이거 원해요
igeo wonhaeyo
To say I want this in Korean, use 이거 원해요 (igeo wonhaeyo).
이거 원해요 is grammatically correct, but native speakers more often say 이거 갖고 싶어요, I want to have this, when they want to own something.
What does it mean word for word?
이거 is a contraction of 이것, this thing. 원해요 is the polite form of 원하다, to want.
Which one should you use?
In a shop, it is much more natural to say 이거 주세요, please give me this, than to say you want the item.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
이것을 원합니다 is formal. Among friends, 이걸 갖고 싶어 is casual.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized as igeo wonhaeyo.
Did you know?
- Using 원해요 to ask for a physical object can sound like a line from a dubbed movie or a scripted drama because it is rarely used that way in real life.
- Korean has several ways to say 'this' depending on the distance from the speaker, and using 이거 implies the object is within arm's reach or physically touching the speaker.
- While English uses 'want' for almost everything, Koreans typically use the verb 원하다 only for abstract desires, such as wanting peace or love.
Examples in context
- 가게 직원에게 말합니다. – 이거 주세요.You say to the store employee. – Please give me this.
- 동생에게 말합니다. – 이걸 갖고 싶어.You say to your younger sibling. – I want to have this.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Minji are shopping at a store.
- 도현 Do-hyeon민지 씨, 이것 보세요.Minji ssi, igeot boseyo.Minji, look at this.
- 민지 Min-ji와, 정말 예쁘네요!wa, jeongmal yeppeuneyo!Wow, it's really pretty!
- 도현 Do-hyeon저 이거 원해요.jeo igeo wonhaeyo.I want this.
- 민지 Min-ji그럼 이걸로 사세요.geureom igeol-lo saseyo.Then please buy this one.
