What does it mean word for word?
The expression 갖고 싶어요 means "want to have/possess". It is composed of the verb 갖다 (to have/hold) and the auxiliary verb structure -고 싶다 (to want to do something).
Which one should you use?
The choice of demonstrative pronoun changes the proximity of the object: 저거 refers to something far away, whereas 그거 is used to refer to something near the listener or something previously mentioned in conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can change the politeness level by modifying the sentence ending. Dropping the polite ending 요 to say 저거 갖고 싶어 makes the phrase informal and suitable for use with close friends or people younger than you. Using the -습니다 ending to say 저거 갖고 싶습니다 makes the phrase highly formal and polite, suitable for business or official settings.
How do you pronounce it?
jeogeo gatgo sipeoyo
Did you know?
- Using 저거 갖고 싶어요 to express a desire for a person to be with you would be seen as treating that person as a physical object. To express a desire for a person's company, Koreans use different verbs entirely.
- In a shopping context, a Korean speaker might point and say 저거 주세요 ('give me that') instead of 갖고 싶어요. Saying you 'want' something can sometimes sound too internal or childish compared to simply asking for the item.
- 저거 is a contraction of 저것, where 것 serves as a generic noun meaning 'thing'. This allows Koreans to turn almost any adjective into a noun by adding 것 to the end.
Examples in context
- 저거 갖고 싶어요.jeogeo gatgo sipeoyo.I want that.
- 진짜 저거 갖고 싶어요.jinjja jeogeo gatgo sipeoyo.I really want that.
Example conversation
A couple is window shopping at a mall.
- 지은 Ji-eun지훈 씨, 저거 갖고 싶어요!Jihun ssi, jeogeo gatgo sipeoyo!Jihun, I want that!
- 지훈 Ji-hun저 가방이 예뻐요?jeo gabang-i yeppeoyo?Is that bag pretty?
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 너무 예뻐요.ne, neomu yeppeoyo.Yes, it's so pretty.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그럼 다음에 사요.geureom da-eume sayo.Then let's buy it next time.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 저거, CC BY-SA 4.0.
