TOPIK I · LEVEL 2
-(으)려면
-(으)려면 means 'if you want/intend to do A', followed by what is needed to do it.
조건·가정Conditions & what-ifsHan: Weather can't 'intend'; -(으)려면 needs an action someone plans.
Examples
한국 대학교에 입학하려면 토픽 점수가 필요해요.If you want to enter a Korean university, you need a TOPIK score.
건강해지려면 매일 운동해야 해요.If you want to get healthy, you have to exercise every day.
명동에 가려면 4호선을 타세요.To get to Myeongdong, take Line 4.
Don’t mix up
-(으)려면vs-(으)면-(으)면 is a general condition ('if'); -(으)려면 is about an intention ('if you want to'): 서울에 가면 vs 서울에 가려면.How to build it
V(vowel or ㄹ)+려면
V(consonant)+으려면
가다 → 가려면, 먹다 → 먹으려면, 만들다 → 만들려면
- The second clause usually states a requirement: -아/어야 하다, -(으)면 되다, 필요하다.
- Only with verbs (actions you can intend).
Classic mistake
Wrong: 날씨가 좋으려면 바다에 가요.
Right: 날씨가 좋으면 바다에 가요.
Weather can't 'intend'; -(으)려면 needs an action someone plans.
Practise -(으)려면 on real TOPIK questions
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Start 7-day free trialMore level 2 grammar
All TOPIK grammar- -(으)면-(으)면 attaches to a verb or adjective to set a condition: "if X happens or is true, then Y," and it can also mean "whenever X" for things that regularly happen.
- -(으)면 되다-(으)면 되다 means 'you just have to / it's enough to do A' — A is all that's needed.
- -(으)ㄴ 지Shows how much time has passed since an action happened.
- -(으)ㄹ 것Ends a written instruction or rule with a noun-like command: 'do X; X is to be done'. Impersonal and firm; used in notices, exam instructions, memos and rule lists.
- -(으)ㄹ 때Attaches to a verb or adjective to say at what time or in what situation something happens: 'when …'.
- -(으)면 안 되다States that an action is not allowed or not acceptable: 'you must not… / it's not okay to…'.
- -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다Attach it to a verb to say that someone can or cannot do something, either because of their ability or because the situation allows or prevents it.
- -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다Use it to say whether someone knows how to do something, meaning a skill or method they have learned.
- -(으)ㄴ 후에Shows that the second action happens after the first action is finished.