Planning Dinner Like a K-Drama Star: Must-Know Phrases!

Hello! Welcome to [Daily Hangul], where we upgrade your Korean skills!

Have you ever watched a K-drama and noticed how much time characters spend thinking and talking about food? Deciding what to eat is a huge part of daily life in Korea, and it’s the perfect way to connect with friends. Lately in Korea, food trends on social media are a big deal. You’ll see everyone posting about the spiciest maratang or the sweetest tanghulu. Today, you’ll learn the essential phrases to jump into these delicious conversations and plan your dinner just like a local!

Let’s get started!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are three simple but powerful phrases to help you decide on your next meal.

1. 뭐 먹을까? (What should we eat?)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Mwo meogeulkka?
• English Meaning: What should we eat? / What shall we eat?
• Detailed Explanation: This is the most common and natural way to start a food conversation with friends or people you’re close to. It’s a friendly suggestion, inviting the other person to share their opinion. It’s made from 뭐 (mwo) meaning ‘what’, 먹다 (meokda) meaning ‘to eat’, and the grammar pattern -(으)ㄹ까? (-eulkka?) which is used to make suggestions or ask for an opinion.

• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  Pay close attention to the end, -까? (-kka?). The ‘ㄲ’ (kk) is a “tensed” consonant. It’s stronger and higher-pitched than a regular ‘ㄱ’ (g/k). You make this sound by tightening the back of your throat, with no puff of air. Practice saying “가 (ga)” and then “까 (kka)” to feel the difference!

2. -고 싶어 (I want to…)

• Korean Expression: (저는) 치킨 먹고 싶어요.
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: (Jeoneun) chikin meokgo sipeoyo.
• English Meaning: I want to eat chicken.

• Detailed Explanation: This is how you express what you’re craving! Simply attach -고 싶어 (-go sipeo) to the stem of a verb. For example, 먹다 (meokda) → 먹 (meok) + 고 싶어 (go sipeo) = I want to eat. If you want to be a little more polite, just add ‘요’ (yo) at the end: -고 싶어요 (-go sipeoyo).

• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  When 싶어 (sipeo) is pronounced, the ‘ㅍ’ (p) sound from the first syllable ‘싶’ (sip) naturally moves over to the next syllable, which starts with a vowel. This is a liaison rule called ‘연음’ (yeon-eum). So, instead of saying “sip-eo,” it flows smoothly into [시퍼 (sipeo)]. This makes your Korean sound much more natural!

3. 그거 좋다! (That sounds great!)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Geugeo jota!
• English Meaning: That’s a great idea! / That sounds good!

• Detailed Explanation: Someone suggested an idea you love? This is the perfect, enthusiastic response! 그거 (geugeo) means ‘that’, and 좋다 (jota) means ‘to be good’. Use it when you wholeheartedly agree with a friend’s dinner suggestion.

• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  This is a tricky one! The last two letters in 좋다 are ‘ㅎ’ (h) and ‘ㄷ’ (d). When they meet, they combine to make an aspirated ‘ㅌ’ (t) sound. So, you don’t pronounce it as “jot-da” or “joh-da.” The correct, natural pronunciation is [조타 (jota)]. This is a very common sound change rule in Korean, so it’s a great one to master!

Example Conversation

Let’s see how these phrases work in a real conversation between two friends, Minjun (A) and Sora (B).

A: 아, 배고파. 오늘 저녁 뭐 먹을까?

(A, baegopa. Oneul jeonyeok mwo meogeulkka?)
Ah, I’m hungry. What should we eat for dinner tonight?

B: 음… 요즘 매운 게 당기네. 나 마라탕 먹고 싶어. 너는 어때?

(Eum… Yojeum maeun ge ttanggine. Na maratang meokgo sipeo. Neoneun eottae?)
Hmm… I’m craving something spicy these days. I want to eat maratang. How about you?

A: 마라탕? 와, 그거 좋다! 얼른 가자!

(Maratang? Wa, geugeo jota! Eolleun gaja!)
Maratang? Wow, that sounds great! Let’s go quickly!

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

In Korea, eating is often a communal activity. The question “뭐 먹을까?” (What should we eat?) is more than just about food; it’s a friendly ritual for connecting and sharing an experience together.

Right now, Korea’s Z-generation is obsessed with sharing their food adventures on Instagram and YouTube. Foods like 마라탕 (Maratang), a spicy hot pot that you customize yourself, and 탕후루 (Tanghulu), a crunchy fruit candy, are incredibly popular. If you suggest one of these trendy foods using “-고 싶어,” your Korean friends will be super impressed! It shows you’re not just learning the language, but you’re also tuned into the culture. Using these phrases to talk about trendy food is a guaranteed way to sound like a local!

Wrap-up & Practice Time!

Great job today! You’ve learned three essential phrases for making dinner plans in Korean:

• 뭐 먹을까? (What should we eat?)
• -고 싶어 (I want to…)
• 그거 좋다! (That sounds great!)

Now, let’s test your knowledge!

1. Fill in the Blank:
Your friend asks if you want to eat Tteokbokki. You love the idea! How would you respond?

떡볶이? ____ ____! (Tteokbokki? ____ ____!)

2. Make a Sentence:
You are craving a delicious, cheesy pizza. How would you tell your friend, “I want to eat pizza”?

(Answer in the comments!)

What do you want to eat for dinner tonight? Let us know in the comments below using the -고 싶어 grammar pattern. We can’t wait to see your sentences