😃 Expressing Emotions Using -고 싶다 / -기 싫다 – Intermediate Level (TOPIK 3–4)

Expressing Emotions Using -고 싶다 and -기 싫다 | Intermediate Korean (TOPIK 3–4)

Have you ever wanted to say “I want to…” or “I don’t want to…” in Korean?
In this lesson, we’ll explore how to express desires and dislikes naturally using “-고 싶다” and “-기 싫다.” As your teacher, I’ll guide you step by step with examples, cultural tips, and practice dialogues so you feel like you’re in a real classroom.

📚 Table of Contents

What Do -고 싶다 and -기 싫다 Mean?
How to Form These Expressions
Example Sentences to Show Emotions
Practice Dialogue: Sharing Feelings
Did You Know? Emotional Nuances in Korean
Final Thoughts

💡 What Do -고 싶다 and -기 싫다 Mean?

-고 싶다 is used when you want to do something: 예: 집에 가고 싶다 – I want to go home.

-기 싫다 is used when you don’t want to do something: 예: 공부하기 싫다 – I don’t want to study.

At the intermediate level, you’ll learn not just the literal meaning but also how to use these expressions to *show emotions politely* or *soften your tone* in daily conversations.

📝 How to Form These Expressions

Step 1: Take the verb stem (remove 다).

Step 2: Add -고 싶다 for “want to” or -기 싫다 for “don’t want to.”

Polite Form: -고 싶어요 / -기 싫어요

Examples:

먹다 → 먹고 싶어요 (I want to eat)
공부하다 → 공부하기 싫어요 (I don’t want to study)

Teacher’s Tip: When you’re talking about someone else’s desires, use -고 싶어하다 instead of -고 싶다: 예: 그는 쉬고 싶어해요 – He wants to rest.

💬 Example Sentences to Show Emotions

Teacher: Let’s make sentences you might actually use today:

오늘은 아무것도 하고 싶지 않아요. – I don’t want to do anything today.
집에 빨리 가고 싶어요. – I want to go home quickly.
저는 약 먹기 싫어요. – I don’t want to take medicine.
휴가 가고 싶지만 시간이 없어요. – I want to go on vacation, but I don’t have time.

💡 Note: See how “싶다” shows desire and “싫다” shows dislike? Combine them for richer expressions: Example: 일하기 싫고 쉬고 싶어요 – I don’t want to work and I want to rest.

🗣 Practice Dialogue: Sharing Feelings

Teacher: “How would you say this in Korean? You want to watch a movie but don’t want to study.”

Student: “영화 보고 싶어요. 공부하기 싫어요.”

Teacher: “Perfect! Now try making it polite but softer, as if talking to a friend.”

Student: “영화 보고 싶은데, 공부는 좀 하기 싫어.”

🧩 Quick Check: Can you change this sentence? “책 읽고 싶어요. TV 보기 싫어요.” (I want to read a book. I don’t want to watch TV.) → Try replacing 책 (book) with 여행 (trip) to say “I want to travel.”

🌏 Did You Know? Emotional Nuances in Korean

In Korean culture, openly expressing what you “don’t want to do” can sound strong. People often soften it with phrases like “좀” (a bit) or add explanations: 예: 공부하기 싫어요 → 오늘은 좀 공부하기 싫어요 (I don’t really want to study today). This makes your statement more polite and less direct, which is important in Korean communication.

📦 Final Thoughts

Mastering “-고 싶다” and “-기 싫다” helps you talk about emotions naturally. Combine them with polite endings for everyday life, from expressing cravings to avoiding chores. Practice daily by writing what you want and don’t want to do—it’s a great way to personalize your Korean learning.

I hope that while reading various posts on my blog, you’ll learn Korean and grow to love Korea. As a Korean, I sincerely wish for that. Please come back anytime to discover new expressions and cultural insights!

🔗 Related Posts

🎓 Want to practice expressing emotions in Korean conversations? Book a 1:1 Korean class on italki and master phrases like “-고 싶다” and “-기 싫다” in real situations!

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