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“-고 싶어요” (go si-peo-yo) is a Korean phrase meaning “I want to…” It is used to express desires related to actions and is formed by attaching “-고” to the verb stem, followed by “싶어요”.
Sentence Structure – Verb Stem + 고 + 싶어요
- Identify the Verb: Start with the verb you want to express a desire for. For example:
- 가다 (to go)
- 먹다 (to eat)
- 배우다 (to learn)
- Remove the 다 Ending: Take off the 다 ending from the verb to get the verb stem.
- 가다 → 가
- 먹다 → 먹
- 배우다 → 배우
- Add -고: Attach 고 to the verb stem.
- 가 + 고 → 가고
- 먹 + 고 → 먹고
- 배우 + 고 → 배우고
- Add 싶어요: Finally, add 싶어요 to express desire.
- 가고 + 싶어요 → 가고 싶어요 (I want to go)
- 먹고 + 싶어요 → 먹고 싶어요 (I want to eat)
- 배우고 + 싶어요 → 배우고 싶어요 (I want to learn)
Below are commonly used Korean verbs paired with the phrase “-고 싶어요” (go si-peo-yo). The verbs included cover a range of everyday activities, from 사다 (to buy) and 사용하다 (to use) to 공부하다 (to study) and 노래하다 (to sing).
Practicing these expressions will help you expand your vocabulary and improve your sentence construction in Korean, making it easier to communicate what you want to do.
Korean Verbs with ‘-고 싶어요’ Conjugations
가다 = to go → 가고 싶어요 (ga-go si-peo-yo) = I want to go
오다 = to come → 오고 싶어요 (o-go si-peo-yo) = I want to come
걷다 = to walk → 걷고 싶어요 (geot-go si-peo-yo) = I want to walk
달리다 = to run → 달리고 싶어요 (dal-li-go si-peo-yo) = I want to run
타다 = to ride → 타고 싶어요 (ta-go si-peo-yo) = I want to ride
춤추다 = to dance → 춤추고 싶어요 (chum-chu-go si-peo-yo) = I want to dance
만나다 = to meet → 만나고 싶어요 (man-na-go si-peo-yo) = I want to meet
주다 = to give → 주고 싶어요 (ju-go si-peo-yo) = I want to give
받다 = to receive → 받고 싶어요 (bat-go si-peo-yo) = I want to receive
돕다 = to help → 돕고 싶어요 (dop-go si-peo-yo) = I want to help
이해하다 = to understand → 이해하고 싶어요 (i-hae-ha-go si-peo-yo) = I want to understand
사다 = to buy → 사고 싶어요 (sa-go si-peo-yo) = I want to buy
사용하다 = to use → 사용하고 싶어요 (sa-yong-ha-go si-peo-yo) = I want to use
먹다 = to eat → 먹고 싶어요 (meok-go si-peo-yo) = I want to eat
마시다 = to drink → 마시고 싶어요 (ma-si-go si-peo-yo) = I want to drink
자다 = to sleep → 자고 싶어요 (ja-go si-peo-yo) = I want to sleep
쉬다 = to rest → 쉬고 싶어요 (swi-go si-peo-yo) = I want to rest
듣다 = to listen → 듣고 싶어요 (deut-go si-peo-yo) = I want to listen
읽다 = to read → 읽고 싶어요 (ilg-go si-peo-yo) = I want to read
쓰다 = to write → 쓰고 싶어요 (sseu-go si-peo-yo) = I want to write
배우다 = to learn → 배우고 싶어요 (bae-u-go si-peo-yo) = I want to learn
공부하다 = to study → 공부하고 싶어요 (gong-bu-ha-go si-peo-yo) = I want to study
가르치다 = to teach → 가르치고 싶어요 (ga-reu-chi-go si-peo-yo) = I want to teach
열다 = to open → 열고 싶어요 (yeol-go si-peo-yo) = I want to open
닫다 = to close → 닫고 싶어요 (dat-go si-peo-yo) = I want to close
울다 = to cry → 울고 싶어요 (ul-go si-peo-yo) = I want to cry
웃다 = to laugh → 웃고 싶어요 (ut-go si-peo-yo) = I want to laugh
살다 = to live → 살고 싶어요 (sal-go si-peo-yo) = I want to live
기다리다 = to wait → 기다리고 싶어요 (gi-da-ri-go si-peo-yo) = I want to wait
노래하다 = to sing → 노래하고 싶어요 (no-rae-ha-go si-peo-yo) = I want to sing
하다 = to do → 하고 싶어요 (ha-go si-peo-yo) = I want to do
