2 · Verb endings and speech levels
Let's: 갈까요?, 갑시다, 가자
making suggestions
Three ways to say "let's", one for each speech level — and the politest of them is a question.
The most useful form is the question "shall we?": -을까요? after a consonant (먹을까요?, 앉을까요?), and after a vowel a final l plus 까요 (갈까요?, 마실까요?). A stem in l just adds 까요: 놀까요?, 만들까요? It asks for the other person's opinion, which is what makes it polite enough for almost anyone. With 제가 it becomes an offer: 제가 할까요?, "shall I do it?".
-읍시다 after a consonant (먹읍시다) and a final p plus 시다 after a vowel (갑시다) is a direct "let's". A stem in l loses the l: 놉시다, 만듭시다. It is used by someone leading a group, at meetings, in slogans and among equals. Said to someone older or higher up, it sounds like an order; for them, -(으)ㄹ까요? or the softer -(으)시죠 (가시죠) is right.
Among friends the suggestion is -자: 가자, 먹자, 놀자. And in everyday polite speech, the ordinary -아요/어요 form can be a suggestion too, carried by the situation and a word like 같이: 같이 가요!
Answers are short: 좋아요 or 그래요, and among friends 그래 or 좋아. English speakers reach for -읍시다 because it looks like the plain "let's", and use it with a teacher or a boss. They also need to know that -(으)ㄹ까요? without a "we" can mean "do you think …?": 내일 비가 올까요?, "do you think it will rain tomorrow?".
The form
| shall we? (polite) | 갈까요? 먹을까요? 놀까요? |
| let's (to a group, among equals) | 갑시다, 먹읍시다, 만듭시다 |
| let's (casual) | 가자, 먹자, 놀자 |
| let's (everyday polite) | 같이 가요. |
| to someone senior | 가시죠. |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
A question in -(으)ㄹ까요? asks whether the other person would like to do something together.
주말에 같이 영화 볼까요?Shall we see a film together at the weekend?
-읍시다 and its vowel form suggest something to a group or to people at your level or below.
자, 이제 시작합시다.Right, let's get started.
With friends the suggestion is -자.
배고파. 밥 먹자.I'm hungry. Let's eat.
To someone above you, ask with -(으)ㄹ까요? or use -(으)시죠.
부장님, 점심 드시러 가시죠.Shall we go for lunch?
A stem in l adds 까요 directly and loses its l in the direct "let's".
다 같이 김밥을 만듭시다.Let's all make gimbap together.
A closer look
Three questions in one form
-(으)ㄹ까요? covers three questions that English keeps apart. With an implied "we" it is a suggestion: 같이 갈까요?, "shall we go together?". With 제가 it is an offer: 제가 갈까요?, "shall I go?". With a subject that is neither of you it asks for an opinion: 민수 씨가 올까요?, "do you think Minsu will come?".
What they share is that the speaker does not decide alone but hands the question to the listener. That is exactly why this form is the safe way to suggest anything to anybody: a question can always be answered with no.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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you want to say "let's not"
the negative uses 말다: -지 맙시다, casually -지 말자, and as a question -지 말까요?
오늘은 나가지 말자.Let's not go out today.
A suggestion cannot be negated with 안; Korean uses the same verb as in "don't", -지 마세요.
How to spot it
- -까요
- -시다
- -자
- 같이
- 우리
Example sentences
같이 점심 먹을까요?Shall we have lunch together?
커피 마실까요?Shall we have a coffee?
여러분, 다 같이 노래합시다.Everyone, let's sing together.
비가 오니까 택시를 탑시다.It's raining, so let's take a taxi.
우리 내일 바다에 가자!Let's go to the seaside tomorrow!
오늘 저녁은 제가 살까요?Shall I treat you to dinner tonight?
8 more example sentences
창문을 열까요?Shall I open the window?
잠깐 쉴까요?Shall we take a short break?
다음 주에 다시 만납시다.Let's meet again next week.
모두 조용히 합시다.Let's all be quiet.
주말에 같이 놀자.Let's hang out this weekend.
어디에서 만날까요?Where shall we meet?
시간이 없어요. 빨리 가요!There's no time. Let's go, quick!
사장님, 이제 회의를 시작하시죠.Shall we begin the meeting now?
Worth knowing (1)
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Saying yes, and saying no gently
A suggestion is accepted with 좋아요 or 그래요. Turning it down usually comes wrapped in a counter-offer, 다음에 같이 가요, "let's go together another time", rather than a bare no.
같이 걸을까요? — 네, 좋아요.Shall we walk together? — Yes, I'd like that.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
갑시다 looks like a plain "let's go", but it tells the listener what to do, and that is not for a younger person to say to a teacher. A question leaves the decision to them, and with -시- it also honours them.
Ask -lkkayo to anyone, say -psida to a group you lead, and -ja only to friends.
Your turn
10 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.