make an effort	verb
15	이루다	i-ru-da	achieve	verb
16	미루다	mi-ru-da	put off	verb
17	포기하다	po-gi-ha-da	give up	verb
18	결심하다	gyeol-sim-ha-da	resolve	verb
19	도전하다	do-jeon-ha-da	take on a challenge	verb
20	성공하다	seong-gong-ha-da	succeed	verb

As Heard in Dramas — "파이팅!" and "할 수 있어!" 파이팅! (from English "fighting") is the all-purpose cheer, and 할 수 있어! ("you can do it!") is what a friend says before an exam. When a character makes a vow, you may hear 두고 봐! ("just you wait and see!").

Real Korean Tip — Answering "계획이 뭐예요?" In everyday talk people often avoid sounding too certain about the future. -(으)려고요 or -(으)ㄹ까 해요 ("I'm thinking of…") sounds softer than -(으)ㄹ 거예요, and 아직 잘 모르겠어요 ("I'm not sure yet") is a perfectly normal answer.

Register — Plans In a formal speech or interview say -(으)ㄹ 계획입니다 or -(으)려고 합니다. With friends, -(으)려고 or -(으)ㄹ 거야 is enough.

✍️ Try It Yourself — 연습

Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.

1. Say "I plan to take a Korean exam."

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한국어 시험을 볼 계획이에요.

2. Say "I intend to start exercising."

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운동을 시작하려고 해요.

3. Say "I was going to go, but I couldn't."

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가려고 했는데 못 갔어요.

4. Say "My friend wants to live in Korea."

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친구는 한국에서 살고 싶어 해요.

5. Say "I'll do my best" (a promise).

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열심히 할게요.

6. Why is 친구가 가고 싶어요 wrong for "my friend wants to go"?

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-고 싶다 is for your own wishes. For a third person say 친구가 가고 싶어 해요.

🏁 Course Complete — 수고하셨습니다!

You have finished Korean Basic Conversation 4. Here is what these twelve chapters covered.

Chapters	What you can now do
1–3	Make decisions and give reasons (-기로 하다, -느라고, -(으)ㄹ수록), describe sequences, and report mishaps with passives and -는 바람에.
4–6	Give formal instructions, explain goals and conditions (-(으)려면, -도록), and talk about causing things and narrowly avoiding them.
7–9	Report discoveries and hearsay (-았/었더니, -더라, -다고 하던데), judge things (-(으)ㄴ/는 편이다), and give reasons.
10–12	Address people properly, guess at situations, argue a case politely, and talk about plans and goals.

Where next — Korean Intermediate 1 The natural next step is Korean Intermediate 1, which builds on everything here with longer texts, richer connectors and more natural speech. Alongside it, keep going with dramas and news in Korean, and revisit Korean Grammar 4 10 when you want to see the whole system in one place. 계속 파이팅!