Do you want to say what you want to do in Korean?
Today, let’s learn a super useful and common Korean expression:
“~고 싶어요” — which means "I want to ~".
📚 Korean Pattern: ~고 싶어요
This pattern is used when you want to express your desire to do something.
🧩 Structure
[Verb stem] + 고 싶어요
The verb stem is the base of a verb, without 다.
Let’s look at some examples.
🗣️ Example Sentences
- 김밥 먹고 싶어요.
I want to eat gimbap.
→ 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 고 싶어요
- 한국에 가고 싶어요.
I want to go to Korea.
→ 가다 (to go) → 가 + 고 싶어요
- 친구를 만나고 싶어요.
I want to meet my friend.
→ 만나다 (to meet) → 만나 + 고 싶어요
📝 Pronunciation Tips
- “고 싶어요” is pronounced like [go ship-eo-yo]
- Say it softly, with a rising tone at the end when asking a question.
💡 Practice Time
Try writing your own sentence using "~고 싶어요".
What do you want to do today?
Examples:
영화를 보고 싶어요. (I want to watch a movie.)
자고 싶어요. (I want to sleep.)
🎁 Bonus Cultural Note
Koreans often use this pattern in polite daily conversations.
If you want to be even more formal, you can say:
~고 싶습니다
And if you're talking with close friends, say:
~고 싶어
📌 Summary
- Use “~고 싶어요” to say you want to do something.
- Just take the verb stem and add “고 싶어요.”
- Practice with your favorite activities!
💬 Leave a Comment!
What do YOU want to do in Korean?
Write your sentence below 👇 and I’ll check it for you!