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The verb ending ‘-고 싶어요‘ is a great way to express the phrase “I want to” in Korean. It’s simple to use once you know how to attach it to the dictionary form of a verb.
How it works:
- Take the verb stem (which is the dictionary form of a verb minus the ‘다‘ ending).
- Attach ‘-고 싶어요’ to the verb stem.
This pattern is used to express that you want to do something.
Example: 하다 (to do) → 하고 싶어요 (I want to do)
20 “I want to” Sentences using the ‘Verb + -고 싶어요’ Structure
The sentences below use some of the most frequently used verbs in daily life, such as “to go,” “to eat,” and “to see.” Each sentence follows the pattern of Verb + -고 싶어요, and includes a romanization breakdown to help with pronunciation.
- 가다 → 가고 싶어요 (ga-go si-peo-yo) = I want to go
- 먹다 → 먹고 싶어요 (meok-go si-peo-yo) = I want to eat
- 보다 → 보고 싶어요 (bo-go si-peo-yo) = I want to see
- 마시다 → 마시고 싶어요 (ma-si-go si-peo-yo) = I want to drink
- 자다 → 자고 싶어요 (ja-go si-peo-yo) = I want to sleep
- 만나다 → 만나고 싶어요 (man-na-go si-peo-yo) = I want to meet
- 공부하다 → 공부하고 싶어요 (gong-bu-ha-go si-peo-yo) = I want to study
- 배우다 → 배우고 싶어요 (bae-u-go si-peo-yo) = I want to learn
- 읽다 → 읽고 싶어요 (ik-go si-peo-yo) = I want to read
- 사다 → 사고 싶어요 (sa-go si-peo-yo) = I want to buy
- 쓰다 → 쓰고 싶어요 (sseu-go si-peo-yo) = I want to write
- 듣다 → 듣고 싶어요 (deut-go si-peo-yo) = I want to listen
- 놀다 → 놀고 싶어요 (nol-go si-peo-yo) = I want to play
- 일하다 → 일하고 싶어요 (il-ha-go si-peo-yo) = I want to work
- 만들다 → 만들고 싶어요 (man-deul-go si-peo-yo) = I want to make
- 운동하다 → 운동하고 싶어요 (un-dong-ha-go si-peo-yo) = I want to exercise
- 전화하다 → 전화하고 싶어요 (jeon-hwa-ha-go si-peo-yo) = I want to call
- 여행하다 → 여행하고 싶어요 (yeo-haeng-ha-go si-peo-yo) = I want to travel
- 수영하다 → 수영하고 싶어요 (su-yeong-ha-go si-peo-yo) = I want to swim
- 운전하다 → 운전하고 싶어요 (un-jeon-ha-go si-peo-yo) = I want to drive
