-(으)ㅂ시다 vs -(으)ㄹ까요 vs -자: What Is the Difference?

Key facts

• -(으)ㅂ시다 is a formal-sounding "let's" for equals or juniors.
• -(으)ㄹ까요? is a polite "shall we?" that asks for the listener's view. It is also used to offer help and to wonder.
• -자 is a casual "let's" for friends, siblings and close juniors.

What you'll learn

• Say which ending is formal, which is polite and which is casual.
• Build the three endings for vowel stems, consonant stems and ㄹ stems.
• Pick the right ending for five situations and give the reason.
• Avoid the most common mistake: using a casual or formal "let's" with a senior.

Before you start: you should know the polite ending -아요/어요 and the idea that Korean has speech levels (different endings for different listeners). The full rules for each ending are on their own lesson pages, linked below. Audio plays only when you press a button.

What Is the Difference between -(으)ㅂ시다, -(으)ㄹ까요 and -자?

The difference is the level of politeness and the force of the proposal. All three can start a joint action, but each one fits a different listener. -자 is for friends. -(으)ㅂ시다 is a firm, formal proposal among equals or from a leader to a group. -(으)ㄹ까요? is a polite question that gives the listener a choice, so it is the safest of the three.

Here is the same idea in all three forms.

이제 갑시다. (ije gapsida) "Let's go now." Pronunciation: [이제 갑씨다]. This sounds firm and formal. A manager might say it to a team.

이제 갈까요? (ije galkkayo) "Shall we go now?" Pronunciation: [이제 갈까요]. This asks the listener's opinion, so it is polite and open.

이제 가자. (ije gaja) "Let's go now." Pronunciation: [이제 가자]. This is casual and friendly. You can say it to a friend, a brother or a sister.

The action is the same in all three sentences, but the listener is not. The next section puts the three endings side by side.

-(으)ㅂ시다 vs -(으)ㄹ까요 vs -자: Side-by-Side Table

The table compares the three endings on the points that decide the choice.

Two notes sit behind the table. First, the polite way to propose with -아요/어요 is also common: 같이 가요 can mean "Let's go together". The sentence type is shown by context and tone. Second, the table uses the names of the speech levels. Learner textbooks usually teach -(으)ㅂ시다 next to the formal -ㅂ니다 style (합쇼체), although the standard dictionary classes it in the older 하오체 level, one step below the most formal speech. The polite ending belongs to 해요체 and the casual one to 반말. For a longer comparison of those levels, see -ㅂ니다 vs -아요/어요.

When Do You Use -(으)ㅂ시다?

Use -(으)ㅂ시다 when you propose an action to equals or juniors in a formal setting, or when you lead a group. A vowel stem takes ㅂ시다, a consonant stem takes 읍시다, and a ㄹ stem drops the ㄹ before ㅂ시다.

Three typical uses follow.

1. A leader starts a meeting. 우리 회의를 시작합시다. (uri hoeuireul sijakapsida) "Let's start our meeting." Pronunciation: [우리 회의를 시자캅씨다] (the ㄱ and ㅎ join into a sound like ㅋ). The Revised Romanization shows this as sijakapsida.
2. A slogan or a notice. 다 같이 노력합시다. (da gachi noryeokapsida) "Let's all make an effort." Pronunciation: [다 가치 노려캅씨다].
3. A proposal among peers. 점심 같이 먹읍시다. (jeomsim gachi meogeupsida) "Let's eat lunch together."

The ending can sound like an order when it is used to someone you must respect. In everyday talk, many speakers prefer -(으)ㄹ까요? or -아요/어요 and keep -(으)ㅂ시다 for meetings, notices and slogans. To say "Let's not", use 가지 맙시다. For the full rules, read the lesson on -(으)ㅂ시다.

When Do You Use -(으)ㄹ까요?

Use -(으)ㄹ까요? when you want to ask what the listener thinks. A vowel stem takes ㄹ까요, a consonant stem takes 을까요, and a ㄹ stem keeps its ㄹ. The pattern has three jobs, and the subject tells you which one.

Here are the three jobs in sentences.

1. A suggestion. 점심 같이 먹을까요? (jeomsim gachi meogeulkkayo) "Shall we eat lunch together?" Pronunciation: [점심 가치 머글까요].
2. An offer. 제가 도와 드릴까요? (jega dowa deurilkkayo) "Shall I help you?" The verb 드리다 is the humble form of "to give" and makes the offer polite.
3. Wondering. 내일 비가 올까요? (naeil biga olkkayo) "Do you think it will rain tomorrow?"

To a senior, add the honorific -(으)시-: 선생님, 같이 가실까요? (seonsaengnim, gachi gasilkkayo?) means "Teacher, shall we go together?". Another polite proposal to a senior is -(으)시죠: 같이 가시죠 (gachi gasijyo) means "Let's go together, shall we?". With a question word, the question asks for information: 뭐 먹을까요? ("What shall we eat?"). Such a question does not need a sharp rise at the end. The question word carries the stress. To say "Shall we not?", use 가지 말까요?. For the full rules, read the lesson on -(으)ㄹ까요?.

When Do You Use -자?

Use -자 when you propose something to a friend, a sibling or a child. The ending is the stem plus 자, with no change for consonant stems or ㄹ stems.

Two typical uses follow.

1. A plan between friends. 오늘은 일찍 자자. (oneureun iljjik jaja) "Let's go to bed early today."
2. A shared activity. 같이 놀자. (gachi nolja) "Let's play together."

The negative is -지 말자: 가지 말자 ("Let's not go"). Adding 요 to -자 is not standard, so 가자요 is a mistake. If you want a polite "let's go", say 가요 or 갈까요?. The casual form of -(으)ㄹ까요? is -(으)ㄹ까?, as in 영화 볼까? ("Shall we watch a movie?"). For the full rules, read the lesson on -자.

Can You Use All Three in the Same Situation?

You can describe one situation with all three endings if you change the listener. Imagine the same lunch plan.

• To a friend: 점심 같이 먹자. "Let's eat lunch together."
• To a coworker you respect: 점심 같이 먹을까요? "Shall we eat lunch together?"
• To a team that you lead: 점심 같이 먹읍시다. "Let's eat lunch together."

A conversation shows the ladder in action. A coworker and a manager talk.

A: 부장님, 점심 같이 드실까요? (bujangnim, jeomsim gachi deusilkkayo?) "Sir, shall we have lunch together?"

B: 좋아요. 같이 갑시다. (joayo. gachi gapsida.) "Good. Let's go together."

The manager can use -(으)ㅂ시다 to a junior colleague. The junior cannot use it back to the manager. This is why -(으)ㄹ까요? is the safe default: it is polite for everyone.

How Do You Answer Each Kind of Suggestion?

The answer should match the level of the question. A question with -(으)ㄹ까요? invites a reply, such as 네, 좋아요 ("Yes, good") or 그래요 ("Sure"). If you do not want to do it, a soft answer is 글쎄요 ("Well...") followed by a reason. A proposal with -(으)ㅂ시다 is usually accepted with 네, 그러죠 ("Yes, let's") or 네, 갑시다. A proposal with -자 gets a casual reply, such as 그래 ("Okay") or 좋아 ("Good"). The reply shows that you heard the level. Answering 그래 to a manager sounds rude, and answering 그러시죠 to a close friend sounds too stiff.

Which One Should You Pick? a Simple Rule of Thumb

Ask three questions in order.

1. Is the listener a friend, a sibling or a child? If yes, use -자. Example: 같이 가자.
2. Is the listener someone you must respect, or someone you do not know well? If yes, use -(으)ㄹ까요? (or -(으)실까요?). Example: 같이 가실까요?
3. Are you leading a group, or speaking in a meeting or a notice? If yes, -(으)ㅂ시다 can fit. Example: 다 같이 노력합시다.

If you are unsure, choose -(으)ㄹ까요?. A question gives the listener room to say no, so it is rarely rude.

What Mistakes Do Learners Make with These Endings?

Most mistakes break the rule about the listener. Five of them appear again and again.

1. Using -자 with a teacher or an older person. 선생님, 같이 가자 is rude. Say 선생님, 같이 가실까요?.
2. Using -(으)ㅂ시다 with a senior. 부장님, 갑시다 sounds like an order from above. Say 부장님, 가실까요?.
3. Choosing the wrong stem form. 먹ㅂ시다 is wrong, and 놀읍시다 is wrong. Say 먹읍시다 and 놉시다.
4. Using an "안" negative for a suggestion. 안 갑시다 and 안 가자 are not the normal way to say "Let's not go". Use 가지 맙시다 and 가지 말자.
5. Reading -(으)ㄹ까요? only as "shall we". With 제가 it offers help, and with a third person it wonders. 비가 올까요? asks for a guess, not a joint action.

A quick self-check: name the listener first, then pick the ending. The verb comes second.

Practice: Choose the Right Ending

Try the five questions, then read the answers below.

Answer key

1. 보자. The sentence is 영화 보자.
2. 가실까요. The sentence is 선생님, 같이 가실까요?
3. 회의를 시작합시다.
4. 놉시다.
5. 제가 도와 드릴까요?

Now write your own triple: invite a friend, a coworker and your team to the same activity, with a different ending each time.

What Should You Learn Next?

After this comparison, study each ending on its own lesson page, then look at the other pairs on the list.

1. Learn the full rules for -(으)ㅂ시다, including meetings and slogans.
2. Learn the full rules for -(으)ㄹ까요?, including offers and wondering.
3. Learn the full rules for -자, including the casual negative.
4. Compare the speech levels in -ㅂ니다 vs -아요/어요.
5. Compare other confusable pairs on Confusing Grammar Compared.
6. See where these endings sit on the Beginner Grammar list.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference between -(으)ㅂ시다, -(으)ㄹ까요 and -자?

All three can suggest an action, but they sit at different levels. -(으)ㅂ시다 is a formal-sounding "let's" used with equals or juniors. -(으)ㄹ까요? is a polite question that means "shall we?". -자 is a casual "let's" for friends, siblings and close juniors.

Can I Always Replace -(으)ㅂ시다 with -(으)ㄹ까요?

Often yes, because -(으)ㄹ까요? is polite and safe, but the meaning shifts from a proposal to a question. 갑시다 states a plan for both people, and 갈까요? asks whether the listener agrees. With a senior, -(으)ㄹ까요? or -(으)실까요? is the better choice.

Which One Sounds More Natural in Speech?

In daily polite talk, -(으)ㄹ까요? and -아요/어요 are the most common ways to suggest something. -(으)ㅂ시다 is heard in meetings, announcements and slogans. -자 is the everyday choice between friends and family.

Which One Appears More Often on TOPIK?

This site does not publish exam statistics. All three are taught at the beginner to lower-intermediate stage. For current exam content, check the level descriptions and past papers on the official TOPIK site, topik.go.kr.

What Is the Quickest Rule to Remember?

Look at who you are talking to. For a friend, use -자. For anyone you should be polite to, ask with -(으)ㄹ까요?. For a group you lead or a speech among equals, -(으)ㅂ시다 can fit. Never use -자 or -(으)ㅂ시다 to a senior.

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