HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · INTERMEDIATE 16 · LESSON 101
-도록So that… / Until… / To the point that…
-도록 attaches to a verb stem and has three common uses: a result you want to happen (잊지 않도록 메모해요 — so that I don’t forget), a degree or limit (밤늦도록 — until late at night), and polite, formal instructions (늦지 않도록 하세요).
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A situation you already know
Before the exam, the teacher reminds the class:
Please come early so that you’re not late for the exam.
늦지 않도록 is the goal (“not being late”). 일찍 오세요 is what to do to reach it.
Build the form
- 잊다 → 잊지 않 + 도록 → 잊지 않도록Complete expression
- 보이다 → 보이 + 도록 → 보이도록Complete expression
- 늦다 → 밤 + 늦 + 도록 → 밤늦도록Complete expression
- 하다 → 하 + 도록 하세요 → 하도록 하세요Complete expression
- Attach -도록 to any verb stem, with no 으: 듣도록, 보이도록, 들리도록, 잊지 않도록.
- Purpose: X-도록 + action = do the action so that X happens. X is often something that happens by itself (들리다, 보이다) or a negative (-지 않도록).
- Degree or limit: 목이 쉬도록 (until my voice went hoarse), 밤새도록 (all night), 늦도록 (until late).
- Formal instructions: -도록 하세요 / -도록 하십시오 → 9시까지 오도록 하세요.
- No tense before -도록: ✗늦었도록.
Think in Korean · an English-speaker’s guide
- English “so that” usually introduces a whole clause with “can / will.” Korean puts -도록 on the target result and the action after it: 잘 들리도록 크게 말해 주세요 (Please speak loudly so we can hear).
- In speech, -게 can often replace purpose -도록: 잘 들리게 말해 주세요. -도록 sounds a little more careful or formal.
- -도록 하세요 is common in announcements, at school and at work: 휴대폰은 꺼 두도록 하세요.
Six examples in context
Write it down in your phone so that you don’t forget.
I wrote in big letters so it can be seen from the back.
Please speak quietly so the child doesn’t wake up.
I talked with my friend until late last night.
I sang along at the concert until my voice went hoarse.
Please submit the documents by tomorrow.
Compare with related patterns
-게 (purpose)
잘 들리게 말해 주세요.Very similar in speech; -도록 sounds more careful (Lesson 82).
-기 위해서
합격하기 위해서 공부해요.States the purpose of your own action. -도록 usually aims at a result that should happen (들리다, 보이다, 안 늦다).
-(으)ㄹ 정도로
눈물이 날 정도로 웃었어요.“I laughed so hard I cried.” Shows degree like -도록 (Lesson 109).
| Pattern | Choose it when… |
|---|---|
| -도록 (purpose) | so that a result happens |
| -도록 (degree) | until / to the point that |
| -도록 하세요 | a formal instruction |
| -게 | so that (more casual) |
Common mistakes
No 으 before -도록.
No past tense before -도록.
Choose one ending: -게 or -도록.
Put -도록 on the goal (들리다); the action comes after it.
Mini practice · six questions
Try each one before opening the answer. Translation answers are models; other natural wording is possible.
- Fill in the blank감기에 ______ 따뜻하게 입으세요. (걸리지 않다)
Check answer
감기에 걸리지 않도록 따뜻하게 입으세요.
The goal: not catching a cold → 걸리지 않도록.
- Fill in the blank모두 잘 ______ 마이크를 사용해 주세요. (들리다)
Check answer
모두 잘 들리도록 마이크를 사용해 주세요.
So that everyone can hear → 들리도록.
- Choose the natural form어제 (밤새도록 / 밤새게) 시험공부를 했어요.
Check answer
밤새도록
Degree: all night long → 밤새도록.
- Choose the natural form회의 자료는 미리 (읽도록 하세요 / 읽었도록 하세요).
Check answer
읽도록 하세요
No tense before -도록.
- Fix the mistake아이가 깨지 않으도록 조용히 하세요.
Check answer
아이가 깨지 않도록 조용히 하세요.
No 으: 않도록.
- Say it in KoreanI set two alarms so that I wouldn’t oversleep.
Check answer
늦잠을 자지 않도록 알람을 두 개 맞췄어요.
Goal 늦잠을 자지 않다 + -도록.
Today’s key point
Verb stem + -도록: purpose (so that a result happens), degree (until / to the point that), or a formal instruction (-도록 하세요). No 으 and no tense before it.
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