싶다
sipta
want to (used with verbs: ~고 싶다)
원하다
wonhada
to want (used with nouns)
싶다 vs 원하다: Want To (Verb) vs Want (Noun) in Korean
~고 싶다 (go sipta) is attached to a verb stem to express wanting to do an action, while 원하다 (wonhada) is used with nouns to express wanting a thing or outcome.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 싶다 (sipta) | 원하다 (wonhada) | |
|---|---|---|
| Grammatical Partner | Verb stem + 고 싶다 (want to do something) | Noun + 을/를 원하다 (want something) |
| What It Expresses | Desire to perform an action | Desire to have or receive a thing |
| Can Stand Alone? | No — 싶다 always needs ~고 before it | Yes — 원하다 is a standalone verb |
| Formality | Neutral — works in casual and polite speech (싶어 / 싶어요) | Slightly formal — common in writing, requests, formal speech |
| Example | 먹고 싶다 (I want to eat) | 물을 원해요 (I want water) |
Examples in Context
Saying you want to go on a trip — using 싶다
여행을 가고 싶어요.
I want to go on a trip.
Telling a friend you want to sleep — using 싶다
지금 당장 자고 싶어.
I want to sleep right now.
Asking what someone wants as a gift — using 원하다
생일 선물로 뭘 원해요?
What do you want as a birthday gift?
Expressing a desire for peace in a formal context — using 원하다
우리는 평화를 원합니다.
We want peace.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Saying 원하다 with a verb directly — 먹다를 원해요 is unnatural. To express wanting to do something, always use ~고 싶다 with the verb stem.
- ✗Using 싶다 without the ~고 connector — 먹고 싶다 is correct; 먹 싶다 is not a valid construction.
- ✗Forgetting that in third-person statements, ~고 싶어하다 is preferred over ~고 싶다 — 그녀는 가고 싶어해요, not 그녀는 가고 싶어요.
- ✗Treating 원하다 as a direct translation of 'want to' for verbs — it only works naturally with nouns or noun phrases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'I want to eat pizza'?
피자를 먹고 싶어요 — attach 고 싶다 to the verb stem 먹 (eat). Don't use 원하다 here.
How do I say 'I want pizza' (the food itself)?
피자를 원해요 or the more natural 피자 먹고 싶어요 (I want to eat pizza). Koreans often use ~고 싶다 even for wanting items by phrasing it as an action.
What is the past tense of ~고 싶다?
~고 싶었다 — for example, 가고 싶었어요 means 'I wanted to go (but didn't / in the past).'
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