Lesson 16
안녕하세요! “Let’s” get right into this lesson! When asking other people to do something with you, in English, you would most likely say something such as “Let’s go”, “Let’s do it”, or “Let’s start.”
There are a few different ways to say “let’s” in Korean:
- -아/어/여요 [polite/plain]
- -(으)시죠 [honorific]
- -자 [informal]
- -(으)ㄹ래요? [polite/casual]
- -(으)실래요? [polite/formal]
Ex)
시작하다 = to start; to begin
- 시작해요. = Let’s start. (plain)
- 시작하시죠. = Let’s start. (honorific)
- 시작하자. = Let’s start. (informal)
- 시작할래요? = Shall we start? (polite/casual)
- 시작하실래요? = Shall we start? (polite/formal)
The most frequently used form is the first example above, -아/어/여요. As the most heard and used way to say “yes”, this lesson will focus only this ending. The other forms will be covered through future lessons.
-아/어/여요
If you are looking at this verb ending and wondering why it looks the same as the plain present tense ending, that is because it is! Although it is the exact same ending, you generally tell the difference through context. Take a look at a few sample sentences to see how easily the meaning can be determined.
Sample Sentences
저도 서점에 갈 거예요. 같이 가요!
= I am going to the bookstore, too. Let’s go together!
배 안 고파요? 우리 햄버거 먹어요.
= Aren’t you hungry? Let’s eat hamburgers.
지금 두 시예요. 세 시에 여기에서 만나요.
= It is two o’clock now. Let’s meet here at three o’clock.
저 금요일까지 바빠요. 토요일에 시작해요. 어때요?
= I will be busy until Friday. Let’s start on Saturday. What do you think?
다른 데 가요. 여기 안 좋은 것 같아요.
= Let’s go somewhere else. I think this place is not so good.
** Most Korean phrase books out there will teach learners the ending -(으)ㅂ시다. There are some situations where the use of -(으)ㅂ시다 would be natural, but not in everyday situations. For example, when talking with close friends, -(으)ㅂ시다 should never be used. The appropriate usage of -(으)ㅂ시다 will be introduced in a future lesson, but for now, please use -아/어/여요.