What does it mean word for word?
Literally, 좋겠어요 means "it would be good". It is composed of the adjective 좋다 (to be good), the presumptive suffix -겠- (would/will) and the polite ending -어요.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are different levels of politeness for this expression. 좋겠어 is the informal, casual version used with friends or people younger than you. 좋겠습니다 is the highly formal version used in professional settings, news broadcasts or when speaking to a superior.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express "I wish [something happened]", you typically conjugate a verb or adjective with the conditional suffix -으면 before using 좋겠어요. The resulting pattern is -으면 좋겠어요, which translates to "if [verb/adjective], it would be good".
How do you pronounce it?
jokatss-eoyo
When do people say it?
When wishing others well, different phrases are used depending on the context. To say "I wish you good luck", you can use 행운을 빕니다. To say "Best of luck", you can use 화이팅. For expressing aspirations or hopes for the future, the verb 희망하다 is used.
Did you know?
- To wish for someone's recovery from illness, Koreans rarely use 좋겠어요 and instead use specific phrases centered on 'speedy recovery' 쾌유를 빕니다.
- In Korean, your wish is often framed around the state of 'being good' (좋다) rather than the act of 'wanting' (원하다). This reflects a cultural tendency to focus on the desired state of affairs rather than the individual's internal desire.
- If you use the phrase 좋겠어요 with a much older person or a boss, it might sound slightly too direct. In very high-stakes social situations, Koreans often prefer more indirect ways to express a wish to avoid appearing demanding.
Examples in context
- 돈을 더 벌었으면 좋겠어요.I wish I earned more money.This sentence is useful for expressing a wish to earn more money.Tatoeba #13235661 by atitarev, translation #30512 by CK
- 일본에 갈 수 있었으면 좋겠어요.I wish I could go to Japan.This sentence is useful for expressing a wish to be able to go to Japan.Tatoeba #5375 by cueyayotl, translation #1393 by CK
- 알았으면 좋겠어요.I wish I knew.This sentence is useful for expressing a wish to know something.Tatoeba #13235674 by atitarev, translation #2549717 by CK
- 제가 여러분께 행복을 바랍니다.I wish happiness for all of you.
- 우리가 함께 행복한 미래를 희망합니다.We wish for a happy future together.
- 내일 비 오지 않으면 좋겠어요.I wish it doesn't rain tomorrow.
- 내가 할 수 있길 희망해요.I hope I can do it.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking about the upcoming weekend.
- 서연 Seo-yeon이번 주말에 날씨가 좋았으면 좋겠어요.Ibeon jumare nalssiga joeosseumyeon jokesseoyo.I wish the weather would be nice this weekend.
- 민준 Min-jun그러면 정말 좋겠어요.Geureomyeon jeongmal jokesseoyo.That would be really great.
- 서연 Seo-yeon민준 씨는 이번 주말에 뭐 해요?Minjun ssineun ibeon jumare mwo haeyo?Minjun, what are you doing this weekend?
- 민준 Min-jun그냥 집에서 쉬고 싶어요.Geunyang jibeseo swigo sipeoyo.I just want to rest at home.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
