Saying What You Want in Korean: -고 싶어요, -(으)ㄹ래요, and More

"I want to go to Korea." "I'd like a coffee." "Do you want to watch a movie?" Expressing desire is one of the most useful skills in any language, and Korean has clear patterns for it. This guide covers the main ones, all in polite 해요체.

-고 싶어요: I want to

Attach -고 싶어요 to a verb stem to say you want to do something.

• 한국에 가고 싶어요.

  [hanguge gago sipeoyo]

  I want to go to Korea.

• 떡볶이를 먹고 싶어요.

  [tteokbokkireul meokgo sipeoyo]

  I want to eat tteokbokki.

• 한국어를 잘하고 싶어요.

  [hangugeoreul jalhago sipeoyo]

  I want to be good at Korean.

The negative is -고 싶지 않아요 or 안 -고 싶어요, and the past is -고 싶었어요.

• 오늘은 나가고 싶지 않아요.

  [oneureun nagago sipji anayo]

  I don't want to go out today.

• 어릴 때 가수가 되고 싶었어요.

  [eoril ttae gasuga doego sipeosseoyo]

  When I was little, I wanted to become a singer.

Asking others what they want

You can turn -고 싶어요 into a question, but in polite conversation it is often softer to use the honorific form -고 싶으세요 for a person you respect.

• 뭐 먹고 싶어요?

  [mwo meokgo sipeoyo]

  What do you want to eat?

• 어디 가고 싶으세요?

  [eodi gago sipeuseyo]

  Where would you like to go?

Talking about someone else: -고 싶어해요

In Korean, you usually cannot directly state another person's inner feelings with -고 싶어요. For a third person, use -고 싶어해요, which means "seems to want" or "says they want."

• 동생이 강아지를 키우고 싶어해요.

  [dongsaengi gangajireul kiugo sipeohaeyo]

  My younger sibling wants to raise a puppy.

-(으)ㄹ래요: I'll have / do you want to?

-(으)ㄹ래요 expresses your intention or choice, a bit like "I think I'll..." In questions, it makes a friendly invitation.

• 저는 아이스 아메리카노 마실래요.

  [jeoneun aiseu amerikano masillaeyo]

  I'll have an iced Americano.

• 같이 영화 볼래요?

  [gachi yeonghwa bollaeyo]

  Do you want to watch a movie together?

• 좀 쉴래요.

  [jom swillaeyo]

  I think I'll rest a bit.

This ending is casual-polite and very common among friends and coworkers. With a boss or elder, a more polite option is -(으)실래요?

• 커피 드실래요?

  [keopi deusillaeyo]

  Would you like some coffee?

주세요: please give me

When you want an object, the simplest pattern is noun + 주세요.

• 물 주세요.

  [mul juseyo]

  Water, please.

• 이거 주세요.

  [igeo juseyo]

  This one, please.

• 영수증 주세요.

  [yeongsujeung juseyo]

  Receipt, please.

For actions you want someone to do for you, use verb stem + 아/어 주세요.

• 천천히 말해 주세요.

  [cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo]

  Please speak slowly.

• 사진 좀 찍어 주세요.

  [sajin jom jjigeo juseyo]

  Could you take a photo, please?

The small word 좀 (a little) softens a request and is used constantly.

Wishes: -(으)면 좋겠어요

To express a hope or wish, like "It would be nice if," use -(으)면 좋겠어요.

• 내일 날씨가 좋으면 좋겠어요.

  [naeil nalssiga joeumyeon jokesseoyo]

  I hope the weather is nice tomorrow.

• 한국어를 더 잘하면 좋겠어요.

  [hangugeoreul deo jalhamyeon jokesseoyo]

  I wish I were better at Korean.

Choosing the right form

• Your own desire to do something: -고 싶어요
• Your choice right now, or inviting someone: -(으)ㄹ래요
• Asking for an object: noun + 주세요
• Asking for an action: -아/어 주세요
• Hoping for something: -(으)면 좋겠어요

With these patterns, you can express wishes, make plans, and invite people, which covers a huge part of daily conversation.