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Korean Grammar Basic #12 – How to Use “-고 싶어요” (I Want To …)


1️⃣ Introduction


In English, we say:

I want to go.I wanted to go.I will want to go.

In Korean, we express this using the verb -고 싶다 (to want) attached to another verb’s stem. Tense is shown not in the main verb (like 가다 “to go”) but in -고 싶다, which means “to want.”


2️⃣ Grammar Explanation


🔹 -고 싶어요 (-go si-peo-yo) — “want to (do something)”



Form

Verb stem + -고 싶어요

Usage


  • Use -고 싶어요 to express:

    Desire or wish → “I want to …”

    Polite intention → “I’d like to …”

    Suggestion with soft tone → “Shall we …?” (when combined in dialogue)


  • The tense always applies to -고 싶다, not the main verb.

  • To make it negative, add 지 않아요 / 지 않았어요 / 지 않을 거예요 after -고 싶다

  • “고 싶었어요” often implies a regret or something you wanted but couldn’t do.




Usage by Tense


🔸 1) Present — 고 싶어요

Used to express a current desire or intention.


  • 한국에 가고 싶어요.(han-gu-ge ga-go si-peo-yo) 

    → I want to go to Korea.



  • 친구를 만나고 싶어요.(chin-gu-reul man-na-go si-peo-yo) 

    → I want to meet my friend.



  • 커피를 마시고 싶지 않아요.(keo-pi-reul ma-si-go sip-ji a-na-yo) 

    → I don’t want to drink coffee.



🔸 2) Past — 고 싶었어요

Used when you wanted something in the past but maybe didn’t do it.Can express regret or past desire.


  • 한국에 가고 싶었어요.(han-gu-ge ga-go si-peo-sseo-yo) 

    → I wanted to go to Korea.


  • 영화를 보고 싶었어요.(yeong-hwa-reul bo-go si-peo-sseo-yo) 

    → I wanted to watch a movie.


  • 운동하고 싶지 않았어요.(un-dong-ha-go sip-ji a-na-sseo-yo)

     → I didn’t want to exercise.


Tip:When learners say “고 싶었어요,” the listener naturally assumes “but it didn’t happen.”It carries a soft, nostalgic feeling.



🔸 3) Future — 고 싶을 거예요


Used when predicting your own or someone’s future desire.It’s not common in daily speech, but used for soft prediction.


Tip for beginners:This form shows guess or prediction, not a confirmed will.Use it for polite future statements or indirect feelings.


  • 내년에 한국에 가고 싶을 거예요.(nae-nye-ne han-gu-ge ga-go si-peul kkeo-ye-yo) 

    → I’ll probably want to go to Korea next year.


  • 내일은 쉬고 싶을 거예요.(nae-il-eun swi-go si-peul kkeo-ye-yo) 

    → I’ll probably want to rest tomorrow.


  • 내일은 공부하고 싶지 않을 거예요.(nae-il-eun gong-bu-ha-go sip-ji a-neul kkeo-ye-yo) 

    → I probably won’t want to study tomorrow.



 Quick Summary Sentences

Korean

Pronunciation

English

커피를 마시고 싶어요.

(keo-pi-reul ma-si-go si-peo-yo)

I want to drink coffee.

커피를 마시고 싶지 않아요.

(keo-pi-reul ma-si-go sip-ji a-na-yo)

I don’t want to drink coffee.

커피를 마시고 싶었어요.

(keo-pi-reul ma-si-go si-peo-sseo-yo)

I wanted to drink coffee.

커피를 마시고 싶지 않았어요.

(keo-pi-reul ma-si-go sip-ji a-na-sseo-yo)

I didn’t want to drink coffee.

커피를 마시고 싶을 거예요.

(keo-pi-reul ma-si-go si-peul kkeo-ye-yo)

I will want to drink coffee.

커피를 마시고 싶지 않을 거예요.

(keo-pi-reul ma-si-go sip-ji a-neul kkeo-ye-yo)

I won’t want to drink coffee.





4️⃣ Mini Practice


Fill in the blanks



1️⃣ 지금 한국에 가______.

(I want to go to Korea now.)


2️⃣ 어제 친구를 만나______.

(I wanted to meet my friend yesterday.)


3️⃣ 내일은 쉬______.

(I’ll probably want to rest tomorrow.)


4️⃣ 지금 커피를 마시______.

(I don’t want to drink coffee now.)


5️⃣ 어제 영화 보______.

(I wanted to watch a movie yesterday.)




Answers


1️⃣ 가고 싶어요 

→ I want to go to Korea now.


2️⃣ 만나고 싶었어요 

→ I wanted to meet my friend yesterday.


3️⃣ 쉬고 싶을 거예요 

→ I’ll probably want to rest tomorrow.


4️⃣ 마시고 싶지 않아요 

→ I don’t want to drink coffee now.


5️⃣ 보고 싶었어요 

→ I wanted to watch a movie yesterday.







Vocabulary Check


Word

Pronunciation

Meaning

가다

(ga-da)

to go

만나다

(man-na-da)

to meet

쉬다

(swi-da)

to rest

마시다

(ma-si-da)

to drink

보다

(bo-da)

to see / to watch

운동하다

(un-dong-ha-da)

to exercise



Summary


Grammar

Function

Example

Meaning

-고 싶어요

Express current desire

한국에 가고 싶어요.

I want to go to Korea.

-고 싶지 않아요

Express lack of desire (present)

커피를 마시고 싶지 않아요.

I don’t want to drink coffee.

-고 싶었어요

Express past desire

한국에 가고 싶었어요.

I wanted to go to Korea.

-고 싶지 않았어요

Express lack of desire (past)

운동하고 싶지 않았어요.

I didn’t want to exercise.

-고 싶을 거예요

Predict future desire

내년에 한국에 가고 싶을 거예요.

I’ll want to go to Korea.

-고 싶지 않을 거예요

Predict future lack of desire

공부하고 싶지 않을 거예요.

I won’t want to study.


  • Tense applies to -고 싶다, not to the action verb.

  • Negation: - 고 싶지 않아요 / -고 싶지 않았어요 / -고 싶않을 거예요.

  • “고 싶었어요” often implies you wanted but didn’t do it.

  • “고 싶을 거예요” sounds like a prediction of feeling.



📂 Download Practice File

Review and complete more examples in your free worksheet:

📥 Download your “-고 싶다” Grammar Practice Sheet



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