자고 싶어
jago sipeo
The English phrase "I want to sleep" is translated into Korean as 자고 싶어 (jago sipeo).
This phrase is used to express a desire to go to bed or take a nap.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb stem 자 (to sleep), the connective -고 (and/to) and the auxiliary verb 싶어 (want to).
Which one should you use?
The dictionary form 자고 싶다 is used in written text, such as journals or books, rather than in spoken conversation. For a highly formal version used in professional settings or when speaking to a large audience, use 자고 싶습니다.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Adding 요 to the end of 자고 싶어 makes the phrase polite and suitable for speaking to people you are not close with or who are older than you.
How does it change in a sentence?
Additionally, 주무시고 싶으세요? is a polite way to ask someone if they want to sleep.
How do you pronounce it?
jago sipeo
Did you know?
- Koreans often use the phrase 잠을 청하다, meaning 'to invite sleep', when they cannot actually fall asleep despite wanting to. This treats sleep as a guest that must be welcomed.
- If you want to say you want to 'catch some sleep' very informally, you might use the slang '꿀잠 자고 싶어'. The word 꿀 means 'honey', implying a sleep so sweet it feels like honey.
- The auxiliary verb 싶다 (to want) can only be used for the first person's desires in a statement. To say 'he wants to sleep', you must use 싶어 하다, which turns the internal feeling into an observable action.
Examples in context
- 너무 피곤해서 자고 싶어.neomu pigonhaeseo jago sipeo.I'm so tired that I want to sleep.
- 지금 당장 자고 싶어.jigeum dangjang jago sipeo.I want to sleep right now.
- 집에 가서 자고 싶어.jibe gaseo jago sipeo.I want to go home and sleep.
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are studying together late at night.
- 민준 Min-jun민지야, 나 너무 졸려. 자고 싶어.Minji-ya, na neomu jollyeo. jago sipeo.Minji, I'm so sleepy. I want to sleep.
- 민지 Min-ji나도 그래. 이제 그만할까?nado geurae. ije geuman-halkka?Me too. Shall we stop now?
- 민준 Min-jun응, 이제 집에 가자.eung, ije jibe gaja.Yes, let's go home now.
- 민지 Min-ji그래, 민준아 조심히 들어가.geurae, Minjun-ah josimhi deureoga.Okay, Minjun, get home safely.
