Welcome to our comprehensive guide on expressing “want to” in Korean! Whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate learner, mastering this keyword will greatly enhance your ability to express your desires and intentions in the Korean language. In this guide, we will cover both formal and informal ways to say “want to,” provide regional variations when necessary, and offer plenty of tips and examples to solidify your understanding. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say “Want to”
When speaking formally or politely, there are a couple of ways to express your desire to do something in Korean. Here are two common phrases you can utilize:
1. -고 싶어요 (-go sipeoyo)
This phrase is a polite way to express what you want to do:
Example: 저는 공원에 가고 싶어요. (Jeoneun gong-wone gago sipeoyo.)
In this example, “저는” (Jeoneun) means “I” or “me,” “공원에” (gong-wone) means “to the park,” and “가고 싶어요” (gago sipeoyo) means “want to go.” Therefore, the sentence translates to “I want to go to the park.”
2. -고 싶습니다 (-go sipseumnida)
This is a formal and polite way to express your desire to do something. It is often used in formal situations or when speaking to strangers:
Example: 박사님과 대화하고 싶습니다. (Baksa-nim-gwa daehwahago sipseumnida.)
In this example, “박사님과” (Baksa-nim-gwa) means “with the professor,” “대화하고” (daehwahago) means “to converse,” and “싶습니다” (sipseumnida) means “want to.” The sentence translates to “I want to converse with the professor.”
Informal Ways to Say “Want to”
When speaking informally, such as with close friends or family members, you can use the following expressions:
1. -고 싶어 (-go sip-eo)
This expression is commonly used in casual conversations to convey your desire to do something:
Example: 오늘 영화 보고 싶어. (Oneul yeonghwa bogo sip-eo.)
In this example, “오늘” (oneul) means “today,” “영화” (yeonghwa) means “movie,” “보고” (bogo) means “to watch,” and “싶어” (sip-eo) means “want to.” The sentence translates to “I want to watch a movie today.”
2. -고 싶다 (-go sipda)
This is a more casual way to indicate your desire to do something:
Example: 저녁 먹고 싶다. (Jeonyeok meokgo sipda.)
In this example, “저녁” (jeonyeok) means “dinner,” “먹고” (meokgo) means “to eat,” and “싶다” (sipda) means “want to.” The sentence translates to “I want to eat dinner.”
Tips and Variations
Here are some additional tips and variations to help you better understand the nuances of expressing “want to” in Korean:
1. Adding the verb stem
Instead of using the 원 form of a verb, you can add the verb stem before -고 싶어요/습니다 or -고 싶어/싶다 to indicate what you want to do:
Example: 밥 먹고 싶어요. (Bap meokgo sipeoyo.)
In this example, “먹다” (meokda) means “to eat,” and by adding the verb stem “먹” (meok) before -고 싶어요 (go sipeoyo), the sentence translates to “I want to eat.”
2. Expressing wants for others
To express that someone else wants to do something, simply replace the pronoun with their name or title. It is common in Korean to refer to yourself in the third person rather than using pronouns:
Example: 제니는 산책하고 싶어요. (Jeni-neun sanchaekhago sipeoyo.)
The sentence above translates to “Jennie wants to take a walk.”
3. Regional variations
Korean is spoken in various regions, and some dialects may have slight variations in how to express “want to.” However, the differences are typically minimal, and the phrases outlined in this guide are widely understood across different dialects.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have now learned how to express “want to” in Korean. Remember, when speaking formally, you can use -고 싶어요 (-go sipeoyo) or -고 싶습니다 (-go sipseumnida). For informal conversations, -고 싶어 (-go sip-eo) or -고 싶다 (-go sipda) are more suitable. Practice using these phrases in various contexts, and soon you’ll find yourself effortlessly expressing your desires in Korean. Keep exploring the language, and enjoy your Korean learning journey!
