Lesson 14
In our previous lesson, we learned how to say “I want to” in Korean. In this lesson, we will practice using the structure “I want to” in context through more sample conversations.
First, let us look at five verbs which are very commonly used in Korean. Do not worry if they are new to you. At this point, knowing how to use them is more important than memorizing each and every one of them.
하다 [ha-da] = to do
보다 [bo-da] = to see
먹다 [meok-tta] = to eat
사다 [sa-da] = to buy
마시다 [ma-si-da] = to drink
* If you look up a verb in a Korean dictionary, you will see every verb ending in the form “-다”. “-다” is the basic form of all Korean verbs, so all the Korean verbs that you find in a dictionary will be “-다”.
Do you remember how to change a verb into the “I want to + verb” form?
하 + (-다) + -고 싶어요
Yes. -다 [-da] disappears and you add -고 싶어요 [-go si-peo-yo] after the verb.
하다 → 하고 싶어요 [ha-go si-peo-yo] = I want to do...
보다 → 보고 싶어요 [bo-go si-peo-yo] = I want to see...
먹다 → 먹고 싶어요 [meok-kko si-peo-yo] = I want to eat...
사다 → 사고 싶어요 [sa-go si-peo-yo] = I want to buy...
마시다 → 마시고 싶어요 [ma-si-go si-peo-yo] = I want to drink…
Do you remember how to say “WHAT” in Korean?
뭐 = what
Sample Conversations
*Remember: In Korean, objects come before verbs.
A: 뭐 하고 싶어요? [mwo ha-go si-peo-yo?] = What do you want to do?
B: 텔레비전 보고 싶어요. [tel-le-bi-jeon bo-go si-peo-yo.] = I want to watch TV.
A: 텔레비전 보고 싶어요? [tel-le-bi-jeon bo-go si-peo-yo?] = You want to watch TV?
B: 네. [ne] = Yeah.
A: 뭐 보고 싶어요? [mwo bo-go si-peo-yo?] = What do you want to watch?
B: 뉴스 보고 싶어요. [nyu-sseu bo-go si-peo-yo.] = I want to watch the news.
A: 이거 사고 싶어요. [i-geo sa-go si-peo-yo.] = I want to buy this.
B: 이거요? [i-geo-yo?] = This one?
A: 네. 이거 먹고 싶어요. [ne. i-geo meok-kko si-peo-yo.] = Yeah. I want to eat this.
B: 이거 뭐예요? [i-geo mwo-ye-yo?] = What is this?
A: 이거 김밥이에요. [i-geo gim-ppa-bi-e-yo] = This is gimbap.
Sample Sentences
읽다 [ik-tta] = to read
읽고 싶어요 [il-kko si-peo-yo] = I want to read.
자다 [ja-da] = to sleep
자고 싶어요. [ja-go si-peo-yo.] = I want to sleep.
놀다 [nol-da] = to hang out, to play
놀고 싶어요. [nol-go si-peo-yo.] = I want to play.
쉬다 [swi-da] = to rest
쉬고 싶어요 [swi-go si-peo-yo.] = I want to rest.
일하다 [il-ha-da] = to work
일하고 싶어요. [il-ha-go si-peo-yo.] = I want to work.
영화 보다 [yeong-hwa bo-da] = to watch a movie
영화 보고 싶어요. [yeong-hwa bo-go si-peo-yo.] = I want to watch a movie.
김밥 먹다 [gim-ppap meok-tta] = to eat gimbap
김밥 먹고 싶어요. [gim-ppap meok-kko si-peo-yo.] = I want to eat gimbap.