-고 싶다 – Korean want to do
- Meaning
- want to (do something)
- Level
- Beginner
- Topic
- Verb endings & tenses
Attach -고 싶다 to a verb stem to say what you want to do: 가고 싶어요 = I want to go. For what someone else wants, Korean usually uses -고 싶어하다.
Key rules
- Stem + 고 싶다 = want to
- 싶다 conjugates
- Desire expression
- Travel desire
- Common phrase
- Also 'want to see'
- Emotional expression
- Education desire
Examples with -고 싶다
The highlighted part is the grammar form.
- 밥을 먹고 싶어요 Babeul meokgo sipeoyo I want to eat Verb stem + 고 싶다 = want to do · Base form: 먹다 (meokda)
- 한국에 가고 싶어요 Hanguge gago sipeoyo I want to go to Korea 가 + 고 싶어요 = want to go · Base form: 가다 (gada)
- 친구를 보고 싶어요 Chingureul bogo sipeoyo I want to see my friend 보 + 고 싶어요 = want to see · Base form: 보다 (boda)
- 한국어를 배우고 싶어요 Hangugeoreul baeugo sipeoyo I want to learn Korean 배우 + 고 싶어요 · Base form: 배우다 (baeuda)
- 쉬고 싶어요 Swigo sipeoyo I want to rest 쉬 + 고 싶어요 = want to rest · Base form: 쉬다 (swida)
- 커피를 마시고 싶어요 Keopireul masigo sipeoyo I want to drink coffee 마시 + 고 싶어요 · Base form: 마시다 (masida)
- 가고 싶지 않아요 Gago sipji anayo I don't want to go 고 싶지 않다 = don't want to · Base form: 가다 (gada)
- 사고 싶었어요 Sago sipeosseoyo I wanted to buy 고 싶었어요 = wanted to (past) · Base form: 사다 (sada)
Vocabulary in these examples
가고 싶다want to go
보고 싶다miss someone
배우다learn
쉬다rest
마시다drink
고 싶지 않다don't want to
싶었다wanted (past)
Use -고 싶다 in your own sentences
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More: verb endings & tenses
-ㅂ니다 / -습니다Formal polite endingformal polite statement-아요 / -어요Polite present 해요 formpolite, friendly statement or question-았- / -었-Past tensedid, was안 + verb / -지 않다Negative sentencesdo not, is not-(으)ㄹ 거예요Future tensewill, going to-고 있다Progressive: be doingbe doing (right now)-(으)세요Polite requests and commandsplease do-(으)ㅂ시다 / -(으)ㄹ까요?Let’s / shall we?let’s, shall we-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 / 없다Can / cannotcan, be able to
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