When learning Korean, you might encounter the expressions ‘-기 바라다‘ and ‘-기 원하다‘. Although they both relate to “wishing” or “hoping,” they are used in different contexts. In this post, we will clearly explain the difference between ‘-기 바라다’ and ‘-기 원하다’ and show you how to use them naturally with real-life examples.
Contents
1. Definition
‘-기 바라다’ and ‘-기 원하다’ are both used to express hope or desire for something.
In English, they are often translated as “to hope” or “to wish”.
However, ‘-기 바라다‘ is more commonly used in everyday conversation and formal settings, while ‘-기 원하다‘ is typically found in more formal, written contexts such as official statements or prayers.
2. Form (Structure)
‘-기 바라다‘
Verb stem + 기 바라다
‘-기 원하다‘
Verb stem + 기 원하다
| Grammar Pattern | Structure | Example |
| ‘-기 바라다‘ | Verb stem + 기 바라다 | 가다 (to go) → 가기 바라다 (to hope that someone goes) |
| ‘-기 원하다‘ | Verb stem + 기 원하다 | 오다 (to come) → 오기 원하다 (to strongly wish for someone to come) |
3. Meaning & Usage
‘-기 바라다’
This expression is used to politely hope or wish for something to happen to someone else. It is common in speeches, announcements, official messages, and conversations where the speaker wants to express a respectful hope for the listener or a third party. The tone is formal and considerate, making it suitable for both spoken and written contexts.
Examples:
- 건강하시기 바랍니다. (I hope you stay healthy.)
- 좋은 결과가 있기를 바랍니다. (I hope you get good results.)
- 시험을 잘 보시기 바랍니다. (I hope you do well on the exam.)
- 행복한 하루 되시기 바랍니다. (I hope you have a happy day.)
- 모두 안전하시기 바랍니다. (I hope everyone stays safe.)
‘-기 원하다’
This expression is used to express a deep, sincere wish or desire. It is often found in formal writing, speeches, prayers, or statements that communicate a strong personal or collective wish. The tone is more serious and earnest compared to ‘-기 바라다’, and it is less commonly used in daily conversation.
Examples:
- 평화를 원합니다. (I wish for peace.)
- 성공을 원합니다. (I wish for success.)
- 행복을 원합니다. (I wish for happiness.)
- 자유를 원합니다. (I wish for freedom.)
- 사랑을 원합니다. (I wish for love.)
📌 Additional Notes
- ‘-기 바라다’ is mostly used to wish something for others in a polite and formal way, especially in public or official settings.
- ‘-기 원하다’ is used to express a deep or personal wish, often in formal or serious contexts, and can be used with both nouns and verbs.
- Both forms use the verb stem + ‘-기’ structure, but the nuance and typical usage situations are different.
4. Key Points to Remember
- ‘-기 바라다’ is commonly used to politely express hopes or wishes for others, especially in formal spoken or written Korean such as speeches, announcements, and letters.
- ‘-기 원하다’ is more formal and is often used in written contexts or to express deep, personal wishes or desires.
- Both structures use the verb stem + ‘-기’ form and express a wish or hope, but ‘-기 바라다’ is generally directed at others, while ‘-기 원하다’ can reflect one’s own strong desire.
- The tone and context of each expression are slightly different, so it’s important to choose the appropriate form depending on the situation.
5. Practice Exercises
Complete the sentences using ‘-기 바라다’ or ‘-기 원하다’.
- 항상 ___.
(I hope you always stay healthy.) - 이 일이 잘 ___.
(I hope this goes well.) - 모두 행복을 ___.
(I wish everyone happiness.) - 승진을 ___.
(I hope you get promoted.) - 평화를 ___.
(I wish for peace.) - 시험에 ___.
(I hope you pass the exam.) - 자유를 ___.
(I wish for freedom.) - 성공을 ___.
(I wish for success.) - 여행이 ___.
(I hope you enjoy your trip.) - 안전하게 ___.
(I hope you return safely.)
6. Answers
- 건강하시기 바랍니다
- 잘 되기 바랍니다
- 원합니다
- 승진하시기 바랍니다
- 원합니다
- 합격하기 바랍니다
- 원합니다
- 원합니다
- 즐거운 여행이 되기 바랍니다 / 여행이 즐거우시기 바랍니다
- 안전하게 돌아오시기 바랍니다
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Using ‘-기 바라다’ for Personal Wishes
Incorrect: 저는 건강하기 바랍니다. ❌ (I hope to be healthy.)
Correct: 저는 건강하기를 바랍니다. ✅ (I hope to be healthy.)
💡 Tip: When expressing your own wish, especially formally, use ‘-기를 바랍니다’ with an object particle to sound natural.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Using ‘-기 원하다’ in Casual Conversation
Incorrect: 너의 성공을 기 원해. ❌ (I wish for your success.)
Correct: 너의 성공을 바라. ✅ (I hope for your success.)
💡 Tip: ‘-기 원하다‘ sounds very formal and abstract. In casual or friendly conversations, ‘-기 바라다‘ is more natural.
⚠️ Mistake 3: Forgetting the Object Marker with ‘-기 원하다’
Incorrect: 행복하기 원합니다. ❌ (I wish to be happy.)
Correct: 행복하기를 원합니다. ✅ (I wish to be happy.)
💡 Tip: When using ‘-기 원하다‘, always include the object marker ‘-를/을’ after the verb noun form for grammatical accuracy.
Understanding the subtle differences between ‘-기 바라다’ and ‘-기 원하다’ can make your Korean sound much more natural and appropriate in different contexts. Remember that ‘-기 바라다’ is used more in daily speech and polite expressions, while ‘-기 원하다’ appears in formal writings and personal strong wishes.
Korean Expressions for Hopes, Wishes, and Desires
- -고 싶다 (to want to, to wish to)
- -고 싶어하다 (to want to, third person)
- -기를 바라다 (to hope/wish that)
- -기 원하다 (to wish/desire, more formal or literary)
- -았/었으면 좋겠다 (I wish…, I hope…)
- -았/었으면 하다 (I wish…, I hope..)
- -(으)면 좋겠다 (it would be nice if…)
- -아/어 주시기 바랍니다 (formal request/hope, often in announcements)