Hello! It’s your friendly guide from Daily Korean here to level up your Korean skills!
Have you ever finished a delicious Korean dinner and felt like you needed a little something to cap off the perfect evening? Today, we’re going to learn how to do just that by suggesting a relaxing evening walk. And this isn’t just any walk! Lately in Korea, evening strolls have become a huge trend. Inspired by the beautiful, “healing” scenes in popular K-dramas like ‘Queen of Tears’, taking a walk along the Han River or a quiet park is the perfect way to unwind, chat with a friend, and feel like you’re the main character in your own story.
Let’s learn how to invite someone to join you!
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are the essential building blocks for making a perfect suggestion.
1. The “Shall we…?” Pattern: -(으)ㄹ까요?
- Korean Expression: -(으)ㄹ까요?
- Pronunciation [Romanized]: -(eu)l-kka-yo?
- English Meaning: Shall we…? / How about we…?
- Detailed Explanation: This is the most common and polite way to make a suggestion while asking for the other person’s opinion. It’s friendly and not pushy at all.
- Use -ㄹ까요? after a verb stem ending in a vowel (e.g., 가다 → 갈까요? gal-kka-yo?).
- Use -을까요? after a verb stem ending in a consonant (e.g., 먹다 → 먹을까요? meo-geul-kka-yo?).
2. The Verb for a Leisurely Stroll: 산책하다
- Korean Expression: 산책하다
- Pronunciation [Romanized]: san-chek-ha-da
- English Meaning: to take a walk, to stroll
- Detailed Explanation: While 걷다 (geot-da) just means “to walk,” 산책하다 has a more relaxed and pleasant nuance. It’s the word you use for a walk in the park or a leisurely stroll after dinner
