Korean Pattern ~고 싶다: How to Say "want to ~"

Verb stem + 고 싶다. For third person, use 고 싶어하다.

The Rule

~고 싶다 = "want to ~" Verb stem + 고 싶다. For third person, use 고 싶어하다. This is one of the essential Korean grammar patterns. Mastering it unlocks the ability to express "want to ~" naturally in conversation — something you'll need almost every day.

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

In English, "want to ~" is expressed with separate words (auxiliary verbs, modals). In Korean, ~고 싶다 is a grammatical ENDING attached to the verb stem. You can't just translate word-by-word. The common mistake: trying to combine Korean words the way English does instead of attaching the pattern to the verb stem. Korean grammar works by stacking endings, not by adding separate helper words.

How It Works

Formation: Verb stem + 고 싶다 Verb stem + 고 싶다. For third person, use 고 싶어하다. Step by step: 1. Take any verb (e.g., 가다 = to go) 2. Remove 다 to get the stem (가) 3. Add the pattern: 가고 싶다 This works with virtually any Korean verb.

Real Examples

• 한국에 가고 싶어요. (hanguke gago sipeoyo.) — "I want to go to Korea." • 커피를 마시고 싶어요. (keopireur masigo sipeoyo.) — "I want to drink coffee."

Common Mistakes

❌ Trying to translate "want to ~" word-by-word from English ✅ Use the pattern ~고 싶다 attached to the verb stem → Korean expresses "want to ~" as a single grammatical construction, not separate words. ❌ Forgetting vowel harmony or consonant rules ✅ Check if the verb stem ends in a vowel or consonant — the pattern may change form → Pay attention to the verb stem's final sound when attaching the pattern.

Quick Tip

Practice ~고 싶다 with 5 verbs you already know. Write them out: • 가다 (go) → 가고 싶다 • 먹다 (eat) → 먹고 싶다 Repetition with familiar verbs builds the pattern into muscle memory. Once automatic, you can use it with ANY verb.

~고 싶다 = "want to ~"

Examples

한국에 가고 싶어요. — hanguke gago sipeoyo. — I want to go to Korea.

커피를 마시고 싶어요. — keopireur masigo sipeoyo. — I want to drink coffee.