Intro

Annyeonghaseyo! It’s your favorite Korean tutor, Daily Hangul! 👋😊

Have you ever wanted to ask a Korean friend to go to a concert, a movie, or a delicious restaurant, but didn’t know how to start the conversation?

In K-Dramas, you often see the main character shyly asking their crush, “Do you like… Messi?” (Wait, that’s a specific drama reference! 😉). But really, finding out if someone is interested in something is the first step to a successful invitation!

Today, we will learn how to sound natural when checking someone’s interest and inviting them out. Let’s make your social life in Korea exciting! 🚀

Key Expressions

Here are 3 essential phrases to check interest and invite someone.

1. ~에 관심 있어요?

• Pronunciation: [~e gwansim isseoyo?]
• Meaning: Are you interested in ~?
• Explanation: This is a direct way to ask if someone has an interest in a specific topic, hobby, or event. You put the noun before “-e”.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: When saying 있어요 (isseoyo), the ‘ss’ sound carries over to the next vowel. So it sounds more like [i-sseo-yo]. Smooth connection is key! 🔑

2. ~ 좋아해요?

• Pronunciation: [~ joahaeyo?]
• Meaning: Do you like ~?
• Explanation: This is actually used more often than “interested in” for casual topics like food, movies, or K-Pop groups. It’s a great ice-breaker!
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The ‘h’ (ㅎ) in 좋아 (joa) is very weak, almost silent. So you don’t say [jo-ha-hae-yo], but rather [jo-a-hae-yo].

3. 같이 갈래요?

• Pronunciation: [gachi gallaeyo?]
• Meaning: Do you want to go together?
• Explanation: The magic word! After checking their interest, use this to seal the deal. It’s polite yet friendly.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: Warning! 🚨 The word 같이 is written as ‘gat-i’ but pronounced as [gachi]. This is a special rule (Palatalization) where ‘t’ meets ‘i’ and becomes a ‘ch’ sound.

Real-life Dialogue

Let’s see how Minji invites Jason to a K-Pop exhibition. 🖼️

Minji: 제이슨 씨, 혹시 K-pop 좋아해요?
([Jeiseun ssi, hoksi K-pop joahaeyo?])
Jason, by any chance, do you like K-pop?

Jason: 네! 저 BTS 정말 좋아해요.
([Ne! Jeo BTS jeongmal joahaeyo.])
Yes! I really like BTS.

Minji: 이번 주말에 전시회 있는데, 관심 있어요?
([Ibeon jumare jeonsihoe inneunde, gwansim isseoyo?])
There is an exhibition this weekend, are you interested?

Jason: 와, 좋아요!
([Wa, joayo!])
Wow, that’s good!

Minji: 그럼 우리 같이 갈래요?
([Geureom uri gachi gallaeyo?])
Then, do you want to go together?

Jason: 네, 가요!
([Ne, gayo!])
Yes, let’s go!

Culture Tip: The Art of “Hoksi” (혹시) 🇰🇷

Did you notice Minji used the word 혹시 (hoksi) at the beginning?

In Korea, we care a lot about being polite and not burdening the other person. 혹시 (Hoksi) means “by any chance.” Using this makes your question sound much softer and less demanding.

If you want to sound like a polite local, start your invitation with “Hoksi…”! It works like magic! ✨

Conclusion & Quiz

Now you are ready to ask your friends out on a date or a hangout! Remember, ask what they like first, then suggest going together.

Let’s test your knowledge! 👇

Quiz
1. How do you pronounce 같이 (together)?
a) [gati]
b) [gachi]

1. Fill in the blank: “Do you like movies?”
   = 영화 _________?

2. What word makes your question softer (meaning “by any chance”)?
   = ________

Good luck, and see you next time! 안녕! 👋

Answers:
1. b) [gachi]
2. 좋아해요 (joahaeyo)
3. 혹시 (hoksi)