-(으)리라

-(으)리라 is a literary ending that expresses the speaker's firm resolve ('I will surely…') or a confident guess ('it will surely…'), usually in writing or before verbs like 다짐하다, 생각하다 and 믿다.

문장 끝·말투Endings & speech style

Han: With ㄹ-stem verbs no 으 is added: 살다 → 살리라, 만들다 → 만들리라.

Examples

나는 이번 시험에 꼭 합격하리라 다짐했다.I promised myself that I would definitely pass this exam.

그는 언젠가 반드시 고향에 돌아가리라 마음먹었다.He made up his mind that someday he would surely return to his hometown.

많은 사람들이 그 선수가 금메달을 따리라 예상했다.Many people expected that athlete to win the gold medal.

혼자 외국에서 지내느라 많이 힘들었으리라 생각한다.I imagine it must have been very hard living abroad alone.

Don’t mix up

-(으)리라vs-겠다-겠다 expresses will or guessing in both speech and writing, while -(으)리라 sounds literary and solemn: 꼭 합격하겠어요 (spoken) vs 꼭 합격하리라 다짐했다 (written).

-(으)리라vs-(으)ㄹ 것이다-(으)ㄹ 것이다 is the neutral future/guess form usable anywhere, while -(으)리라 is literary and usually embedded before verbs like 생각하다: 내일은 비가 올 것이다 vs 내일은 비가 오리라 생각한다.

How to build it

V/A+(으)리라 (consonant stem + 으리라, vowel or ㄹ stem + 리라)

past guess: V/A+았/었으리라

먹다 → 먹으리라, 가다 → 가리라, 살다 → 살리라, 힘들다 → 힘들었으리라

It is literary: it suits diaries, novels, speeches and formal writing. In everyday conversation use -겠어요 or -(으)ㄹ 거예요 instead, and never attach -요 to it.
In the 'resolve' meaning the subject is the speaker (first person), usually with action verbs and often before 다짐하다, 결심하다 or 마음먹다.
In the 'guess' meaning any subject is possible, adjectives and the past form 았/었으리라 can be used, and it usually comes before 생각하다, 믿다, 예상하다 or 짐작하다.
It is not used in questions, commands or suggestions.

Classic mistake

Wrong: ~~이 도시에서 행복하게 살으리라 다짐했다.~~

Right: 이 도시에서 행복하게 살리라 다짐했다.

With ㄹ-stem verbs no 으 is added: 살다 → 살리라, 만들다 → 만들리라.

Practise -(으)리라 on real TOPIK questions

Hannim plans each day up to your exam date: questions on this pattern, reviews, full mock papers and graded writing. 7 days free, no card.

Start 7-day free trial

More level 4 grammar

All TOPIK grammar