Direction/Means ((으)로)
(으)로
(으)로 indicates direction, means, method, or material.
Pattern
Noun + 으로 (after consonant except ㄹ) / 로 (after vowel or ㄹ)
Explanation
The particle (으)로 has several meanings: direction (toward), means or method (by/with), and material (made of). Use 으로 after a consonant (except ㄹ) and 로 after a vowel or ㄹ.
For direction: '오른쪽으로 가세요' (Please go to the right). For means of transportation: '버스로 가요' (I go by bus). For tools or instruments: '젓가락으로 먹어요' (I eat with chopsticks). For material: '나무로 만들었어요' (It was made of wood).
The special rule with ㄹ is important: when a noun ends in ㄹ, you use 로 directly, not 으로. For example, '지하철로 가요' (I go by subway) — 지하철 ends in ㄹ, so it takes 로.
Examples
버스로 가요.
Beoseu-ro gayo.
I go by bus.
젓가락으로 먹어요.
Jeotgarak-euro meogeoyo.
I eat with chopsticks.
오른쪽으로 가세요.
Oreunjjog-euro gaseyo.
Please go to the right.
지하철로 출근해요.
Jihacheol-lo chulgeunhaeyo.
I commute by subway.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
버스으로 가요.
Correct
버스로 가요.
버스 ends in a vowel sound (ㅡ), so use 로, not 으로.
Wrong
지하철으로 가요.
Correct
지하철로 가요.
When a noun ends in ㄹ, use 로 directly, not 으로.
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