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Questions & Answers about sasil geunyeoneun bareumeul jikjeop gochigo sipeo hae.
What does -고 싶어 해 mean, and how is it different from -고 싶다?
- -고 싶다 literally means “want to do” and is used most naturally for the speaker’s own desire: 저는 쉬고 싶어요.
- For a third person, Korean prefers -고 싶어 하다 (conjugated here as -고 싶어 해) to present an observed or inferred desire: 그녀는 쉬고 싶어 해요 “She (seems to) want to rest.”
- Using -고 싶다 for third person is possible in narration or when clearly reporting their internal words/thoughts, but in everyday conversation -고 싶어 하다 sounds more natural and objective.
Is 싶어 해 written with a space or together as 싶어해?
Both appear in real life. By the spacing rule for auxiliary-like verbs, writing it with a space (싶어 해/싶어 해요) is the recommended form, but the attached form (싶어해/싶어해요) is also commonly accepted in practice. You’ll see both.
Why does the sentence end with 해? Is that polite?
- 해 is the intimate/casual style (the “plain” 해체), used with close friends, family, or in monologue.
- Polite alternatives:
- 고치고 싶어 해요 (polite/informal)
- 고치고 싶어 합니다 (polite/formal)
Is 그녀 the most natural way to say “she” in Korean?