원하는 것
The English phrase "what you want" is translated into Korean as 원하는 것.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb 원하다 (to want) in its attributive form and the dependent noun 것 (thing/fact).
Which one should you use?
While 원하는 것 is a noun phrase meaning 'the thing that you want', it is not a complete sentence. It requires a verb like 'is' (이다) or 'is what you want' (원하는 것이다) to function as a predicate.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 원하는 것 uses the adjective/attributive suffix –는 to modify the noun 것, turning the verb 'to want' into a relative clause meaning 'the thing that [one] wants'.
Did you know?
- Depending on the level of politeness, 원하는 것 might be replaced by 원하시는 것. This change in the verb form indicates that the person who wants the item is of higher social status than the speaker.
- In spoken Korean, you will almost always hear 원하는 거 instead of the textbook 원하는 것. The contraction 거 is so common that using the full form 것 in casual conversation can sound unnaturally stiff or overly formal.
- Korean allows the phrase 원하는 것 to be used without a subject. While English requires 'you' or 'I', a Korean speaker can omit the person entirely and the listener knows who is wanting based on the context.
Examples in context
- 원하는 것 말해 주세요.won-ha-neun geot mal-hae ju-se-yo.Please tell me what you want.
- 그게 바로 네가 원하는 것 아니니?geu-ge ba-ro ne-ga won-ha-neun geot a-ni-ni?Isn't that exactly what you want?
- 원하는 것 다 골라 보세요.won-ha-neun geot da gol-la bo-se-yo.Please pick everything you want.
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are shopping for a birthday gift.
- 민준 Min-jun민지야, 네가 원하는 것 말해 봐.Min-ji-ya, ne-ga won-ha-neun geot mal-hae bwa.Minji, tell me what you want.
- 민지 Min-ji진짜 갖고 싶은 게 너무 많아.jin-jja gat-go si-peun ge neo-mu man-a.There are so many things I really want.
- 민준 Min-jun그냥 네가 원하는 것 다 사 줄게.geu-nyang ne-ga won-ha-neun geot da sa jul-ge.I'll just buy everything you want.
- 민지 Min-ji정말? 민준아, 고마워!jeong-mal? Min-jun-ah, go-ma-wo!Really? Minjun, thank you!
