Lesson 13
In this lesson, you will learn how to say “I want to...” in Korean. In the previous lesson, we learned how to say that something is delicious, and also how to give thanks for the food you are going to eat.
맛있어요. [ma-si-sseo-yo.] = It is delicious.
맛없어요. [ma-deop-sseo-yo.] = It is not tasty.
잘 먹겠습니다. [jal meok-kket-sseum-ni-da.] = Thank you for the food. / I will enjoy it.
잘 먹었습니다. [jal meo-geot-sseum-ni-da.] = I enjoyed the meal. / Thanks for the food.
Before you order something in a restaurant or in a coffee shop, you might as well ask your friends what they want to eat or drink, and also tell them what you want to have.
In English, you add the expression “want to” before the verb, but in Korean, you need to change the end of the verb. Do not worry. It is not too difficult to do.
-고 싶어요 = I want to + V
Now, let us practice. Here are some frequently used Korean verbs:
가다 [ga-da] = to go
보다 [bo-da] = to see
먹다 [meok-tta] = to eat
Conjugation
Verb stem + -고 싶어요
Ex)
to go = 가다 [ga-da] → 가 + -고 싶어요 → 가고 싶어요.
가고 싶어요. [ga-go si-peo-yo.] = I want to go.
to see = 보다 [bo-da] → 보 + -고 싶어요 → 보고 싶어요.
보고 싶어요. [bo-go si-peo-yo.] = I want to see/look/watch.
to eat = 먹다 [meok-tta] → 먹 + -고 싶어요 → 먹고 싶어요.
먹고 싶어요. [meok-kko si-peo-yo.] = I want to eat.
Sample Conversations
A: 뭐 먹고 싶어요? [mwo meok-kko si-peo-yo?] = What do you want to eat?
B: 햄버거 먹고 싶어요. [haem-beo-geo meok-kko si-peo-yo.] = I want to eat a hamburger.
A: 뭐 먹고 싶어요? [mwo meok-kko si-peo-yo?] = What do you want to eat?
B: 회 먹고 싶어요. [hoe meok-kko si-peo-yo.] = I want to eat raw fish.
Here is another useful word to know:
더 = more
Now that you know how to say “I want to eat (it)” you can say “I want to eat more” using this
word 더 [deo].
Sample Sentences
먹고 싶어요. [meok-kko si-peo-yo.] = I want to eat it.
더 먹고 싶어요. [deo meok-kko si-peo-yo.] = I want to eat more.
주세요. [ju-se-yo.] = Please give me.
더 주세요. [deo ju-se-yo.] = Please give me more.