Instrumental Particle (으)로: With (Tool/Means)

Overview

The particle (으)로 has multiple functions in Korean. This lesson focuses specifically on its use as an instrumental particle -- expressing the tool, means, method, or medium used to perform an action. In English, this corresponds to "with," "by," or "using."

While English uses different prepositions ("cut with a knife," "go by bus," "pay by card"), Korean consistently uses (으)로 for all of these.

Form: 으로 vs 로

The form depends on the final consonant of the preceding noun:

Condition	Form	Example
After a vowel (no 받침)	로	카드 → 카드로
After ㄹ 받침	로	연필 → 연필로
After any other consonant	으로	젓가락 → 젓가락으로

Form examples

Noun (Tool)	Ends in	Particle	Combined
칼 (knife)	ㄹ	로	칼로
펜 (pen)	ㄴ	으로	펜으로
손 (hand)	ㄴ	으로	손으로
카드 (card)	vowel ㅡ	로	카드로
젓가락 (chopsticks)	ㄱ	으로	젓가락으로
숟가락 (spoon)	ㄱ	으로	숟가락으로
컴퓨터 (computer)	vowel ㅓ	로	컴퓨터로
전화 (phone)	vowel ㅏ	로	전화로

Function 1: Physical Tools and Utensils

Use (으)로 to indicate the physical tool used to perform an action:

Korean	Romanization	English
젓가락으로 밥을 먹어요.	jeotgarageuro babeul meogeoyo.	I eat rice with chopsticks.
칼로 과일을 잘라요.	kallo gwailreul jallayo.	I cut fruit with a knife.
숟가락으로 국을 먹어요.	sutgarageuro gugeul meogeoyo.	I eat soup with a spoon.
연필로 글을 써요.	yeonpilro geuneul sseoyo.	I write with a pencil.
가위로 종이를 잘라요.	gawiro jongireul jallayo.	I cut paper with scissors.
빗자루로 바닥을 쓸어요.	bitjaruro badageul sseureoyo.	I sweep the floor with a broom.

Function 2: Body Parts as Instruments

When a body part is used as the means of doing something:

Korean	Romanization	English
손으로 만들었어요.	soneuro mandeureosseoyo.	I made it by hand.
눈으로 직접 봤어요.	nuneuro jikjeop bwasseoyo.	I saw it with my own eyes.
발로 찼어요.	ballo chasseoyo.	I kicked it with my foot.
입으로 불어요.	ibeuro bureoyo.	I blow with my mouth.
머리로 생각해요.	meoriro saenggakaeyo.	I think with my head.

Function 3: Payment Methods

For expressing how you pay:

Korean	Romanization	English
카드로 계산할게요.	kadeuro gyesanhalgeyo.	I'll pay by card.
현금으로 낼게요.	hyeongeummeuro naelgeyo.	I'll pay in cash.
계좌이체로 보냈어요.	gyejwaichero bonaesseoyo.	I sent it by bank transfer.

Function 4: Communication Methods

For the medium or method of communication:

Korean	Romanization	English
전화로 예약했어요.	jeonhwaro yeyakhaesseoyo.	I reserved by phone.
이메일로 보내 주세요.	imeillo bonae juseyo.	Please send it by email.
문자로 연락했어요.	munjaro yeollakhaesseoyo.	I contacted (them) by text.
편지로 소식을 전했어요.	pyeonjiro sossigeul jeonhaesseoyo.	I delivered the news by letter.

Function 5: Language as Medium

When specifying the language used:

Korean	Romanization	English
한국어로 말해 주세요.	hangugeoero malhae juseyo.	Please speak in Korean.
영어로 설명했어요.	yeongeoro seolmyeonghaesseoyo.	I explained in English.
일본어로 번역했어요.	ilboneoro beonyeokhaesseoyo.	I translated it into Japanese.
한국어로 이메일을 썼어요.	hangugeoero imeilreul sseosseoyo.	I wrote the email in Korean.

Function 6: Means of Transportation

For how you travel or transport something:

Korean	Romanization	English
버스로 학교에 가요.	beoseuro hakgyoe gayo.	I go to school by bus.
지하철로 출근해요.	jihacheollo chulgeunhaeyo.	I commute by subway.
비행기로 여행해요.	bihaenggiro yeohaenghaeyo.	I travel by airplane.
자전거로 배달해요.	jajeongeoero baedalhaeyo.	I deliver by bicycle.
택배로 보냈어요.	taekbaero bonaesseoyo.	I sent it by delivery service.

(으)로 vs Other "With" Expressions

Korean has several ways to say "with," each with different meanings:

Expression	Meaning	Example
(으)로	with (tool/means)	칼로 잘라요. (Cut with a knife.)
과/와, 하고, (이)랑	with (a person/together)	친구와 갔어요. (I went with a friend.)
에	at/in (location)	집에 있어요. (I'm at home.)

(으)로 is for tools and means. Comitative particles (과/와, 하고, 이랑) are for companions. Do not use (으)로 for "with a person" -- use comitative particles instead.

Correct vs Incorrect

Incorrect	Correct	Why
친구로 갔어요.	친구와 갔어요.	"With a friend" uses comitative, not instrumental
칼과 잘라요.	칼로 잘라요.	"With a knife" uses instrumental

Common Tool + Action Pairings

Tool	+ (으)로	+ Action	Full sentence
젓가락 (chopsticks)	으로	먹다 (eat)	젓가락으로 먹어요.
칼 (knife)	로	자르다 (cut)	칼로 잘라요.
연필 (pencil)	로	쓰다 (write)	연필로 써요.
비누 (soap)	로	씻다 (wash)	비누로 씻어요.
수건 (towel)	으로	닦다 (wipe)	수건으로 닦아요.
열쇠 (key)	로	열다 (open)	열쇠로 열어요.

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Correction	Why
연필에 써요.	연필로 써요.	Tool uses (으)로, not 에
칼을 자르다	칼로 자르다	을/를 is for the object, not the tool
친구로 갔어요.	친구와 갔어요.	People use comitative, not instrumental
서울으로 갔어요.	서울로 갔어요.	서울 ends in ㄹ, use 로

Summary

(으)로 marks the tool, means, method, or medium used to do something.
로 after vowels and ㄹ; 으로 after other consonants.
Physical tools: 칼로, 젓가락으로, 연필로.
Payment: 카드로, 현금으로.
Communication: 전화로, 이메일로.
Language: 한국어로, 영어로.
Transport: 버스로, 비행기로.
Do not use (으)로 for "with a person" -- use 과/와, 하고, or (이)랑 instead.