💡 Executive Summary: The Language of Intent

The Core: Use -고 싶다 for "want to" and -기 싫다 for "don't want to."
The Third-Person Rule: In Korean culture, you cannot 100% know someone else's heart. Use -고 싶어하다 to describe others' desires.
Nuance Tip: Soften "싫다" (dislike) with words like 좀 (a bit) or 솔직히 (honestly) to sound more professional and less blunt.

Rainy street in Seoul representing daily Korean emotions

🎯 TOPIK Masterclass: Expressing Desires and Dislikes (-고 싶다 vs -기 싫다)

1. Brian’s Insight: Why Desires Matter in Business & Life

In my years leading teams, I've noticed that clarity of intent is everything. In Korean, expressing what you "want" or "dislike" requires a fine balance. If you are too direct with -기 싫다, it can sound immature. However, if you use it with the right "softeners," it shows a high level of self-awareness. Mastering these patterns is about moving from "speaking" to "connecting."

2. The Structural Framework

For Korean learners, follow this simple grid to visualize the conjugation:

Verb Stem	Desire (-고 싶다)	Dislike (-기 싫다)
먹다 (Eat)	먹고 싶어요	먹기 싫어요
쉬다 (Rest)	쉬고 싶어요	쉬기 싫어요
공부하다 (Study)	공부하고 싶어요	공부하기 싫어요

3. The 3rd Person Boundary: -고 싶어하다

아니..., many students make this mistake! You cannot use -고 싶다 for others. Why? Because in Korean thought, you are an outsider to their mind.

Me: 저는 한국에 가고 싶어요. (I want to go to Korea.)
My Friend: 제 친구는 한국에 가고 싶어해요. (My friend wants to go to Korea.)

*Note: This subtle change makes your Korean sound much more natural and respectful of personal boundaries.

4. ⚠️ Common Mistakes: Fix Your Frequency

❌ Don't Say

건강하고 싶어요. (I want to be healthy.)
*Using Adjectives with -고 싶다 is awkward.

✅ Better Choice

건강해지고 싶어요. (I want to become healthy.)
*Use -아/어지다 for Adjectives.

5. Practice Dialogue: Mastering "Soft" Rejection

In Korea, we rarely say "I don't want to" bluntly. We use "Softeners."

A: 오늘 술 한잔할까요? (Shall we have a drink today?)

B: 솔직히 오늘은 좀 쉬기 싫... 아니, 쉬고 싶어요. (Honestly, today I... kind of want to rest.)

Teacher's Tip: Instead of saying "I hate working out" (운동하기 싫어요), try saying "Honestly, I don't really want to go out today" (솔직히 오늘은 나가기 좀 싫어요).

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What's the difference between -고 싶어요 and -ㄹ/을래요?
A: -고 싶어요 is about your inner desire. -ㄹ/을래요 is about your immediate intention or decision to act.

Q: Can I use -기 싫다 in a past tense?
A: Yes. "어제는 정말 일하기 싫었어요." (I really didn't want to work yesterday.)