TOPIK I Grammar · Ch.6 Honorifics & Sentence Endings 02

TOPIK I Grammar · Ch.6 Honorifics & Sentence Endings 02

'-(으)ㅂ시다 / -(으)ㄹ까요' - "Let's" and "Shall We?"

You only need two endings to make plans together, and both map onto English almost word for word: "let's ~" and "shall we ~?" One caution sign stands between you and using them well - and it's cultural, not grammatical.

Key point Verb + -(으)ㅂ시다 = "let's ~": 갑시다 (= let's go). Verb + -(으)ㄹ까요? = "shall we ~?" / "shall I ~?": 갈까요? Batchim → 읍시다 / 을까요. Caution: don't aim ㅂ시다 at people above you.

How to use it

These two forms map onto English as neatly as 안/못 did: 먹읍시다 = let's eat, 먹을까요? = shall we eat? Even the difference in feeling carries over - "let's" announces a decision, "shall we?" hands the decision to the other person. ㄹ까요? also covers "shall I?": 창문을 열까요? (= shall I open the window?).

Now the caution sign. English "let's" works upward - "let's begin, professor" is fine. Korean ㅂ시다 does not: to a teacher, boss, or elder it sounds too bold, because deciding for the group is something only a senior does. Speaking upward, switch to the question: 같이 가실까요? - the 시 you learned last lesson plus ㄹ까요, offering rather than declaring. Between friends and equals, ㅂ시다 and plain ㄹ까요 both work well.

At a glance

Situation	Sentence	English feel
Deciding, equals	점심을 먹읍시다	let's have lunch
Asking, equals	점심을 먹을까요?	shall we have lunch?
Offering to act	제가 문을 닫을까요?	shall I close the door?
To a senior	같이 가실까요?	shall we go together? (시 + ㄹ까요)
Avoid to a senior	같이 갑시다	sounds too bold when you say it to a senior

Examples

주말에 같이 등산 갈까요? Shall we go hiking together this weekend? - ㄹ까요 asks for the other person's opinion first.

시간이 없어요. 빨리 출발합시다. We have no time - let's leave quickly. - A decision announced to the group.

배고프다. 우리 뭐 좀 먹자. I'm hungry. Let's eat something. - 자 is the casual form of 읍시다, for close friends.

Common mistakes

❌ 선생님, 이제 시작합시다. → ⭕ 선생님, 이제 시작할까요? Grammar: perfect. Direction: wrong. ㅂ시다 pointed upward decides on the senior's behalf. Turning it into a question returns the decision to them - which is the polite move in both cultures, but mandatory in this one.

❌ 여기 앉을시다. → ⭕ 여기 앉읍시다. After a batchim the ending is 읍시다, not 을시다 - the 을 shape belongs to 을까요. The two endings share a use but not a spelling; keep their batchim forms separate.

Quick check

Make a suggestion with the verb in parentheses.
1. 다리가 아파요. 잠깐 (      )? (쉬다)
2. 좋아요! 그럼 여기에서 (      ). (쉬다 → -(으)ㅂ시다)
3. (To a friend) 이따가 게임 (      ). (하다 → casual form)

Show answers

1. 쉴까요 (asking the other person first)   2. 쉽시다 (deciding together with an equal)   3. 하자 (casual form of -(으)ㅂ시다, used with friends)

💡 Study tip - Default to the question. When unsure of the relationship, ㄹ까요? is never rude - it works with seniors, juniors, and equals, because asking leaves the decision to the listener. Make it your automatic suggestion form, and save ㅂ시다 for people you'd comfortably call friends.