Korean Let's Grammar: Patterns, Rules and Examples

Listen to the pattern that most learners meet first.

The next section defines the topic.

What Is Korean Let's Grammar?

Korean let's grammar is the set of sentence endings that ask, invite or offer. A sentence ending is the part at the very end of a Korean sentence that carries meaning such as "let's" or "please." There are three jobs, and each answers a different need.

Suggestions invite the listener to act together with the speaker. -(으)ㅂ시다 and -자 both mean "let's", and -(으)ㄹ까요? asks "shall we?" 같이 가자 means "Let's go together."

Requests ask the listener to act for the speaker. -아/어 주세요 means "please do it for me", and -(으)세요 means "please do." 문 좀 열어 주세요 means "Please open the door."

Offers say what the speaker will do. -(으)ㄹ게요 means "I will", and -아/어 드릴까요? means "Shall I do it for you?" 제가 할게요 means "I'll do it."

A fourth group gives advice, such as -는 게 좋다 ("it is better to") and -지 그래요? ("why don't you"). All the patterns attach to a verb stem, which is a verb without its final 다. For the wider course, see the Korean grammar hub and the Korean Sentence Endings area. The next section gives a route through the lessons.

Which Pattern Should You Learn First?

Start with -(으)ㄹ까요? and -아/어 주세요, then add the polite command, then the "let's" forms. The advanced forms build on these. Four stages cover the whole set.

1. Stage 1 (A1): the core three. Read -(으)ㄹ까요?, -아/어 주세요 and -(으)세요.
2. Stage 2 (A2): "let's" and promises. Read -(으)ㅂ시다, -자, -(으)ㄹ래요, -(으)ㄹ게요, -아/어 드릴까요? and -(으)십시오.
3. Stage 3 (B1): polite requests and advice. Read -아/어 주시겠어요?, -아/어 줄래요?, -아/어라, -지 그래요?, -는 게 어때요?, -는 게 좋다, -(으)ㄹ 테니까 and -(으)시겠어요?.
4. Stage 4 (B2): formal and refined. Read -(으)ㄴ/는 편이 낫다 and -아/어 주시면 감사하겠습니다.

Who can skip ahead? A learner who already says "please" and "shall we" correctly can start at stage 2. A learner who needs polite office language can jump to stage 3. If you need a level view of the whole grammar course, use the Beginner Grammar list. The next section describes each lesson.

The Patterns, Grouped by Level

Each entry below has a short description, one example sentence with Revised Romanization (RR, the official Latin spelling, shown only as an aid) and audio. Spoken forms appear in brackets where they differ from the spelling.

Beginner Patterns (A1 and A2)

-(으)ㄹ까요? (shall we / shall I; I wonder)

This lesson teaches the most common question for suggestions. With "we" it suggests, with "I" it offers, and with a third person it wonders. Example: 같이 점심 먹을까요? (gachi jeomsim meogeulkkayo?) [가치 점심 머글까요] "Shall we have lunch together?"

-아/어 주세요 (please)

This lesson teaches the standard polite request. 주다 means "to give", so the action is done for the speaker. Example: 문 좀 열어 주세요. (mun jom yeoreo juseyo.) "Please open the door."

-(으)세요 (please do)

This lesson teaches the polite command that is also the honorific present. Context decides which meaning is meant. Example: 앉으세요. (anjeuseyo.) [안즈세요] "Please sit."

-(으)ㅂ시다 (let's)

This lesson teaches the formal "let's", used with equals and juniors rather than seniors. Example: 우리 같이 갑시다. (uri gachi gapsida.) [우리 가치 갑씨다] "Let's go together."

-자 (let's)

This lesson teaches the casual "let's" for friends, siblings and close juniors. Example: 같이 가자. (gachi gaja.) [가치 가자] "Let's go together."

-(으)십시오 (please)

This lesson teaches the formal command seen on signs and in announcements. Example: 어서 오십시오. (eoseo osipsio.) [어서 오십씨오] "Welcome."

-(으)ㄹ래요 (I will / do you want to)

This lesson teaches the ending that states what the speaker wants to do or asks what the listener wants. Example: 저는 커피 마실래요. (jeoneun keopi masillaeyo.) "I will have coffee."

-(으)ㄹ게요 (I will)

This lesson teaches the promise or decision made for the listener. Example: 제가 할게요. (jega halgeyo.) [제가 할께요] "I'll do it."

-아/어 드릴까요? (shall I do)

This lesson teaches the polite offer of service to a customer or elder, using the humble 드리다. Example: 제가 도와드릴까요? (jega dowadeurilkkayo?) "Shall I help you?"

Intermediate and Advanced Patterns (B1 and B2)

-아/어 주시겠어요? (could you please)

This lesson teaches the careful request that adds the honorific 시 and the softener 겠. Example: 사진 좀 찍어 주시겠어요? (sajin jom jjigeo jusigesseoyo?) "Could you please take a photo for me?"

-아/어 줄래요? (will you)

This lesson teaches the friendly request that fits friends and juniors. Example: 이것 좀 도와줄래요? (igeot jom dowajullaeyo?) "Will you help me with this?"

-아/어라 (do!)

This lesson teaches the plain command used to children and juniors and in proverbs; the negative is -지 마라. Example: 일찍 자라. (iljjik jara.) "Go to bed early."

-지 그래요? (why don't you)

This lesson teaches the gentle advice that suggests an action. Example: 좀 쉬지 그래요? (jom swiji geuraeyo?) "Why don't you rest a bit?"

-는 게 어때요? (how about doing?)

This lesson teaches the suggestion that asks the listener's opinion. Example: 그냥 집에서 쉬는 게 어때요? (geunyang jibeseo swineun ge eottaeyo?) [그냥 지베서 쉬는 게 어때요] "How about just resting at home?"

-는 게 좋다 (it's better to / you should)

This lesson teaches the advice that says an action is better. Example: 일찍 자는 게 좋아요. (iljjik janeun ge joayo.) "It's better to go to bed early."

-(으)ㄹ 테니까 (since I will / you will, so...)

This lesson teaches the ending that gives a reason based on a plan or a guess and follows it with a request. Example: 먼저 가 있을 테니까 천천히 오세요. (meonjeo ga isseul tenikka cheoncheonhi oseyo.) [먼저 가 이쓸 테니까 천천히 오세요] "I'll be there first, so come slowly."

-(으)시겠어요? (would you like to?)

This lesson teaches the polite question that offers a choice to a guest. Example: 커피 드시겠어요? (keopi deusigesseoyo?) "Would you like some coffee?"

-(으)ㄴ/는 편이 낫다 (it's better to)

The -(으)ㄴ/는 편이 낫다 lesson teaches how to say that one option is better after weighing two. Example: 택시를 타는 편이 나아요. (taeksireul taneun pyeoni naayo.) "It's better to take a taxi."

-아/어 주시면 감사하겠습니다 (I would appreciate it if you...)

The -아/어 주시면 감사하겠습니다 lesson teaches the very polite request used in work emails, notices and customer service. Example: 확인해 주시면 감사하겠습니다. (hwaginhae jusimyeon gamsahagetseumnida.) "I would appreciate it if you could check it."

How Do You Choose between Look-Alike Patterns?

To choose a pattern, ask three questions. Who acts, who benefits and how polite should I be? The answers narrow the list to one or two patterns, and the comparison pages settle the rest.

Three pairs cause the most trouble. First, -(으)ㄹ까요? can look like a simple "shall we", but it does three jobs: with "we" it suggests, with "I" it offers and with a third person it wonders. Its neighbour -(으)ㄹ래요 asks what the listener wants instead; see -(으)ㄹ까요 vs -(으)ㄹ래요. Second, -(으)세요 and -아/어 주세요 look almost identical: the first is a plain polite command, and the second asks a favour. See -(으)세요 vs -아/어 주세요. Third, -(으)ㅂ시다, -(으)ㄹ까요? and -자 all say "let's", at three different levels. See -(으)ㅂ시다 vs -(으)ㄹ까요 vs -자. The wider rules about politeness are in Korean Speech Levels.

Where Can You Practise?

You can practise these patterns with quizzes and flashcards, and by listening to each lesson's audio. Read the example aloud after the clip, then cover the Korean and say it from the English. The grammar quizzes test whole sentences, and the grammar flashcard decks help you remember the endings. Repeat the sentences in the tables of the lessons you have read, and swap the verb for one you know. Begin with the lessons at your level, and return to the others later.

What Does This Section Not Cover?

This section covers endings that suggest, request and offer. It does not cover particles, tenses, negation, speech levels, modifiers, nominalizers or auxiliary verbs. Those live in other grammar hubs: particles, tenses, negation, Korean Speech Levels, modifiers and auxiliary verbs. The negative commands such as -지 마세요 are taught in the negation lessons.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Korean let's grammar?

It is the group of sentence endings that make suggestions, requests and offers. -(으)ㅂ시다 and -자 mean "let's," -아/어 주세요 means "please," and -아/어 드릴까요? means "shall I?" This page lists 19 patterns with a short example for each, and each links to a full lesson.

Which pattern should I learn first?

Start with -(으)ㄹ까요? for "shall we?" and -아/어 주세요 for "please do it for me." Both are A1 and cover most everyday needs. Then add -(으)세요 for polite commands, and -(으)ㅂ시다 or -자 for "let's." Leave the long polite forms for later.

How do I know which pattern fits my sentence?

Ask who acts and who benefits. If you both act, choose a "let's" or "shall we" pattern. If the listener acts for you, choose a request such as -아/어 주세요. If you act for the listener, choose an offer such as -아/어 드릴까요? Then match the politeness to the listener.

Are these patterns on the TOPIK exam?

Many of them appear in TOPIK I and TOPIK II reading and listening tasks, especially -(으)ㄹ까요?, -아/어 주세요, -(으)세요 and -(으)ㄹ게요. The level labels on this page are editorial estimates and should be checked against your textbook and the official TOPIK materials.

Where are the comparison pages?

Comparison pages sit in the grammar comparisons section. They set look-alike patterns side by side, such as -(으)ㅂ시다, -(으)ㄹ까요? and -자, or -(으)세요 and -아/어 주세요. Each lesson in this set also links to its closest neighbour.