고 싶다 (go sipda) means "want to".
Expresses the speaker's desire to do something.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- Same form after any stem. 싶다 sipda then conjugates like an adjective.
Build it
The forms you need
Want
싶어요sipeoyowant toWanted
싶었어요sipeosseoyowanted toDon't want
싶지 않아요sipji anayodon't want toCasual
싶어sipeowant to (to friends)When to use it
Your own wish
Statements are about you.
Asking someone
In a question it means "do you want to …?"
Someone else's wish
Add 하다 hada: 고 싶어 하다 go sipeo hada.
Watch out
It needs a verb. Say what you want to do with the thing.
For other people, use 고 싶어 하다 go sipeo hada. You can't feel what they want.
In context
8 examples- 1
한국에 가고 싶어요.
Hanguge gago sipeoyo.
I want to go to Korea.
- 2
피자 먹고 싶어.
Pija meokgo sipeo.
I want to eat pizza.
- 3
뭐 마시고 싶어요?
Mwo masigo sipeoyo?
What would you like to drink?
- 4
오늘은 집에서 쉬고 싶어요.
Oneureun jibeseo swigo sipeoyo.
Today I just want to rest at home.
- 5
어렸을 때 가수가 되고 싶었어요.
Eoryeosseul ttae gasuga doego sipeosseoyo.
When I was little, I wanted to be a singer.
- 6
지금은 아무것도 하고 싶지 않아요.
Jigeumeun amugeotdo hago sipji anayo.
I don't feel like doing anything right now.
- 7
동생이 강아지를 키우고 싶어 해요.
Dongsaengi gangajireul kiugo sipeo haeyo.
My younger sibling wants to get a dog.
- 8
새 휴대폰을 사고 싶어요.
Sae hyudaeponeul sago sipeoyo.
I want to buy a new phone.
Practice
8 questions저는 물 싶어요.
Jeoneun mul sipeoyo.
I want some water.
을/를 or 이/가?
You'll hear both:
- 물을 마시고 싶어요. mureul masigo sipeoyo "I want to drink water."
- 물이 마시고 싶어요. muri masigo sipeoyo "I want to drink some water." This one puts the spotlight on the water itself, as if you're craving it.
If you're unsure, use 을/를. It's always correct.
How polite?
- 먹고 싶어. meokgo sipeo With friends.
- 먹고 싶어요. meokgo sipeoyo Everyday polite, the safe default.
- 먹고 싶습니다. meokgo sipseumnida Formal, for presentations or customer service.
고 싶다 vs (으)려고 하다
고 싶다 is a wish. (으)려고 하다 (eu)ryeogo hada is a plan you've already decided on.
- 한국에 가고 싶어요. hanguge gago sipeoyo "I'd like to go to Korea." Maybe one day.
- 한국에 가려고 해요. hanguge garyeogo haeyo "I'm planning to go to Korea." It's happening.
More on the second one in the (으)려고 lesson.
Hanja in this lesson
Words from the examples that are written with Chinese characters. Tap a character to see its page.
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 고 싶다 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
