Learn Korean: Verb + 보고 싶다

Let’s take a look at the sentence pattern Verb + 보고 싶다. Everybody knows the expression 보고 싶다. Literally, it means I want to see which is the same way of saying I miss (you). We use this to express what we want to see someone go through as in I want to see you cry. The main verb is 울다 (to cry). We take the verb stem (울) and attach 는 것 (거). But when ㄹ is followed by ㄴ, it disappears. So we say 우는 것 instead of 울는 것. Then, we add 보고 싶다. The actual sentence is 난 네가 우는 거 보고 싶어. We also use this in question form when we feel like someone is acting as if he/she wants to see us in bad shape. For example, we say Do you want to see me die? The main verb is 죽다 (to die). We take the verb stem (죽) and attach 는 것 (거). Then, we add 보고 싶다. The actual sentence is 나 죽는 거 보고 싶어?

나 힘든 거 보고 싶어?

You want to see me struggling?

나 아픈 거 보고 싶어?

Do you want to see me hurting?

너 행복한 거 보고 싶어.

I want to see you happy.