How to say “I want this” in Korean
- 이거 갖고 싶어요igeo gatgo sipeoyo
I want this
"I want this" in Korean is 이거 갖고 싶어요 (igeo gatgo sipeoyo), literally "I want to have this". Korean usually says what you want to do with something, so wanting to buy it or eat it uses a different verb.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 이거 갖고 싶어요 igeo gatgo sipeoyo | Polite | "I want this" in the sense of wanting to own it. |
| 이거 갖고 싶어 igeo gatgo sipeo | Casual | The same with friends or family, like pointing at something in a shop window. |
| 이거 사고 싶어요 igeo sago sipeoyo | Polite | "I want to buy this." Clear and useful while shopping. |
| 이거 먹고 싶어요 igeo meokgo sipeoyo | Polite | "I want to eat this." Point at a menu photo or a dish. |
| 이거 살게요 igeo salgeyo | Polite | "I'll buy this." What you say to the clerk once you've decided. |
Examples
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Looking at a gift with a friend
Asking a clerk in a shop
Pointing at a menu photo
Tips
The pattern is verb stem + 고 싶어요: 사고 싶어요 (want to buy), 먹고 싶어요 (want to eat), 가고 싶어요 (want to go).
원해요 (wonhaeyo) also means "want", but it sounds stiff in everyday talk. For things you'd like to have, 갖고 싶어요 is what people really say.
갖고 is said "gat-kko" and 싶어요 is said "shi-peo-yo".
Questions learners ask
Can I say 이거 원해요?
It's understandable but sounds unnatural in daily life. Use 이거 갖고 싶어요, or a more specific verb like 사고 싶어요.
How do you say "I don't want it" politely?
A polite 괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo, "it's okay, no thanks") is the most natural way to decline.