-고 싶어: Want to in Korean

The pattern -고 싶다 is used to express the speaker's desire or wish to do something. It's equivalent to saying "I want to..." in English.

Formation

This pattern is very straightforward. You attach -고 싶다 directly to the stem of any action verb, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant.

Verb stem + -고 싶다

가다 (to go) → 가 + 고 싶다 → 가고 싶다

먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 고 싶다 → 먹고 싶다

Usage

It's primarily used for the first person ("I") to state personal wants. It can also be used for the second person ("you") in questions to ask about their desires, like 뭐 먹고 싶어? (What do you want to eat?).

이거 먹고 싶어. / 집에 가고 싶어. / 여행 가고 싶어요. / 로또 당첨되고 싶어.

A crucial rule for this pattern is that -고 싶다 is reserved for the speaker's (first-person) desires. When you want to talk about what a third person (he, she, they) wants, you must use a different form: -고 싶어 하다.

First-Person Desire: -고 싶다

This expresses an internal feeling that only you can truly know.

Correct: 저는 한국에 가고 싶어요. (I want to go to Korea.)

Incorrect: 내 친구는 한국에 가고 싶어요.

Third-Person Desire: -고 싶어 하다

This form describes an observed desire. You are reporting on what you see or believe someone else wants, based on their words or actions.

Correct: 내 친구는 한국에 가고 싶어 해요. (My friend wants to go to Korea.)

Correct: 그 아이는 집에 가고 싶어 해요. (That child wants to go home.)

Using -고 싶다 for a third person sounds unnatural, as if you are reading their mind.

저는 울고 싶어요. / 그 사람은 울고 싶어 해요. / 저는 그만두고 싶어요. / 제 동생은 회사를 그만두고 싶어 해요.

Like many Korean expressions, -고 싶다 changes its ending based on the level of politeness required by the social context. The script lines demonstrate the two most common forms.

Casual Form: -고 싶어

This is the informal, or 반말, form. Use it with close friends, family members, or people who are younger than you.

Example: 너랑 친해지고 싶어. (I want to get close to you.)

Polite Form: -고 싶어요

This is the standard polite form, or 해요체. Use it with people you've just met, colleagues, or anyone older than you. Adding -요 makes the statement respectful and is the safest option in most situations.

Example: 호리 씨랑 친해지고 싶어요. (I want to get close to Hori.)

아무것도 안 하고 싶어. / 아무것도 안 하고 싶어요. / 자고 싶어. / 자고 싶어요.