뭐 좀 먹고 싶어요
mwo jom meokgo sipeoyo
In Korean, 'I want to eat something' is expressed as 뭐 좀 먹고 싶어요 (mwo jom meokgo sipeoyo).
This phrase is used to express a desire to consume food. You might use the word 무언가 to mean 'something' or use the word 좀 (meaning 'a little' or 'some') to soften the statement. Adding 좀 makes the expression sound more natural and less demanding to a listener. A very common alternative to express this feeling is saying 배고파요, which means 'I am hungry'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 뭐 좀 먹고 싶어요 literally breaks down to 'something (뭐) a little (좀) eat (먹고) want (싶어요)'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express a desire to perform an action in Korean, the auxiliary verb '-고 싶다' is attached to the verb stem. For example, 'want to eat' is expressed as 먹고 싶어요. To express that you wanted to eat something in the past, you can change the ending to 먹고 싶었습니다 in formal speech or 먹고 싶었어요 in polite speech.
How do you pronounce it?
mwo jom meokgo sipeoyo
Did you know?
- While 뭐 좀 먹고 싶어요 expresses a desire, Koreans often use the phrase 밥 먹었니? (Did you eat rice?) as a common way to say 'Hello' or 'How are you?'
- If you are eating with someone much older or of higher status, using the polite form 먹고 싶어요 is essential, but you might even switch the verb entirely to the honorific 드시고 싶어요 when speaking about their desires.
- Korean has a specific word 입맛 없다 which literally means 'to have no taste in the mouth' to express that you have no appetite, even if you are physically hungry.
Examples in context
- 뭔가 먹고 싶어. 친구들과 함께 피자를 먹고 싶어.I want to eat something. I want to eat pizza with my friends.
- 지금 뭐 좀 먹고 싶어요.jigeum mwo jom meokgo sipeoyo.I want to eat something now.
- 배가 고파서 뭐 좀 먹고 싶어요.baega gopaseo mwo jom meokgo sipeoyo.I'm hungry, so I want to eat something.
- 달콤한 거 뭐 좀 먹고 싶어요.dalkomhan geo mwo jom meokgo sipeoyo.I want to eat something sweet.
Example conversation
Ji-hun and Min-ji are studying together at a library.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지 씨, 저 뭐 좀 먹고 싶어요.Minji ssi, jeo mwo jom meokgo sipeoyo.Min-ji, I want to eat something.
- 민지 Min-ji저도 배고픈데 같이 갈까요?jeodo baegopeunde gat-i galkkayo?I'm hungry too, shall we go together?
- 지훈 Ji-hun좋아요. 근처에 식당이 있어요?joayo. geuncheoe sikdangi isseoyo?Great. Is there a restaurant nearby?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 제가 아는 곳이 있어요.ne, jega aneun gosi isseoyo.Yes, there is a place I know.
