한국에 가고 싶어요
The English phrase "I want to visit korea" is expressed in Korean as 한국에 가고 싶어요.
While English speakers often use 'visit' when discussing travel, the most natural way to express the desire to visit a country in Korean is to use the verb 가다 (to go). To convey a stronger desire, you can add 정말 or 진짜.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 한국에 가고 싶어요 is composed of 한국 (Korea), the particle 에 (to), the verb 가다 (to go) and the auxiliary construction -고 싶어요 (want to).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 한국에 가고 싶어요 uses the polite ending -어요, which makes it suitable for speaking to strangers or people older than you. You can make the phrase more formal and professional by using the -습니다 ending. Conversely, by dropping the -요 from the end, you create the informal/casual version 한국에 가고 싶어, which is used with close friends or younger people.
Did you know?
- The phrase -고 싶어요 can only be used for the first person. To say 'he wants to visit Korea', you must use a different construction like -고 싶어 해요.
- While English speakers often use 'visit' to imply a holiday, using the Korean verb 방문하다 (to visit) can sometimes sound like a formal diplomatic mission or a business meeting.
- In Korean, the word for 'Korea' is 한국 (Hanguk), but if you are speaking to someone from North Korea, you might hear the term 조선 (Joseon) used instead.
Examples in context
- 한국에 가서 K-pop 공연을 관람하고 싶어.I want to go to Korea and watch a K-pop performance.
- 한국에 가고 싶어요.Hanguge gago sipeoyo.I want to visit Korea.
- 다음 휴가 때 한국에 가고 싶어요.Daeum hyugae ttae Hanguge gago sipeoyo.I want to visit Korea during my next vacation.
- 저는 꼭 한국에 가고 싶어요.Jeoneun kkok Hanguge gago sipeoyo.I really want to visit Korea.
Example conversation
Jihoon and Minji are talking about their travel dreams.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지 씨는 여행 어디로 가고 싶어요?Minji ssi-neun yeohaeng eodiro gago sipeoyo?Minji, where do you want to travel to?
- 민지 Min-ji저는 한국에 가고 싶어요.Jeoneun hanguge gago sipeoyo.I want to visit Korea.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말요? 저도 같이 가고 싶네요.Jeongmalyo? Jeodo gachi gago sipneyo.Really? I want to go together too.
- 민지 Min-ji와, 같이 가면 정말 좋겠어요!Wa, gachi gamyeon jeongmal jokess-eoyo!Wow, it would be great to go together!
