(으)로 marks direction, means, material, or cause.
Direction — Toward a place (오른쪽으로)
Means/method — By what means (버스로, 한국어로)
Material — Made of/with (나무로 만들다)
Selection — Choose as (회장으로 뽑다)
Cause — Due to (병으로)
Use 으로 after consonants (except ㄹ), 로 after vowels and ㄹ.
See examples below for varied real-world usage.
Direction vs destination
- (으)로 = direction/toward (이쪽**으로** 오세요)
- 에 = destination (학교**에** 가요)
After ㄹ, use 로 (not 으로)
- ✅ 서울**로** 가요
- ❌ 서울**으로** 가요
Language/tool expressions
- 한국어**로** 말해요 (speak in Korean)
- 젓가락**으로** 먹어요 (eat with chopsticks)
I commute by subway.
Please write it in English.
It was made of wood.
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