How to Say “Want to” in Korean: ~고 싶다 Grammar Guide
How to Say “Want to” in Korean: ~고 싶다 Grammar Guide
Learn how to express your own wishes, ask what someone wants to do, and describe another person’s desire naturally.
What You’ll Learn
The grammar pattern ~고 싶다 is one of the most useful ways to express desire in Korean. It means “to want to do.”
Verb stem + 고 싶다 sentences.
Casual, polite, formal, and past forms.
고 싶다 and 고 싶어하다 correctly.
Key Vocabulary
| Korean | Meaning | Verb Stem |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 | to go | 가 |
| 먹다 | to eat | 먹 |
| 보다 | to see or watch | 보 |
| 마시다 | to drink | 마시 |
| 배우다 | to learn | 배우 |
| 쉬다 | to rest | 쉬 |
Grammar Overview
가다 → 가고 싶다 — to want to go
먹다 → 먹고 싶다 — to want to eat
Remove 다 from the dictionary form and attach 고 싶다. This pattern does not change according to batchim.
How to Form ~고 싶다
- Start with the dictionary form.
- Remove the final 다.
- Add 고 싶다.
| Dictionary Form | Verb Stem | Want-to Form |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 | 가 | 가고 싶다 |
| 먹다 | 먹 | 먹고 싶다 |
| 보다 | 보 | 보고 싶다 |
| 공부하다 | 공부하 | 공부하고 싶다 |
Politeness Levels and Tense
| Style | Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual | ~고 싶어 | 가고 싶어. | I want to go. |
| Standard polite | ~고 싶어요 | 가고 싶어요. | I want to go. |
| Formal polite | ~고 싶습니다 | 가고 싶습니다. | I want to go. |
| Past polite | ~고 싶었어요 | 가고 싶었어요. | I wanted to go. |
First Person, Second Person, and Third Person
Use ~고 싶다 for your own desire.
Use it in questions about the listener’s desire.
Usually use ~고 싶어하다.
How to Say “Do Not Want To”
The clearest negative form is:
You may also hear 안 + verb + 고 싶어요, but it can sometimes be interpreted differently depending on context. For beginners, ~고 싶지 않아요 is the safest form.
How to Express Wanting a Noun
~고 싶다 needs an action verb. To say you want an object, choose a natural verb such as “have,” “buy,” “receive,” “eat,” or “drink.”
| Meaning | Natural Korean |
|---|---|
| I want a new car. | 새 차를 갖고 싶어요. |
| I want coffee. | 커피를 마시고 싶어요. |
| I want a gift. | 선물을 받고 싶어요. |
| I want peace. | 평화를 원해요. |
More Examples
Common Mistakes
1. Keeping 다 before 고 싶다
2. Using 고 싶다 for a third-person statement
3. Attaching 고 싶다 directly to a noun
4. Using it directly with a descriptive verb
To say “I want to become happy,” use 행복해지고 싶어요, not 행복하고 싶어요.
Practice
- Change 먹다 into “I want to eat” in polite Korean.
- Change 보다 into “I wanted to watch.”
- Complete: 제 친구는 한국에 가고 ______.
- Translate: “I do not want to study today.”
Show practice answers
1. 먹고 싶어요.
2. 보고 싶었어요.
3. 싶어해요.
4. 오늘은 공부하고 싶지 않아요.
Quiz
1. Which form means “I want to sleep”?
A. 자고 싶어요 B. 자고 싶어해요 C. 자 원해요
2. Which form is generally used for another person’s desire?
A. ~고 싶다 B. ~고 싶어하다 C. ~고 있다
3. What is the polite past form?
A. ~고 싶어요 B. ~고 싶었어요 C. ~고 싶겠어요
4. Which sentence means “I do not want to go”?
A. 가고 싶지 않아요 B. 가지 않았어요 C. 가고 있어요
Show quiz answers
1. A — 자고 싶어요
2. B — ~고 싶어하다
3. B — ~고 싶었어요
4. A — 가고 싶지 않아요
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 보고 싶다 mean?
It literally means “want to see.” When said to or about a person, 보고 싶어요 commonly means “I miss you” or “I want to see you.”
Can I use ~고 싶다 with adjectives?
Not directly in most cases. Use a change-of-state form such as ~아/어지다: 행복해지고 싶어요, “I want to become happy.”
Does batchim change the grammar form?
No. Attach 고 싶다 directly to any action-verb stem.
Is 원하다 wrong in everyday speech?
No. It is correct, but native speakers often choose a more specific action verb in everyday situations.
Lesson Summary
Expresses “want to do.”
Usually describes another person’s desire.
Means “do not want to do.”
