고 싶어요: want to

Hello everyone! We’ve covered the basics of present, past, and future tense. Starting from now, we will be studying important grammar points one by one. I have personally organized them in the order I think is most important for learners. So let’s get started!

Today, we’re going to learn about the Korean grammar point “고 싶다(싶어요).” This is used to express what you want to do. In English, it translates to “want to.”

Let’s dive in!

Part 1,
Let’s grasp the concept of grammar

– 고 싶어요: Want to

Original form: – 고 싶다
Most common formality: – 고 싶어요 (fairly formal)
Extremely formal: – 고 싶습니다
Informal: – 고 싶어


How to Form “-고 싶어요”

Remove the “다” ending from the verb to find the stem, and simply add “고 싶어요” to the verb stem. (You don’t need to consider anything else—just put 고 싶어요 after dropping 다!)

So, “하다” becomes “하고 싶어요,” which means “I want to do.”


For example

숙제하다(to do homework) -> 숙제하고 싶어요 (want to do homework)

앉다(to sit) -> 앉고 싶어요 (want to sit)

쉬다(to rest) -> 쉬고 싶어요 (want to rest)

받다(to receive) -> 받고 싶어요 (want to receive)

마시다(to drink) -> 마시고 싶어요 (want to drink)



Easy and Straight forward right!

Here’s one thing:

When the subject is a third party, such as “she,” “he,” or “it,” “고 싶어요” changes form.
In this case, you add “해” before “요,” making it “-고 싶어 해요.”


let’s learn it with examples!

만들다 (to make)
만들고 싶어요 (When the subjects are “I” or “you”)
만들고 싶어 해요 (When the subjects are not “I” or “you”)

– 나는 케이크 만들고 싶어요 : I want to make cake.
– 내 동생은 케이크 만들고 싶어해요: My younger sibling wants to make cake.


만나다 (to meet)
만나고 싶어요 (When the subjects are “I” or “you”)
만나고 싶어 해요 (When the subjects are not “I” or “you”)

– BTS를 만나고 싶어요 (I want to meet BTS)
– 내 친구는 BTS를 만나고 싶어해요 (My friend wants to meet BTS)



싸우다 (to fight)
싸우고 싶어요 (When the subjects are “I” or “you”)
싸우고 싶어 해요(When the subjects are not “I” or “you”)

– 싸우고 싶지 않아요 (I don’t want to fight)
– 내 남친은 나랑 안 싸우고 싶어해요 (My bf doesn’t want to fight with me)


헤어지다 (to break up, to say goodbye)
헤어지고 싶어요 (When the subjects are “I” or “you”)
헤어지고 싶어 해요(When the subjects are not “I” or “you”)

– 헤어지고 싶지 않아요 (I don’t want to break up)
– 내 여친은 나랑 헤어지고 싶어해요 (My gf wants to break up with me)


외우다 (to memorize)
외우고 싶어요 (When the subjects are “I” or “you”)
외우고 싶어 해요(When the subjects are not “I” or “you”)

– 한국어 단어 많이 외우고 싶어요 (I want to memorize many Korean words)
– 내 학생은 단어 많이 안 외우고 싶어해요 (My student doesn’t want to memorize many vocabulary)


보다 (to see)
보고 싶어요 (When the subjects are “I” or “you”)
보고 싶어 해요(When the subjects are not “I” or “you”)

– 엄마 보고싶어요 (I want to see my mom, it means I miss my mom!)
– 우리 엄마는 나 안 보고 싶어해요 (My mom doesn’t miss me)

“보고싶다” is commonly used to express “miss + someone.”
However, when expressing “miss” for things or places rather than people, we use “그립다” (그리워요).
ex) I miss Korea: 한국이 그리워요. I miss my hometown: 고향이 그리워요.


돕다 (to help)
돕고 싶어요 (When the subjects are “I” or “you”)
돕고 싶어 해요(When the subjects are not “I” or “you”)

– 유기견을 돕고 싶어요 (I want to help stray dogs)
– 우리 가족은 나를 돕고 싶어 하지 않아요 (My family doesn’t want to help me)

Past tense

어제 일찍 자고 싶었어요 I wanted to sleep early yesterday

주말에 아무것도 안 하고 싶었어요 I didn’t want to do anything on the weekends

우리 엄마는 요리 안 하고 싶어 했어요 My mom didn’t want to cook

내 동생은 나랑 놀고 싶어 했어요 My brother wanted to hang out with me



Future tense


내일 일찍 일어나고 싶을 거예요. (I will want to get up early tomorrow.)

집에 빨리 가고 싶을 거예요 (You will want to go home soon/quickly.)

우리 가족은 8월에 여행을 하고 싶어 할 거예요 (My family will want to travel in August.)

아마 쉬고 싶어 할 거예요 (He/She will probably want to rest.)



Notice! 고 싶어요 is only used with verbs.
Want + nouns, we use 원해요.

ex)
I want a TV: 티비(를) 원해요.
I want cheesecake: 치즈케이크(를) 원해요.

However, 원해요 is not very commonly used in everyday Korean. I prefer using 고 싶어요 whenever possible. For example, instead of saying “치즈케이크를 원해요,” I would say “치즈케이크가 먹고 싶어요” (I want to eat cheesecake). Similarly, instead of saying “티비를 원해요,” I would be more specific and say “티비를 사고 싶어요” (I want to buy a TV).

While 원해요 is less frequently used, it still carries the meaning of “want.” For instance, you might hear it in phrases like “너를 원해” (I want you), famously from a song 🎻

Part 2,
Practice making sentences

1. I want to study Korean more often.
(more:더/ often: 자주)

2. I don’t want to use English. I want to write only Korean.
(use/write: 쓰다)

3. Lisa wants to eat fried rice right now
(fried rice: 볶음밥/ right now: 지금)

4. I wanted to drink water, but now I’m okay.
(drink: 마시다/ water: 물 / but: 근데 / be okay: 괜찮다)

5. My dog wants to go for a walk in the park every day.
(go for a walk: 산책하다 / park: 공원 / every day: 매일)

6. Last month, I really wanted to quit my job. There was too much work.
(last month: 지난달 / quit: 그만두다 / job -> 일(work)/ to be much, a lot: 많다 / too: 너무)

7. I wanted to sign up for the gym last week. But it was too expensive.
(sign up: 등록하다 / gym: 헬스장/ last week: 지난주/ too: 너무/ expensive: 비싸다)

8. I want to take Korean lessons twice a week.
(take class/lesson: 수업(을) 듣다 / twice = two times: 두 번 / one week: 일주일)

9. I want to read at least 5 books a month.
(read: 읽다 / at least: 최소한/ counting unit for books: 권/ one month: 한달)

10. My cousin wanted to go to karaoke with me, so we went together.
(cousin: 사촌 / karaoke: 노래방/ so: 그래서 / together: 같이)

11. I’ve always wanted to live in Germany. So, I’m studying German now
(always: 항상 / live: 살다/ Germany: 독일 / so: 그래서/ German: 독일어)
* For the “have + wanted” tense, you can use simple past tense.

12. I’ve always wanted to make Korean friends. I want to practice Korean together.
(always: 항상 / make: 만들다 / practice: 연습하다 / together: 같이)

13. My parents want to have a picnic with me in April.
(have a picnic: 피크닉하다)

14. I will want to swim in the ocean in summer.
(swim: 수영하다/ ocean & sea: 바다 / summer:여름)

15. In Korean winters, it snows a lot. You will want to go skiing.
(winter: 겨울/ to snow: 눈(이) 오다/ a lot: 많이 / go skiing: 스키 타다)

Thy these on your own first, before checking the answers!

These are the answers:

1. I want to study Korean more often.
(more:더/ often: 자주)

더 자주 한국어(를) 공부하고 싶어요.

* We simply drop “다” and add “고 싶어요”. 공부하+고 싶어요!
* Object particles (을/를) are often optional in conversational Korean and are frequently omitted.

2. I don’t want to use English. I want to write only Korean.
(use/write: 쓰다)

영어(를) 안 쓰고 싶어요. 한국어만 쓰고 싶어요.

* 쓰다 is a versatile verb in Korean that can mean ‘to use,’ ‘to write,’ and even ‘to wear’ (hats or glasses).
– 안경을 안 쓰고 싶어요(I don’t want to wear glasses)
* Remember how to use 만? If you need a refresher, check it out here!

3. Lisa wants to eat fried rice right now
(fried rice: 볶음밥/ right now: 지)

리사는 지금 볶음밥(을) 먹고 싶어 해요.

* You can use “가” instead of “는,” or you can omit both (which commonly occurs in casual conversations).
* You can place “지금” anywhere!
* Since the subject is a third party(Lisa), we will use “고 싶어 해요.”
* Informally, this sentence would be : 리사는 지금 볶음밥(을) 먹고 싶어 해, simply drop “요”!

4. I wanted to drink water, but now I’m okay.
(drink: 마시다/ water: 물 / but: 근데 / be okay: 괜찮다)

물(을) 마시고 싶었어요. 근데 지금(은) 괜찮아요.

* 싶어요 -> 싶었어요(past tense!)
* You can add “은” particle after “지금(now)”.

지금은 : This form adds emphasis or contrast to the present moment.
It is often used to contrast with another time or situation.
“지금” is more straightforwardly “now,” while “지금은” is used when there’s a need to emphasize or contrast the current time or situation

5. My dog wants to go for a walk in the park every day.
(go for a walk: 산책하다 / park: 공원 / every day: 매일)

우리 강아지(는) 매일 공원에서 산책하고 싶어 해요.

* You can use “가” instead of “는,” or you can omit both (which commonly occurs in casual conversations).
* General order : Subject – Time – Location – Other details – Verb (which can change depending on emphasis). We typically move from broader concepts to more specific ones.
* You can also use “에” instead of “에서” here if you consider the park as the destination where the doggie wants to go.
* * Since the subject is a third party, we will use “고 싶어 해요.”

6. Last month, I really wanted to quit my job. There was too much work.
(last month: 지난달 / quit: 그만두다 / job -> 일(work)/ to be much, a lot: 많다 / too: 너무)

지난 달에, 진짜 일 그만두고 싶었어요. 일(이) 너무 많았어요.

* Don’t forget to put “에” after “지난 달”!
* 진짜 means “really,” and we also commonly use 정말 and 엄청.
* Remember the verb 많다?! We commonly use it with the particle (이/가).

7. I wanted to sign up for the gym last week. But it was too expensive.
(sign up: 등록하다 / gym: 헬스장/ last week: 지난주/ too: 너무/ expensive: 비싸다)

지난 주에 헬스장 등록하고 싶었어요. 근데 너무 비쌌어요.


* “등록하다” also means “to enroll” or “to register.”
– 학원에 등록하다: to enroll/register at an academy(Korean cram school)

8. I want to take Korean lessons twice a week.
(take class/lesson: 수업(을) 듣다 / twice = two times: 두 번 / one week: 일주일)

일주일에 두 번 한국어 수업(을) 듣고 싶어요.

* To say “twice a week” in Korean, keeping the order in mind!
“일주일” (one week) + “에” (per, a) + “두 번” (twice)
– “Twice a week” is expressed as “일주일에 두 번,” where we start with “a week.” This follows a different order compared to English!

* “듣다” means “to listen,” but it is also used to mean “to take (a) class” when combined with the word for “class.”

9. I want to read at least 5 books a month.
(read: 읽다 / at least: 최소한/ counting unit for books: 권/ one month: 한달)

한달에 최소한 책 다섯권 읽고 싶어요.

* The order is the same as “twice a week”! We start with “한 달” (a month), then “에” (per / a), and the frequency. Here, I add “최소한” (at least) and “책” (book) in between.
* The counting unit for books is “권,” and we use native numbers with counting units, so 5 books = “다섯 권.”
* We use a lot of Chinese-derived words, and “최소한” is one of them. If you are interested in the usage of Chinese characters, check out this post here!

10. My cousin wanted to go to karaoke with me, so we went together.
(cousin: 사촌 / karaoke: 노래방/ so: 그래서 / together: 같이)

내 사촌(이) 나랑 같이 노래방(에) 가고 싶어 했어요. 그래서 (우리는) 같이 갔어요.

* Since the subject is a third party(My cousin), we will use “고 싶어 해요.”, past tense: 해요 -> 했어요.

* So, did you notice that I used “같이” for the first sentence? “같이” is often used to indicate doing something together or in company with someone. Even though the English translation may not explicitly include “together,” Korean often uses “같이” to emphasize shared activity or companionship.(It’s a culture thing!)
– Come with me : 나랑 같이 와.
– Eat with me : 나랑 같이 먹어.

* “Go to a place” is “에 가다,” where 에 functions as “to.” However, this 에 is commonly omitted in conversational Korean!

* I wouldn’t use “우리” here, as the subject is already clear from the first sentence.




11. I’ve always wanted to live in Germany. So, I’m studying German now.
(always: 항상 / live: 살다/ Germany: 독일 / so: 그래서/ German: 독일어)

항상 독일에서 살고 싶었어요. 그래서 지금 독일어(를) 공부하고 있어요

* For the “have + (p.p)” tense, you can use simple past tense.
– I have slept well : 잘 잤어요
– I have studied very hard: 진짜 열심히 공부했어요.
– I have eaten already: 이미 먹었어요.

* You can use either “에” or “에서” with the verb “살다” (to live), as it’s difficult to determine whether it’s static or not!
* Remember the “be -ing” grammar, right? We have two forms: “고 있어요” or “는 중이에요.”
You can say “공부하는 중이에요” as well.




12. I’ve always wanted to make Korean friends. I want to practice Korean together.
(always: 항상 / make: 만들다 / practice: 연습하다 / together: 같이)

항상 한국인 친구(를) 만들고 싶었어요. 같이 한국어 연습하고 싶어요.

* ‘Korean friend’ = ‘한국인 친구’, ‘한국 사람 친구’ sounds awkward..!
You can also add the plural particle “들” to make it “한국인 친구들(을).”




13. My parents want to have a picnic with me in April.
(have a picnic: 피크닉하다)

우리 부모님(은/이) 사월에 나랑 같이 피크닉 하고 싶어 해요.

* The subject is “My parents”, we will use “고 싶어 해요.”
* Remember Korean numbers, right~~ April = Sino number 4(사) + month(월). Don’t forget to put “에” to indicate the specific time!
* I used “같이” again because it sounds better in Korean to use it!

14. I will want to swim in the ocean in summer.
(swim: 수영하다/ ocean & sea: 바다 / summer:여름)

여름에(는) 바다에서 수영하고 싶을 거예요.


* 여름”에” and 바다”에서” since the verb is “to swim!”
* 고 싶다 + 을 거예요(future tense) = 하고 싶을 거예요!

* Using “는” or “은” after a time expression like “여름에는” helps to clarify and emphasize the specific context. Also as I mentioned, it enhances the sense of contrast. ‘여름에는 바다에서 수영하고 싶을 거예요’ (In summer, unlike other seasons, I will want to swim) specifies that the desire to swim in the sea is distinct to summer, contrasting it with other seasons.




15. In Korean winters, it snows a lot. You will want to go skiing.
(winter: 겨울/ to snow: 눈(이) 오다/ a lot: 많이 / go skiing: 스키 타다)

한국 겨울에(는) 눈(이) 많이 와요. 스키 타고 싶을 거예요.

* It’s a similar concept to #14. Using “는” or “은” after a time expression like “겨울에는” enhances the sense of contrast. Unlike other seasons, I will want to go skiing in winter, especially if it snows a lot!

* Since the subject is “you,” we use the regular “고 싶어요” form, simply conjugated into the future tense!

Great job!
You’ve been doing an excellent job—keep up the good work!

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