뭔가 하고 싶어요
mwonga hago sipeoyo
The English phrase 'I want to do something' is expressed in Korean as 뭔가 하고 싶어요 (mwonga hago sipeoyo).
The phrase is used to express a general desire to engage in an activity.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a much more formal and polite version suitable for professional settings or public speaking, use 뭔가 하고 싶습니다. Conversely, the informal/casual expression 뭔가 하고 싶어 is used with close friends or people younger than you. This is achieved by removing the '요' from the end of the default form.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the desire to perform an action, the auxiliary verb '-고 싶다' is attached to the stem of a verb. For example, the phrase 하고 싶어요 means 'want to do'. Additionally, the subject 'I' (저 or 나) is frequently omitted in Korean when it is clear from the context that the speaker is talking about themselves.
How do you pronounce it?
mwonga hago sipeoyo
Did you know?
- While 싶다 is used for one's own desires, it is grammatically incorrect to use it for another person's wants. To say someone else 'wants' to do something, Koreans use 싶어 하다, which turns the internal feeling into an observable behavior.
- The word 싶다 (sip-da) is an adjective in Korean, not a verb, which is why it behaves differently in certain grammatical structures compared to English verbs.
- In Korean, expressing a strong desire can sometimes feel too direct or even selfish if used with superiors, so people often use indirect phrasing to soften the tone.
Examples in context
- 회의를 재조정하고 싶습니다.I want to reschedule the meeting.
- 영화를 보고 싶어(요).I want to watch a movie.
- 산책하고 싶어(요).I want to take a walk.
- 공부하고 싶어(요).I want to study.
- 지금 뭔가 하고 싶어요.jigeum monga hago sipeoyo.I want to do something right now.
- 심심해서 뭔가 하고 싶어요.simsimhaeseo monga hago sipeoyo.I'm bored, so I want to do something.
- 혼자서 뭔가 하고 싶어요.honjaseo monga hago sipeoyo.I want to do something by myself.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Minji are sitting in a cafe on a weekend afternoon.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo민지 씨, 지금 뭔가 하고 싶어요?Minji ssi, jigeum monga hago sipeoyo?Minji, do you want to do something now?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 영화를 보고 싶어요.ne, yeonghwareul bogo sipeoyo.Yes, I want to see a movie.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo좋아요, 제가 예매할게요.joayo, jega yemaehalgeyo.Great, I will book the tickets.
- 민지 Min-ji고마워요, 현우 씨.gomawoyo, Hyunwoo ssi.Thank you, Hyunwoo.
