(으)로

조

This particle manifests itself in different forms depending on the ending of the word it is attached to.

• After vowels and ㄹ, this is 로
• After consonants other than ㄹ, this is 으로

a. to, for: showing direction.

• 바다로 가다

to go to the beach.

• 학교로 가다

to go to school

• 서울로 떠나다

to leave for Seoul

b. by, using, with: showing the means or plan

• 기차로 가다

to go by train.

• 이자를 복리로 계산하다

to calculate using compound interest

• 연필로 쓰다

to write with a pencil

• 영어로 말하다

to speak in English

c. from, of, with: showing the tool or material

• 칼로 자르다

to cut with a knife

• 나무로 만들다

to make from wood

• 빵은 밀가루로 만든다

Bread is made of flour.

d. due to, because of, owing to, from, with: showing the cause or reason

• 감기로 고생하다

to suffer due to a cold

• 폭설로 교통이 두절되다

to have a traffic jam due to heavy snowfall

e. into: to show change

• 여우로 둔갑하다

to transform into a fox

f. as: showing one's social position, status, qualifications

• 사나이로 태어나다

to be born as a male

• 양자로 삼다

to adopt as an adopted child

g. at, in: showing time

• [[봄]가을로 찾아가다

to find in spring or autumn