Korean Expression: “Want to …” = …고 싶어요
Korean Expression: “Want to …” = …고 싶어요
- Replace […] with the stem of the infinitive verb or adjective
Ex)
먹다 (infinitive verb) to eat
먹 (infinitive stem) eat
먹+고 싶어요 (Polite form) want to eat
배우다 (infinitive verb) to learn
배우 (infinitive stem) learn
배우+고 싶어요 (Polite form) want to learn
Making sentences)
1. I want to eat Pizza. (Pizza 피자)
저는 피자를 먹고 싶어요.
I Pizza want to eat
- The subject usually comes first in the sentence.
- A pizza (피자) is a direct object [I want to eat what?], therefore; we add the direct object marker 를after 피자, as 피자 ends with a vowel.
- The verb 먹고 싶어요 goes at the end of the sentence.
2. I want to learn Science. (science 과학)
저는 과학을 배우고 싶어요.
I science want to learn
- The subject usually comes first in the sentence.
- Science (과학) is a direct object [I want to learn what?], therefore we add the direct object marker 을after 과학, as 과학 ends with a consonant.
- The verb 배우고 싶어요 goes at the end of the sentence.
- When talking about a third person’s feelings, 하다 is added to the feeling or desire related verbs. For example, when we describe someone else’s desire such as “want to…” “…고 싶어 해요” is used instead of “…고 싶어요”. This is because we don’t know the other person’s desire.
Ex) 그녀는 커피를 마시고 싶어 해요. She wants to drink some coffee.
그는 운동하고 싶어 해요. He wants to exercise.
그들도 먹고 싶어 해요. They want to eat, too. (도 too, also)
- Similar expressions with “…고 싶어요”
1) Noun 을/를 원하다 to want Noun
Ex) 그는 그녀를 원해요. He wants her.
Ex) 저는 물을 원해요. I want some water.
2) Noun 이/가 필요하다 to need Noun
Ex) 저는 펜이 필요해요. I need a pen.
Ex) 저는 물이 필요해요. I need some water.
Ex) 저는 동전이 필요해요. I need some coins.
Ex) 저는 핸드폰이 필요해요. I need a cell phone.
*** 이 and 가 are used as direct object markers instead of 을, 를for the following specific words:
있다 to exist, to have, to stay
없다 to not exist, to not have, to not stay
필요하다 to need
되다 to become
많다 to be a lot
Exercise 4) Translate the following sentences into English and vice versa
1. 저는 빵을 먹고 싶어요. (빵 bread, 먹다 to eat)
2. 저는 친구를 만나고 싶어요. (친구 friend, 만나다 to meet)
3. 저는 한국어를 말하고 싶어요. (한국어 Korean, 말하다 to speak)
4. 저는 숙제를 하고 싶어요. (숙제 homework, 하다 to do)
5. 저는 한국어를 공부하고 싶어요. (한국어 Korean, 공부하다 to study)
6. I want to play outside. (밖에서 outside, 놀다 to play/hang out) ***을, 를
7. I want to drink some water. (물 water, 마시다 to drink)
8. I want to sleep a lot. (많이 a lot, 자다 to sleep)
9. I want to cook Korean food. (한국 음식 Korean food, 요리하다 to cook)
10. I want to read some magazines. (잡지 magazines, 읽다 to read)
Exercise 5) Translate the following sentences into English and vice versa.
1. Q뭐를 사고 싶어요? (사다 to buy)
→ .
A I want to buy milk. (milk 우유)
→ .
2. Q지금 뭐를 하고 싶어요? (하다 to do, 지금 now)
→ .
A1 I want to watch a movie with my friend. (보다 to watch, 영화 movie, 하고 with)
→ .
A2 I want to go shopping. (쇼핑하다 to go shopping)
→ .
A3 I want to read books. (읽다 to read, 책 books)
→ .
A4 I want to sleep at home.
[자다 to sleep, 집 home/house, 에서 in, at (when an action verb is present in the sentence)]
→ .
3. Q어디에 가고 싶어요? (가다 to go)
→ .
A I want to go home. (집home/house)
→ .
4. Q크리스마스에 뭐를 하고 싶어요? (하다 to do)
→ .
A I want to spend time with my family.
(가족 family, Noun하고 with Noun, 시간을 보내다 to spend time)
→ .
5. Q 당신은 뭐가 되고 싶어요? (되다 to become)
* with the verb 되다 (to become), either이or가 is used as the complement marker
→ .
A I want to be a scientist. (과학자 scientist)
→ .
6. Q 어디에 살고 싶어요? (살다 to live)
→ .
A I want to live in Korea. [A에 살다 to live in A (A is a place)]
→ .
Answers)
1. 저는 빵을 먹고 싶어요. (빵 bread, 먹다 to eat)
I want to eat some bread
2. 저는 친구를 만나고 싶어요. (친구 friend, 만나다 to meet)
I want to meet my friend
3. 저는 한국어를 말하고 싶어요. (한국어 Korean, 말하다 to speak)
I want to speak Korean.
4. 저는 숙제를 하고 싶어요. (숙제 homework, 하다 to do)
I want to do my homework.
5. 저는 한국어를 공부하고 싶어요. (한국어 Korean, 공부하다 to study)
I want to study Korean.
6. I want to play outside. (밖에서 outside, 놀다 to play/hang out) ***을, 를
저는 밖에서 놀고 싶어요.
7. I want to drink some water. (물 water, 마시다 to drink)
저는 물을 마시고 싶어요.
8. I want to sleep a lot. (많이 a lot, 자다 to sleep)
저는 많이 자고 싶어요.
9. I want to cook Korean food. (한국 음식 Korean food, 요리하다 to cook)
저는 한국 음식을 요리하고 싶어요.
10. I want to read some magazines. (잡지 magazines, 읽다 to read)
저는 잡지를 읽고 싶어요.