Joining and describing · 2 of 4

Want, can, must

-고 싶다, -(으)ㄹ 수 있다, -아야 하다 and asking permission.

PatternMeaningExample
-고 싶다to want to가고 싶어요 I want to go
-(으)ㄹ 수 있다can갈 수 있어요 I can go
-(으)ㄹ 수 없다can't갈 수 없어요 I can't go
-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다to know how to운전할 줄 알아요 I can drive
-아/어야 하다, 되다must, have to가야 해요 I have to go
-아/어도 되다may가도 돼요? may I go?
-(으)면 안 되다must not가면 안 돼요 you mustn't go
안 -아/어도 되다needn't안 가도 돼요 you don't have to go

Want: -고 싶다

-고 싶어요 says what you want to do, and asks what the listener wants. For someone else, Korean says they "show they want": -고 싶어해요.

For a thing, name what you want to do with it (커피 마시고 싶어요 "I want some coffee"), or ask for it with 주세요.

Can: -(으)ㄹ 수 있다

수 means "a way", so -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 is "there's a way to": ability or possibility. Its negative is -(으)ㄹ 수 없다, or 못 (Saying no). For a learned skill, -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다 "to know how to" is common.

Must: -아/어야 하다

The 아/어 form with -야 and 하다 means "must, have to". In speech 되다 often takes 하다's place: 가야 돼요.

May and must not

-아/어도 되다, "it's fine even if you do", asks or gives permission. -(으)면 안 되다, "it's not fine if you do", forbids:

Cards from this guide

10 cards

Each card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Joining and describing cards.

  • How do you say 'I want to go to Korea' with 가다?

    한국에 가고 싶어요.

  • How do you say 'He wants to...' about someone else?

    With -고 싶어해요: 가고 싶어해요.

  • How do you say 'I can speak Korean' with 하다?

    한국어를 할 수 있어요.

  • How do you say 'I can't go' with -(으)ㄹ 수 없다?

    갈 수 없어요.

  • How do you ask 'Do you know how to drive?' with 운전하다?

    운전할 줄 알아요?

  • How do you say 'I have to go now' with 가다?

    지금 가야 해요, or 가야 돼요.

  • How do you ask 'May I open the window?' with 열다 (to open)?

    창문을 열어도 돼요?

  • How do you say 'You can't take photos here' with 사진을 찍다?

    여기서 사진을 찍으면 안 돼요.

  • How do you say 'You don't have to come' with 오다?

    안 와도 돼요.

  • How do you say 'I want some coffee'?

    커피 마시고 싶어요, 'I want to drink coffee'.

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