Easy Korean - Level 3, Unit 29: I wish / I hope -(으)면 좋겠다¶

In this unit, we will learn how to say "I wish" or "I hope" something happens. We use the structure -(으)면 좋겠다.

Structure Breakdown¶

Literally, this grammar point means "If [X] happens, it would be good." * -(으)면 = if * 좋겠다 = it would be good (좋다 + 겠 strongly implies assumption or future feeling)

So "비가 오면 좋겠어요" literally means "If it rains, it would be good," which naturally translates to "I hope it rains."

How to Conjugate (Two Ways!)¶

There are two ways to attach this. They mean exactly the same thing, but adding the past tense marker (-았/었) makes the wish sound slightly stronger or more desperate.

Way 1: Verb Stem + -(으)면 좋겠어요 (Present Tense base)¶

가다 (to go) -> 가 + 면 좋겠어요 = 가면 좋겠어요. (I hope they go.)
오다 (to come) -> 오 + 면 좋겠어요 = 오면 좋겠어요. (I hope it comes.)
작다 (small) -> 작 + 으면 좋겠어요 = 작으면 좋겠어요. (I wish it were smaller.)

Way 2: Verb Stem + -았/었/였으면 좋겠어요 (Past Tense base - VERY COMMON)¶

Even though we are talking about a future hope, Koreans very often use the past tense base here. It emphasizes the feeling of "I wish this were already true."

가다 -> 갔 -> 갔으면 좋겠어요. (I really hope they go.)
오다 -> 왔 -> 왔으면 좋겠어요. (I really hope it comes.)
하다 -> 했 -> 했으면 좋겠어요. (I wish they would do it.)

You will hear Way 2 more often in daily conversation!

Example Sentences¶

내일 날씨가 좋았으면 좋겠어요. (I hope the weather is good tomorrow.)
돈이 많았으면 좋겠어요. (I wish I had a lot of money.)
빨리 주말이 왔으면 좋겠어요. (I hope the weekend comes quickly.)
제 한국어가 자연스러우면 좋겠어요. (I wish my Korean were natural.)