A1
(으)로 — by, with, towards
How the Korean particle (으)로 marks direction, instrument, method and material, and how it differs from 에.
로 after a vowel, 으로 after a consonant — and 로 again after ㄹ, which is the exception worth noting early.
Means and instrument
버스로 가요.
Beuseuro gayo.
I go by bus.
젓가락으로 먹어요.
Jeotgarageuro meogeoyo.
I eat with chopsticks.
한국어로 말해요.
Hangugeoro malhaeyo.
I speak in Korean.
Direction
Towards somewhere, as opposed to arriving at it.
집으로 가요.
Jibeuro gayo.
I’m heading home.
집에 가요 and 집으로 가요 both work. 에 names the destination; (으)로 names the direction, which is why signs and directions use it — 오른쪽으로.
Material
나무로 만들었어요.
Namuro mandeureosseoyo.
It’s made of wood.
After ㄹ it is just 로
지하철으로 갔어요.
지하철로 갔어요.
지하철 ends in ㄹ, so it takes 로 rather than 으로. The same applies to 서울로 and 연필로.
This is the only place in Korean where a ㄹ ending behaves like a vowel, and it catches people for months.
Also a cause
감기로 학교에 안 갔어요.
Gamgiro hakgyoe an gasseoyo.
I didn’t go to school because of a cold.