Wishes & Hopes

Korean Basic Conversation 3

Chapter 10 · Wishes, Hopes & What You Would Do

🌠 Wishes & Hopes — 소원과 희망

This chapter is about things that have not happened yet: dreams, hopes, and "what I would do if…". The main pattern is -(으)면 좋겠어요 ("I hope that…", "it would be nice if…"), which builds on the 좋겠어요 of Chapter 9. You will also meet -(으)ㄹ 텐데 ("it is probably…, so…") and the careful "if" structure 만약 … -(으)면. Dialogs have a Hard words note, and a short reading text closes the chapter.

eo = ㅓ (short, open "uh") eu = ㅡ (unrounded "oo") kk, tt, pp, ss, jj = tense (tight, unaspirated) consonants

① Dreams — 꿈이 뭐예요?

A:요즘 가장 이루고 싶은 꿈이 뭐예요?What dream do you most want to achieve these days?

B:제 가게를 열고 싶어요. 작은 카페면 좋겠어요.I want to open my own shop. A small café would be nice.

A:멋지네요! 언제쯤 열고 싶어요?That's wonderful! Around when do you want to open it?

B:오 년 안에 열었으면 좋겠어요. 지금은 돈을 모으고 있어요.I hope I can open it within five years. For now I'm saving money.

A:잘될 거예요. 저도 응원할게요.It'll go well. I'll cheer you on too.

Hard words: 이루고 i-ru-go · 가게 ga-ge · 카페면 좋겠어요 ka-pe-myeon jo-ke-sseo-yo · 열었으면 yeo-reos-seu-myeon · 모으고 mo-eu-go · 응원할게요 eung-won-hal-ge-yo

② If You Won the Lottery — 복권에 당첨되면

A:만약 복권에 당첨되면 뭘 하고 싶어요?If you won the lottery, what would you want to do?

B:우선 회사를 그만두고 세계 여행을 갈 거예요.First I'd quit my job and travel around the world.

A:그다음에는요? 집도 살 거예요?And after that? Would you buy a house?

B:네, 부모님께 큰 집을 사 드리고 싶어요.Yes, I'd like to buy my parents a big house.

A:착하시네요. 저는 하루 종일 자고 싶을 것 같아요.How kind of you. I think I'd want to sleep all day.

Hard words: 복권 bok-kkwon · 당첨되면 dang-cheom-doe-myeon · 우선 u-seon · 세계 여행 se-gye yeo-haeng · 사 드리고 sa deu-ri-go · 하루 종일 ha-ru jong-il

③ Hoping for the Weekend — 날씨가 좋았으면

A:이번 주말에 소풍을 가려고 해요. 날씨가 좋았으면 좋겠어요.We're planning a picnic this weekend. I hope the weather is good.

B:일기예보를 보니까 토요일에는 맑을 텐데 일요일에는 비가 올 거래요.According to the forecast, Saturday will probably be clear but they say it will rain on Sunday.

A:그럼 토요일에 가야겠네요. 사람이 너무 많지 않았으면 좋겠어요.Then we'd better go on Saturday. I hope it won't be too crowded.

B:공원이 클 텐데 괜찮을 거예요. 돗자리도 챙기세요.The park is probably big, so it should be fine. Take a picnic mat too.

A:네, 도시락도 싸 갈게요.Yes, I'll take a packed lunch too.

Hard words: 소풍 so-pung · 좋았으면 jo-a-sseu-myeon · 맑을 텐데 mal-geul ten-de · 돗자리 dot-jja-ri · 도시락 do-si-rak · 싸 갈게요 ssa gal-ge-yo

④ If I Were You — 제가 만약 당신이라면

A:새 직장에 갈지 말지 모르겠어요. 어떻게 하는 게 좋을까요?I don't know whether to go to the new job or not. What should I do?

B:만약 제가 지금 일이 너무 힘들면 새로운 곳에 가 볼 거예요.If I found my present work hard, I'd try a new place.

A:그런데 새 회사는 출근 시간이 길 텐데 괜찮을까요?But the commute to the new company is probably long. Would it be all right?

B:월급이 더 많으면 참을 수 있을 거예요. 일단 조건을 확인해 보세요.If the pay is higher, you could put up with it. First check the conditions.

A:알겠어요. 좋은 결과가 있었으면 좋겠어요.All right. I hope there'll be a good outcome.

Hard words: 직장 jik-jjang · 갈지 말지 gal-ji mal-ji · 출근 시간 chul-geun si-gan · 길 텐데 gil ten-de · 참을 수 cha-meul su · 조건 jo-geon

⑤ Good Luck — 합격했으면 좋겠어요

A:내일이 한국어 시험이에요. 너무 떨려요.Tomorrow is the Korean exam. I'm so nervous.

B:열심히 준비했으니까 잘 볼 거예요. 꼭 합격했으면 좋겠어요.You've prepared hard, so you'll do well. I really hope you pass.

A:고마워요. 시험이 끝나면 맛있는 걸 먹으러 가요.Thanks. When the exam is over, let's go eat something delicious.

B:좋아요. 오늘은 일찍 자는 게 좋겠어요. 푹 쉬면 더 잘할 텐데요.Good. You'd better go to bed early today. If you rest well you'll probably do even better.

A:네, 그럴게요. 행운을 빌어 주세요!Yes, I will. Wish me luck!

Hard words: 시험 si-heom · 합격했으면 hap-gyeo-keos-seu-myeon · 잘 볼 jal bol · 푹 puk · 잘할 텐데요 jal-hal ten-de-yo · 행운을 빌어 haeng-u-neul bi-reo

⑥ Two Friends (casual) — 소원이 뭐야?

A:새해 소원이 뭐야?What's your New Year's wish?

B:살이 좀 빠졌으면 좋겠어. 너는?I wish I'd lose a bit of weight. How about you?

A:나는 월급이 올랐으면 좋겠어. 그리고 여행도 많이 갔으면 좋겠고.I wish my salary would go up. And I'd like to go on lots of trips too.

B:만약 둘 다 이루면 대박이겠다!If both come true, that'll be amazing!

A:그럼 우리 올해는 꼭 열심히 해 보자.Then let's definitely work hard this year.

Hard words: 소원 so-won · 빠졌으면 ppa-jyeos-seu-myeon · 올랐으면 ol-la-sseu-myeon · 이루면 i-ru-myeon · 대박이겠다 dae-ba-gi-get-tta

🗝️ Key Phrases — 중요한 표현

Situation	Polite	Casual
I hope it goes well.	잘됐으면 좋겠어요.	잘됐으면 좋겠어.
What's your wish?	소원이 뭐예요?	소원이 뭐야?
What would you do if…?	만약 …면 뭘 할 거예요?	만약 …면 뭐 할 거야?
Good luck!	행운을 빌어요!	행운을 빌어!
I hope you get well soon.	빨리 나았으면 좋겠어요.	빨리 나았으면 좋겠어.
Do your best!	힘내세요!	힘내!

🔤 Three Verbs for Hopes — 동사

Verb	Everyday polite (-요)	Formal (-ㅂ니다)	Casual
to come true; to achieve (이루다)	이뤄요	이룹니다	이뤄
to hope (바라다)	바라요	바랍니다	바라
to cheer on (응원하다)	응원해요	응원합니다	응원해

🧱 Tools for Wishes and "What If"

1. "I hope / It would be nice if…" — -(으)면 좋겠어요

Attach -(으)면 좋겠어요 to a stem (-면 after a vowel, -으면 after a consonant) to express a wish or hope: 주말에 쉬면 좋겠어요 ("it would be nice to rest at the weekend"), 카페면 좋겠어요 ("a café would be nice"). It is the polite, soft way to say what you want, and it often sounds gentler than -고 싶어요. In the past form -았/었으면 좋겠어요, it expresses a hope about something that has not yet come about, or a wish for something different: 날씨가 좋았으면 좋겠어요 ("I hope the weather is good"), 살이 빠졌으면 좋겠어요 ("I wish I'd lose weight"). The past form does not mean the event is in the past; it marks the wish as "once it has happened".

2. "Probably…, so…" — -(으)ㄹ 텐데

Add -ㄹ 텐데 to a vowel stem and -을 텐데 to a consonant stem to express a probable situation followed by a continuing thought: 피곤할 텐데 쉬세요 ("you're probably tired, so rest"), 공원이 클 텐데 괜찮을 거예요. It combines a supposition (-(으)ㄹ 터이다) with the softener -(는)데 from Chapter 1. It often sets the scene for a request or a contrast. The ending -(으)ㄹ 텐데요 can also close a sentence and leave the rest unsaid ("it must be hard, though…").

3. "If" in full — 만약 … -(으)면

You know -(으)면 ("if / when") from Korean Basic Conversation 2. Add 만약 ("supposing") at the start of the clause to mark a hypothetical: 만약 복권에 당첨되면 회사를 그만둘 거예요 ("if I won the lottery, I'd quit my job"). The second clause usually ends in -(으)ㄹ 거예요 or -고 싶어요. You can also use 만약 with a condition that is unlikely: 만약 제가 새라면… ("if I were a bird…").

Pattern	Example	English
-(으)면 좋겠어요	친구가 놀러 오면 좋겠어요.	I'd love it if a friend came to visit.
-았/었으면 좋겠어요	시험에 합격했으면 좋겠어요.	I hope I pass the exam.
-(으)ㄹ 텐데	길이 막힐 텐데 일찍 출발하세요.	The roads will probably be jammed, so leave early.
만약 …(으)면	만약 시간이 있으면 뭘 하고 싶어요?	If you had time, what would you like to do?

📖 Reading — 읽기: 하은 씨의 새해 소원

하은 씨의 새해 소원 새해가 되면 하은 씨는 소원을 적습니다. 올해 첫 번째 소원은 한국어 시험 합격입니다. 두 번째 소원은 여행을 많이 가는 것입니다. 하은 씨는 만약 복권에 당첨되면 회사를 그만두고 작은 카페를 열고 싶습니다. 그러면 매일 좋아하는 커피를 마시면서 일할 수 있을 것입니다. 하지만 복권에 당첨되는 일은 쉽지 않을 텐데 하은 씨는 열심히 일해서 돈을 모으고 있습니다. 하은 씨의 꿈이 꼭 이루어졌으면 좋겠습니다.
Word list: 적다 (to write down) · 이루어지다 (to come true) · 그러면 (in that case) · 쉽다 (to be easy)

True or false? (맞으면 O, 틀리면 X)

1. 하은 씨는 새해에 소원을 적습니다.
2. 하은 씨의 첫 번째 소원은 여행을 많이 가는 것입니다.
3. 하은 씨는 복권에 당첨되면 카페를 열고 싶습니다.
4. 하은 씨는 돈을 모으고 있습니다.

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1. O · 2. X (the first wish is to pass the Korean exam; travel is the second) · 3. O · 4. O

📖 Vocabulary — 어휘

#	Korean	Say it	English	Type
1	꿈	kkum	dream	noun
2	소원	so-won	wish	noun
3	희망	hui-mang	hope	noun
4	복권	bok-kkwon	lottery ticket	noun
5	행운	haeng-un	good luck	noun
6	시험	si-heom	exam; test	noun
7	소풍	so-pung	picnic; outing	noun
8	조건	jo-geon	condition; terms	noun
9	이루다	i-ru-da	to achieve; to accomplish	verb
10	바라다	ba-ra-da	to hope; to wish	verb
11	당첨되다	dang-cheom-doe-da	to win (a draw)	verb
12	합격하다	hap-gyeo-ka-da	to pass (an exam)	verb
13	응원하다	eung-won-ha-da	to cheer on; to support	verb
14	모으다	mo-eu-da	to save; to collect	verb
15	참다	cham-tta	to endure; to hold back	verb
16	맑다	mak-tta	to be clear; fine (weather)	adj
17	멋지다	meot-jji-da	to be wonderful; stylish	adj
18	만약	ma-nyak	if; supposing	adverb
19	우선	u-seon	first of all; for now	adverb
20	꼭	kkok	without fail; surely	adverb

Wishes and New Year (from general knowledge) Korean speakers say 새해 복 많이 받으세요 ("receive lots of good fortune in the new year") at New Year, and it is common to write down wishes or make resolutions around that time. 행운을 빌어요 and 화이팅! (a cheer, from the English "fighting") are the usual encouragement before an exam. A lottery ticket (복권) is a common daydream, and in Korea a prize above a certain amount is taxed, so winners are often warned that the headline figure is not what they take home. Sources disagreed on the exact tax thresholds, so check the official lottery site if you ever need them.

좋겠어요 vs 싶어요 (general usage) -고 싶어요 states your own desire directly ("I want to…"). -(으)면 좋겠어요 is softer and can also be about other people or events: 비가 안 왔으면 좋겠어요 ("I hope it doesn't rain"), 네가 행복했으면 좋겠어 ("I hope you're happy"). -고 싶어요 is not normally used for a wish about what someone else does. Native speakers use -았/었으면 좋겠어요 very often, so you will hear it everywhere.

As Heard in Dramas — 드라마에서 Dramas are full of wishes: 네가 행복했으면 좋겠어 ("I hope you're happy"), 시간이 멈췄으면 좋겠어요 ("I wish time would stop") and the romantic 우리 오래오래 같이 있었으면 좋겠어 ("I hope we can be together for a long, long time"). A tense scene may end with 제발… ("please…").

Grammar Pointer The 좋겠어요 here builds on -는 게 좋겠어요 from Chapter 9, and the softener -(는)데 behind -(으)ㄹ 텐데 is from Korean Basic Conversation 3, Chapter 1 (Buying Clothes). The future -(으)ㄹ 거예요 and the conditional -(으)면 are from Korean Basic Conversation 2. The reported future -(으)ㄹ 거래요 in dialog 3 comes from Chapter 8.

✍️ Try It Yourself — 연습

Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.

1. Say "I hope the weather is good this weekend."

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이번 주말에 날씨가 좋았으면 좋겠어요.

2. Say "I hope I pass the exam."

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시험에 합격했으면 좋겠어요.

3. Say "If I won the lottery, I'd quit my job."

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만약 복권에 당첨되면 회사를 그만둘 거예요.

4. Say "You're probably tired, so rest."

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피곤할 텐데 쉬세요.

5. Say "What would you do if you had a lot of money?"

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만약 돈이 많으면 뭘 하고 싶어요?

6. Tell a friend casually "I hope you're happy."

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네가 행복했으면 좋겠어.