Intentional purpose: -고자 하다

At its core, -고자 하다 connects a verb to your intention. The -고자 part acts as a bridge, while 하다 (or its variations like 합니다 or 함) finishes the thought. One of the best things about this pattern is its consistency. Unlike some other Korean grammar points that change based on whether the verb ends in a vowel or a consonant, -고자 is a loyal friend—it stays the same regardless. You don't have to worry about batchim (final consonants) here. Another key point: you don’t put tense markers like -었- or -겠- before -고자. The tense is always handled by the final 하다. So, even if you’re talking about an intention you *had* yesterday, the -고자 part remains untouched. It’s a clean, streamlined way to show your focus. Think of it like a grammar traffic light; it keeps the flow of your sentence moving directly toward your goal without any unnecessary clutter.

1. 1Making this work is actually pretty straightforward. You just need the verb stem.
2. 2Find your verb (e.g., 가다 - to go).
3. 3Remove the 다 to get the stem (가).
4. 4Attach -고자 하다 directly to the stem.
5. 5가다 (to go) → 가고자 합니다 (I intend to go)
6. 6먹다 (to eat) → 먹고자 합니다 (I intend to eat - though this is very formal, like at a royal banquet!)
7. 7공부하다 (to study) → 공부하고자 합니다 (I intend to study)
8. 8It works the same for every verb. No tricky exceptions or weird spelling changes to memorize here. Just pure, unadulterated intention. It’s like the 'easy' button of formal Korean grammar.

Timing is everything. You’ll mostly encounter -고자 하다 in official settings. Imagine you are in a job interview. Instead of saying "I want to work here," using 이 회사에서 일하고자 합니다 shows a level of professional respect that recruiters love. It’s also the go-to choice for:

• Formal Speeches: Opening a ceremony or a club meeting.
• Written Reports: Explaining the purpose of a research project.
• Professional Emails: Stating your reason for contacting a professor or a manager.
• Official Announcements: When a company explains its future goals.

It’s about showing that your intention isn't just a whim. It’s a deliberate choice. Yes, even native speakers might feel a bit stiff using it, but that stiffness is actually a sign of respect in Korean culture. It tells the listener that you are taking the situation seriously.

Whatever you do, don't use this at a chicken and beer spot with your buddies. If you say 치킨을 먹고자 합니다 (I intend to eat chicken) to your friend, they might look at you like you’ve started speaking in Shakespearean English. It’s way too heavy for casual settings.

• Avoid with Adjectives: This grammar is about *action* and *intent*. You can't "intend" to be tall or "intend" to be pretty using this pattern. Keep it strictly to verbs.
• Avoid in Casual Conversation: It sounds robotic and oddly detached.
• Don't use for trivial things: If you're just going to the convenience store for a snack, stick to -려고요. -고자 하다 is for the big stuff.

Using it wrongly is like wearing a tuxedo to a pizza party. You’re dressed up, but everyone else is in hoodies, and you just look out of place.

One big trap is the subject rule. In a sentence using -고자 하다, the person intending to do the action and the person actually doing it must be the same. You can’t say "I intend for *you* to study" using this pattern.

Another mistake is trying to squeeze a past tense marker in the middle.

• Wrong: 갔고자 합니다 (X)
• Right: 가고자 했습니다 (O)

Also, remember that -고자 하다 is already quite polite. You don't usually need to stack it with every single honorific in the book unless you're talking to a king. Keep it simple and let the grammar do the heavy lifting for you. And please, don't use it with adjectives! 행복하고자 합니다 (I intend to be happy) sounds a bit like a philosophical manifesto—stick to verbs for daily professional life.

You might be thinking, "Wait, isn't this just -려고 하다?" You’re close, but there’s a nuance gap.

• -려고 하다: This is your everyday intention. "I’m planning to go to the gym." It’s flexible, used in speech and writing, and feels natural in most situations.
• -고자 하다: This is the "final boss" of intentions. It’s strictly formal, mostly written or used in public speaking, and carries more "weight."

If -려고 하다 is a casual promise to yourself, -고자 하다 is a public declaration of your goals. Another cousin is -기 위해(서), which means "in order to." While -기 위해(서) focuses on the *reason* for an action, -고자 하다 focuses on the *state of mind* of the person intending to do it. It’s a subtle shift, but in the world of B2 Korean, those nuances are where the magic happens!