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고 싶다 vs 원하다 | Want in Korean

Updated: Nov 6, 2022


안녕! KoreanStudyJunkie입니당~ There are several ways to say that you want something in Korean and in this lesson we'll learn the main grammar.


In This Lesson I'll Cover:

(기) 바라다

(으)면 좋겠다

원하다

고 싶다


 

바라다 = to hope (that something happens/occurs)


Usage:

When one hopes for an entire clause to occur (i.e. something ending in a verb or adjective) it is very common to attach ~기(를) to the predicating verb or adjective in the clause to turn it into a noun. It’s pronounced by Koreans more as “바래요” instead of “바라요”


Examples:

숙제가 많지 않기를 바라요.

 = I hope there isn’t a lot of homework.


지금 만날 여자가 예쁘기를 바라요.

 = I hope the girl I am meeting now is pretty.


그가 나에게 돈을 많이 주기를 바라

 = I hope he gives me a lot of money


 

(으)면 좋겠다 = hope, wish


Usage:

Express one’s desire, wish, or hope that has not been realized. = wish/ hope. I suggest looking at the whole thing as one and not trying to break it up into separate pieces.


았/었으면 좋겠다 and (으)면 좋겠다 can be used in the same sense, but 았/었으면 좋겠다 indicates a stronger degree of hope or desire that is opposite to the current situation and is more commonly used.



Examples:

차가 있었으면 좋겠어요.

I (really) wish I had a car. (I don't have a car now)


돈이 많았으면 좋겠어요.

I (really) wish I had a lot of money. (I don’t have money now)


30살 전에 결혼했으면 좋겠어요

I would like to get married before I am 30.


노래를 잘했으면 좋겠어요.

I wish I could sing well.


주말에 비가 안 오면 좋겠어요.

I hope it doesn't rain in the weekend.



You also may see other words (usually 하다 or 바라다) used instead of 좋다.


 

원하다 = to want; to hope for


Usage:

The most basic usage is to express that you want to have something - a noun.

원하다 | “I want to have” (possession) {noun}


Form: noun + ㄹ/을 원하다

을 | object particle


Examples:

친구들은 전부 피자를 원했어요.

All of his friends wanted pizza.


원하신다면 아침까지 계셔도 됩니다.

You may stay until morning if you wish.


모든 사람은 행복과 건강을 원한다.

All people desire happiness and health.


 

고 싶다 = want to do


Usage:

Much more commonly used in speaking compared to 원하다. It can only be used to say that you want to DO something, not that you want to have something.


It’s used with verbs, instead of nouns like 원하다.

If you want to say that “someone else wants to do” something then the form must change to 고 싶어하다.


Examples:

이번 생일에 받고 싶은 선물이 있으면 말해 봐.

Tell me if there's a gift you want to get for this birthday.


그는 오늘 학교에 가고 싶어하지 않습니다.

He doesn’t want to go to school today.


나는 영화가 보고 싶어서 혼자 영화관에 갔어.

I went to the movie theater alone because I wanted to watch a movie.


 

Today we looked at 4 different grammar structures that can be used to talk about your desires. I have plenty more grammar lessons like this HERE.


If you are looking for good books about grammar with understandle explanations, simple example sentences, and practice I have a few on my store - feel free to check them out!


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