Core Pattern Rule: Expressing Unwillingness with -기 싫어
This pattern is a direct way to say you don't want to do something. It combines a verb with -기 싫다.
Formation
It's formed by attaching -기 to a verb stem, which turns the verb into a noun (e.g., 가다 → 가기, "going"). Then, you add 싫다, which means "to be disliked" or "to hate."
Verb Stem + -기 싫다
This works for all verb stems, whether they end in a vowel or a consonant.
먹다 (to eat) → 먹기 싫다
보다 (to see) → 보기 싫다
Meaning & Usage
Meaning: It translates to "I don't want to [verb]" or "I hate [verb]ing." It carries a strong, emotional nuance of aversion or dislike.
When to use: Use it when you want to express a strong feeling of not wanting to do an activity. It's very common in casual, everyday speech, especially when complaining or expressing reluctance.
학교 가기 싫어. / 일하기 싫어. / 혼자 먹기 싫어. / 청소하기 싫어.
Synonyms & Differences: -기 싫다 vs. -고 싶지 않다
Learners often confuse -기 싫다 with -고 싶지 않다. While both express not wanting to do something, they have different nuances.
-기 싫다
Nuance: Emotional and strong. It focuses on the feeling of dislike or aversion toward the action itself. It's like saying, "The act of doing this is unpleasant to me."
Example: 운동하기 싫어. (I hate exercising; the thought of it is unpleasant.)
-고 싶지 않다
Nuance: More neutral and factual. It focuses on the lack of desire or will to do something at that moment. It's less about hating the action and more about simply not feeling like it.
Example: 운동하고 싶지 않아. (I don't want to exercise; I don't have the desire to right now.)
Tip: Use -기 싫다 when you want to emphasize your negative feelings (like complaining). Use -고 싶지 않다 for a calmer, more straightforward refusal.
숙제하기 싫어. / 숙제하고 싶지 않아. / 그 사람 만나기 싫어. / 그 사람 만나고 싶지 않아.
Common Combinations: Intensifying with -어/아 죽겠다
To emphasize just how much you don't want to do something, you can combine -기 싫어 with the expression -어/아 죽겠다.
Meaning
-어/아 죽겠다 literally means "I could die from..." but is used colloquially to mean "so..." or "extremely..."
싫어 죽겠다 therefore means "I hate it so much I could die" or more naturally, "I really, really hate it."
Usage
This combination creates a very strong, expressive, and informal statement. It's perfect for complaining dramatically to friends.
일하기 싫어 죽겠어. (I really, really don't want to work.)
학교 가기 싫어 죽겠네. (Ugh, I'm dying, I don't want to go to school.)
It can also be made polite with -요: 일하기 싫어 죽겠어요.
일하기 싫어 죽겠어. / 일하기 싫어 죽겠어요. / 이 닦기 싫어 죽겠다. / 회의 들어가기 싫어 죽겠어요.
Politeness & Formality
The pattern -기 싫다 can be adjusted for different levels of politeness, as seen throughout the script lines.
Casual Form (반말)
Form: -기 싫어
Usage: This is the base form. Use it with close friends, family members you're close to, or people younger than you. It's very direct and can sound a bit childish or like you're complaining, which is often the intent.
Polite Form (해요체)
Form: -기 싫어요
Usage: Adding -요 makes the statement polite. Use this with colleagues, acquaintances, or people older than you. While it's grammatically polite, the meaning is still very direct. It clearly communicates your unwillingness, just in a more socially acceptable way for formal situations.
너랑 말 섞기 싫어. / 호리 씨랑 말 섞기 싫어요. / 운동하기 싫어. / 운동하기 싫어요.