KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -고 싶다
Korean Grammar “-고 싶다”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 2)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 보고 싶다 | bogo sipda |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽고 싶다 | ikgo sipda |
| 하다 | to do | 하고 싶다 | hago sipda |
| 살다 | to live | 살고 싶다 | salgo sipda |
What changes
- This ending attaches directly to the stem. Nothing changes, whether the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.
Explanation
저는 방학에 제주도에 가고 싶어요.
“-고 싶다” expresses the speaker’s wish and attaches directly to a verb stem. The sentence means “I want to go to Jeju Island during the vacation.” Do not use -아/어서 or -(으)면 here; they cannot express desire.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 저는 방학에 제주도에 가고 싶어요.
Said aloud, it sounds like [저는 방하게 제주도에 가고 시퍼요].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 저는 | ||
| 저 | ㅈ+ㅓ | jeo |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 방학에 | ||
| 방 | ㅂ+ㅏ+ㅇ | bang |
| 학 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄱ | [하] ha |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | [게] ge |
| 제주도에 | ||
| 제 | ㅈ+ㅔ | je |
| 주 | ㅈ+ㅜ | ju |
| 도 | ㄷ+ㅗ | do |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | e |
| 가고 | ||
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 고 | ㄱ+ㅗ | go |
| 싶어요 | ||
| 싶 | ㅅ+ㅣ+ㅍ | [시] si |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [퍼] peo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 학에 → [하게]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 방학 | noun | school vacation | TOPIK level 2 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 저는 방학에 제주도에 가____ 싶어요.
Show the answer
Answer: 저는 방학에 제주도에 가고 싶어요.
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