How to Say 'I Don't Want To' in Korean: Expressing Likes, Dislikes, and Preferences
Learn to express likes, dislikes, and say 'I don't want to' in Korean using -기 싫어요 and related patterns. Includes a dialogue and practice for beginners.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In everyday Korean conversation, expressing what you like and dislike is essential. This lesson focuses on the pattern -기 싫어요 to say 'I don't want to' and contrasts it with 좋아하다 (to like) and 싫어하다 (to dislike). You'll learn to talk about general preferences, give reasons, and ask questions politely. By the end, you'll be able to say what you enjoy and what you don't want to do, using natural Korean.
By the end, you can…
- express likes and dislikes about activities and things using 좋아하다 and 싫어하다.
- say 'I don't want to' using the -기 싫어요 pattern.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
저는 커피를 좋아해요.
I like coffee.
jeo-neun keo-pi-reul jo-a-hae-yo
General preference for a noun. Use 좋아해요 for 'like' with an object.
저는 운동하는 것을 싫어해요.
I dislike exercising.
jeo-neun un-dong-ha-neun geo-seul si-reo-hae-yo
Dislike for an activity. Use 싫어해요 for 'dislike'.
저는 지금 가기 싫어요.
I don't want to go now.
jeo-neun ji-geum ga-gi si-reo-yo
Expresses unwillingness to do an action at the moment. The subject marker 는/은 is often omitted in speech.
저는 매운 음식을 못 먹어요.
I can't eat spicy food.
jeo-neun mae-un eum-sik-eul mot meo-geo-yo
Use 못 to express inability, not dislike.
커피가 저를 깨워 줘서 커피를 좋아해요.
I like coffee because it wakes me up.
keo-pi-ga jeo-reul kkae-wo jwo-seo keo-pi-reul jo-a-hae-yo
Giving a reason with -아서/어서. Note that 좋아하다 needs its own object; the reason clause cannot serve as the object of 좋아하다.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern -기 싫어요 attaches to verb stems to mean 'I don't want to [verb]'. For example, 가다 (to go) becomes 가기 싫어요 (I don't want to go). 먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹기 싫어요 (I don't want to eat). This expresses your personal unwillingness. In contrast, 좋아하다 and 싫어하다 express general likes and dislikes about nouns or activities. For activities, use -는 것 (the act of doing) with 좋아하다/싫어하다: 운동하는 것을 좋아해요 (I like exercising).
When to use it
Use -기 싫어요 when you want to politely decline or state that you don't want to do something right now. It is softer than a direct refusal. For example, if a friend invites you to go shopping but you're tired, you can say 쇼핑 가기 싫어요 (I don't want to go shopping). Use 좋아하다/싫어하다 for stable preferences: 저는 김치를 좋아해요 (I like kimchi). Note that 좋아하다 is a regular verb, so it takes the object marker 를/을, while 좋아요 (from 좋다) is an adjective meaning 'is good' and takes 이/가. Both are correct but differ in nuance.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
주말에 뭐 하고 싶어요?
What do you want to do on the weekend?ju-mal-e mwo ha-go si-peo-yo?저는 집에서 쉬고 싶어요. 밖에 나가기 싫어요.
I want to rest at home. I don't want to go out.jeo-neun ji-be-seo swi-go si-peo-yo. ba-kke na-ga-gi si-reo-yo.그럼, 커피나 마실래요? 집에서 마셔요.
Then, do you want to drink coffee? Let's drink at home.geu-reom, keo-pi-na ma-sil-lae-yo? ji-be-seo ma-syeo-yo.좋아요. 저는 커피를 좋아해요. 특히 아침에 마시면 기분이 좋아져요.
Sounds good. I like coffee. Especially in the morning, it makes me feel better.jo-a-yo. jeo-neun keo-pi-reul jo-a-hae-yo. teuk-hi a-chi-me ma-si-myeon gi-bun-i jo-a-jyeo-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korean, expressing dislikes directly can be softened with polite endings like -요. Using -기 싫어요 is common among friends and close acquaintances, but in formal situations, you might say -기 싫습니다 or use indirect phrasing like 좀 어려울 것 같아요 (it might be a bit difficult). Also, 좋아하다 and 싫어하다 are used for general preferences, while -기 싫어요 is for specific unwillingness. Avoid using -기 싫어요 with elders or superiors unless you are very close, as it can sound blunt.
One thing to watch for
Using 좋아하지 않아요 to mean 'I don't want to' for actions.
Try this instead: 좋아하지 않아요 means 'I don't like [it]' as a general preference, not 'I don't want to do [it]' right now. For unwillingness, use -기 싫어요. For example, 'I don't want to go' is 가기 싫어요, not 가는 것을 좋아하지 않아요.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'I don't want to eat' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
먹기 싫어요.
The verb 먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹기 싫어요. This correctly uses the -기 싫어요 pattern. You could also say 먹고 싶지 않아요, which is a valid alternative.
2Translate: 'I like music.'
Show a sample answer
저는 음악을 좋아해요.
좋아하다 is used for general likes. The object marker 을 is attached to 음악. You could also say 음악이 좋아요, which is equally correct but uses the adjective 좋다.
3What is the difference between 싫어해요 and 싫어요?
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싫어해요 means 'I dislike' (general preference), while 싫어요 can mean 'I don't want to' when used with -기, or 'I dislike' as an adjective.
싫어하다 is a verb for disliking something, and 싫다 is an adjective meaning 'to be disliked/unwanted'. With -기, 싫어요 expresses unwillingness. Both are correct in different contexts.
Use -기 싫어요 to say you don't want to do something, and 좋아하다/싫어하다 for general likes and dislikes. Remember to adjust politeness level based on your relationship with the listener.
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