Korean for English speakers Beach · Lesson 2

I wanna swim!

Express wishes in Korean with -고 싶어요 — 수영하고 싶어요 (I want to swim) — for personal desires.

Conversation

  1. Magicat Magicat

    아~ 너무 더워~

    A~ Neomu deowo~

    Ah, it's so hot!

    Tip: <더워> = casual way to say "It's hot" (saying to oneself) <너무> = too (adverb to qualify negative impression)

  2. Rose Rose

    수영하고 싶어요.

    Suyeonghago sipeoyo.

    I want to swim.

    Tip: <수영하고 싶어요> = verb "to want to swim" (in present tense) [Note] Verb stem + -고 싶어요 : to want to V

  3. Magicat Magicat

    저는 물이 무서워요.

    Jeoneun muri museowoyo.

    I'm afraid of water.

    Tip: <물> = water <N이/가 무서워요> = verb "to be scared of N"(in present tense)

  4. Rose Rose

    아, 정말요? 저는 여름에 수영이 제일 재밌어요.

    A, jeongmaryo? Jeoneun yeoreume suyeongi jeil jaemisseoyo.

    Oh, really? Swimming is the most fun in the summer.

    Tip: <아, 정말요?> = formal way to say "Oh, really?" <여름> = summer <제일> = the most <재밌어요> = adjective "to be joyful/interesting/funny"

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'I want to ...' in Korean?

Verb stem + -고 싶어요. 가다 → 가고 싶어요 (want to go). 먹다 → 먹고 싶어요 (want to eat). Polite form.

Can you use -고 싶어요 for others?

For others, use -고 싶어해요 = 'appears to want to'. For 'I/we', use -고 싶어요 directly.

What is 수영하다?

'To swim'. 수영 = swimming, 수영장 = swimming pool. Add 하다 to make many nouns into verbs.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Korean lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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