-고 생각하다 - Think that

-고 생각하다 is used to express your thoughts, opinions, or beliefs about something. It means "think that" or "believe that" in English.

Structure

Verb/Adjective stem + -고 생각하다

Breakdown:

• -고: Connective ending
• 생각하다: To think

Literal meaning: "Think [this way]" → "I think that..."

Basic Formation

With Verbs

Verb stem + -고 생각하다:

• 가다 → 가고 생각하다 (think [someone] goes)
• 하다 → 하고 생각하다 (think [someone] does)
• 먹다 → 먹고 생각하다 (think [someone] eats)
• 오다 → 오고 생각하다 (think [someone] comes)

With Adjectives

Adjective stem + -고 생각하다:

• 좋다 → 좋고 생각하다 (think [it's] good)
• 나쁘다 → 나쁘고 생각하다 (think [it's] bad)
• 어렵다 → 어렵고 생각하다 (think [it's] difficult)
• 쉽다 → 쉽고 생각하다 (think [it's] easy)

With Descriptive Verbs

Descriptive verb + -고 생각하다:

• 예쁘다 → 예쁘고 생각하다 (think [it's] pretty)
• 중요하다 → 중요하고 생각하다 (think [it's] important)
• 필요하다 → 필요하고 생각하다 (think [it's] necessary)

Politeness Levels

Formal (합니다체)

• 가고 생각합니다 (I think [someone] goes)
• 좋고 생각합니다 (I think [it's] good)
• 중요하고 생각합니다 (I think [it's] important)

Polite (해요체)

• 가고 생각해요 (I think [someone] goes)
• 좋고 생각해요 (I think [it's] good)
• 중요하고 생각해요 (I think [it's] important)

Casual (반말)

• 가고 생각해 (I think [someone] goes)
• 좋고 생각해 (I think [it's] good)
• 중요하고 생각해 (I think [it's] important)

Core Meaning: Expressing Thoughts

Stating Opinions

Your personal view on something:

• 이 영화가 재미있고 생각해요 (I think this movie is interesting)
• 한국어가 어렵고 생각해요 (I think Korean is difficult)
• 이 계획이 좋고 생각해요 (I think this plan is good)

Expressing Beliefs

What you believe to be true:

• 그가 올 거고 생각해요 (I think he will come)
• 내일 비가 오고 생각해요 (I think it will rain tomorrow)
• 그것이 가능하고 생각해요 (I think that's possible)

Common Usage Patterns

Personal Opinions

Expressing what you think:

• 저는 이 방법이 좋고 생각해요 (I think this method is good)
• 저는 그 사람이 친절하고 생각해요 (I think that person is kind)
• 저는 운동이 중요하고 생각해요 (I think exercise is important)

Predictions and Expectations

What you think will happen:

• 내일 날씨가 좋을 거고 생각해요 (I think the weather will be good tomorrow)
• 그가 성공할 거고 생각해요 (I think he will succeed)
• 시험이 어려울 거고 생각해요 (I think the exam will be difficult)

Evaluations

Your assessment of situations:

• 이 문제가 심각하고 생각해요 (I think this problem is serious)
• 그 아이디어가 창의적이고 생각해요 (I think that idea is creative)
• 이 가격이 비싸고 생각해요 (I think this price is expensive)

Tense Conjugations

Present Tense

Polite: -고 생각해요

• 좋고 생각해요 (I think [it's] good)
• 가고 생각해요 (I think [someone] goes)
• 중요하고 생각해요 (I think [it's] important)

Past Tense

Polite: -고 생각했어요

• 좋고 생각했어요 (I thought [it was] good)
• 가고 생각했어요 (I thought [someone] went)
• 중요하고 생각했어요 (I thought [it was] important)

Future Tense

Polite: -고 생각할 거예요

• 좋고 생각할 거예요 (I will think [it's] good)
• 가고 생각할 거예요 (I will think [someone] goes)
• 중요하고 생각할 거예요 (I will think [it's] important)

Alternative Forms

-다고 생각하다

More common and natural form:

This form is actually more frequently used than -고 생각하다:

• 좋다고 생각해요 (I think [it's] good)
• 간다고 생각해요 (I think [someone] goes)
• 중요하다고 생각해요 (I think [it's] important)

Note: While -고 생각하다 is grammatically correct, -다고 생각하다 is the standard form you'll hear in everyday conversation. It will be covered in detail in the "-다고 하다" section.

-(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다

Less certain opinion (covered separately):

• 좋은 것 같아요 (It seems good / I think it's good)
• 가는 것 같아요 (It seems [someone] is going)

Common Expressions

About People

• 그 사람이 착하고 생각해요 (I think that person is nice)
• 선생님이 훌륭하고 생각해요 (I think the teacher is excellent)
• 그가 정직하고 생각해요 (I think he is honest)

About Situations

• 이 상황이 복잡하고 생각해요 (I think this situation is complicated)
• 그 결정이 현명하고 생각해요 (I think that decision is wise)
• 이 일이 필요하고 생각해요 (I think this work is necessary)

About Actions

• 공부하는 게 중요하고 생각해요 (I think studying is important)
• 운동하는 게 좋고 생각해요 (I think exercising is good)
• 노력하는 게 필요하고 생각해요 (I think making effort is necessary)

Negative Forms

Don't Think

안 생각하다:

• 좋고 안 생각해요 (I don't think [it's] good)
• 중요하고 안 생각해요 (I don't think [it's] important)

생각하지 않다:

• 좋고 생각하지 않아요 (I don't think [it's] good)
• 중요하고 생각하지 않아요 (I don't think [it's] important)

Negative Content

Express negative opinion:

• 좋지 않고 생각해요 (I think [it's] not good)
• 가능하지 않고 생각해요 (I think [it's] not possible)
• 쉽지 않고 생각해요 (I think [it's] not easy)

Question Forms

Asking Opinions

What do you think?:

• 어떻게 생각해요? (What do you think?)
• 좋고 생각해요? (Do you think [it's] good?)
• 중요하고 생각해요? (Do you think [it's] important?)

Seeking Agreement

Don't you think...?:

• 좋고 생각하지 않아요? (Don't you think [it's] good?)
• 이상하고 생각하지 않아요? (Don't you think [it's] strange?)

Example Dialogues

Dialogue 1: Sharing Opinion

A: 이 영화 어떻게 생각해요?
(What do you think about this movie?)

B: 정말 재미있고 생각해요.
(I think it's really interesting.)

Dialogue 2: Different Views

A: 이 계획이 좋고 생각해요?
(Do you think this plan is good?)

B: 아니요, 너무 복잡하고 생각해요.
(No, I think it's too complicated.)

Dialogue 3: About Future

A: 내일 날씨가 어떨 거고 생각해요?
(What do you think the weather will be like tomorrow?)

B: 비가 올 거고 생각해요.
(I think it will rain.)

Dialogue 4: Evaluation

A: 한국어가 어렵고 생각해요?
(Do you think Korean is difficult?)

B: 네, 처음에는 어렵고 생각했어요. 하지만 지금은 재미있고 생각해요.
(Yes, I thought it was difficult at first. But now I think it's interesting.)

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: 좋아고 생각해요

Wrong conjugation

✅ Correct: 좋고 생각해요 or 좋다고 생각해요

Use basic stem + 고 or use -다고 form

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❌ Incorrect: 가요고 생각해요

Using polite form before -고

✅ Correct: 가고 생각해요 or 간다고 생각해요

Use basic stem or statement form

Usage Notes

When to Use

Use when:

• Expressing personal opinions
• Stating beliefs
• Making evaluations
• Sharing thoughts about situations

Formality

• Appropriate for all levels of formality
• Conjugate 생각하다 according to context
• Common in both spoken and written Korean

Comparison with Similar Expressions

-고 생각하다 vs -다고 생각하다

-고 생각하다 (less common):

• 좋고 생각해요 (I think [it's] good)

-다고 생각하다 (more natural):

• 좋다고 생각해요 (I think [it's] good)

Both are correct, but -다고 생각하다 is more commonly used in natural speech.

-고 생각하다 vs -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다

-고 생각하다 (definite opinion):

• 좋고 생각해요 (I think [it's] good - stated opinion)

-(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다 (uncertain/softer):

• 좋은 것 같아요 (It seems good - less certain)

Summary Table

Form	Usage	Example
-고 생각해요	Present opinion	좋고 생각해요
-고 생각했어요	Past opinion	좋고 생각했어요
-고 생각할 거예요	Future opinion	좋고 생각할 거예요
-고 생각하지 않다	Negative	좋고 생각하지 않아요
-다고 생각하다	More natural form	좋다고 생각해요
-(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다	Softer, less certain	좋은 것 같아요

Key Takeaways

• ✅ Expresses opinions: "I think that..."
• ✅ Simple structure: Stem + -고 생각하다
• ✅ All word types: Works with verbs, adjectives, descriptive verbs
• ✅ Note: -다고 생각하다 is more commonly used
• ✅ Formal tone: Appropriate for expressing considered opinions
• ✅ Versatile: Use in past, present, and future tenses

-고 생각하다 is an essential pattern for expressing your thoughts and opinions in Korean. While grammatically correct, be aware that -다고 생각하다 is the more natural and commonly used form in everyday conversation.