-(으)려고(요)? (의심)

A rhetorical question voicing doubt that something could be true: 'Surely … wouldn't …?' The speaker expects the answer no. Spoken and a little old-fashioned; the polite form is -(으)려고요?

추측·판단Guessing & judging

Han: There is no ㄹ before 려고: after a consonant it is 으려고 (왔으려고), a very common misspelling.

Examples

가: 그 식당 벌써 문 닫았을지도 몰라. 나: 아직 아홉 시밖에 안 됐는데 설마 닫았으려고?A: That restaurant might already be closed. B: It's only nine; surely it hasn't closed yet?

설마 그렇게 착한 사람이 거짓말을 했으려고?Surely such a kind person didn't lie?

아무리 물가가 올랐다지만 커피 한 잔에 만 원이나 하려고?Prices may have gone up, but surely a cup of coffee doesn't cost ten thousand won?

Don’t mix up

-(으)려고(요)? (의심)vs-(으)ㄹ 리가 없다-(으)ㄹ 리가 없다 states the impossibility outright; -(으)려고? voices the same doubt as a question: 그럴 리가 없어 vs 설마 그러려고?

-(으)려고(요)? (의심)vs-(으)려고 (목적)Purpose -(으)려고 needs a following clause and a volitional verb: 사진을 찍으려고 왔어요. Doubtful -(으)려고? ends the sentence: 설마 사진을 찍었으려고?

How to build it

V/A+(으)려고?

past: V/A+았/었으려고?

N+이려고? (usually with 설마)

오다 → 오려고?; 알다 → 알려고?; 늦다 → 늦으려고?; 그렇다 → 그러려고?; 떠나다 → 떠났으려고?; 진짜 → 진짜이려고?

It usually comes with 설마 and shows strong doubt: 설마 그 사람이 그런 말을 했으려고?
Unlike purpose -(으)려고, it works with adjectives and with the past: 설마 그렇게 비싸려고? / 벌써 떠났으려고?
It ends the sentence with rising intonation; no main clause follows.
Mostly in speech and dialogue in novels; in neutral modern speech -(으)ㄹ 리가 있어? is more common.

Classic mistake

Wrong: ~~설마 그 사람이 벌써 왔을려고?~~

Right: 설마 그 사람이 벌써 왔으려고?

There is no ㄹ before 려고: after a consonant it is 으려고 (왔으려고), a very common misspelling.

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