-으리

Korean

Alternative forms

• 리 (-ri) — after vowels and ㄹ (l)

Etymology

From Middle Korean 으〮리〮/ᄋᆞ〮리〮 (Yale: -úlí/ólí), from Old Korean 尸 (*-ulq, irrealis gerund marker) + 是 (*-i, either the nominative case marker or a semantically light noun). Compare 으니 (-euni).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:

Suffix

으리 • (-euri)

1. (dated or poetic) In the plain style or in poetic monologue, a prospective suffix which attaches to verbs and adjectives:
   1. Marks one's speculation or prediction.

      내 아들이 여기 있었거늘 이 봄을 보고 또 얼마나 웃었으리, 지독지정이 쓰라리기도 하구나.

      Nae adeur-i yeogi isseotgeoneul i bom-eul bogo tto eolmana useosseuri, jidokjijeong-i sseurarigi-do haguna.

      If my son were here now, how much he would have smiled upon seeing this spring! A parent's love is bitter indeed.

   2. Marks one's desire or intention.

      내 기필코 대의를 이루리.

      Nae gipilko dae'ui-reul iruri.

      I will certainly achieve my great cause.

   3. (how) could...; marks a rhetorical question.

      나라가 망하고도 이 몸이 살았으니 아니 죽고 어이리.

      Nara-ga manghago-do i mom-i sarasseuni ani jukgo eoi-ri.

      The country is gone, but I am alive; what is there to do but to die?

Usage notes

• Since at least the fifteenth century, this suffix can be used both at the end of a verb/adjective, and after the stem but before another suffix. See Derived terms below.

Derived terms

References