음료수 뭐 마실래요?
1033
What drink would you like?
Phrase in 30 Seconds
A polite, friendly way to ask someone what they would like to drink in social or service settings.
- Means: 'What beverage would you like to drink?'
- Used in: Cafes, hosting guests at home, or casual business meetings.
- Don't confuse: Use '-ㄹ래요' for preferences, not for asking about general habits.
Explanation at your level:
المعنى
Asking someone for their preference of beverage.
خلفية ثقافية
In Korean culture, the person who suggests the drink or meal is often expected to pay. Asking '뭐 마실래요?' is a strong signal of this intention. When a guest visits an office, it is almost mandatory to offer a drink. Even if they say no, it is polite to ask at least once. Korea has one of the highest densities of cafes in the world. 'Going for a drink' usually means coffee or tea, not necessarily alcohol, unless specified. While Western cultures might offer 'water' immediately, Koreans often offer a variety of 'eumryosu' (juices, sodas, teas) as a sign of abundance and care.
Drop the Object Marker
In casual conversation, saying '음료수 뭐' is much more natural than '음료수를 뭐'.
Watch the Hierarchy
If the person is much older or higher rank, use '드시겠어요?' instead of '마실래요?'.
المعنى
Asking someone for their preference of beverage.
Drop the Object Marker
In casual conversation, saying '음료수 뭐' is much more natural than '음료수를 뭐'.
Watch the Hierarchy
If the person is much older or higher rank, use '드시겠어요?' instead of '마실래요?'.
The 'I'll Pay' Nuance
If you say this at a cafe counter, be prepared to pay! It's the standard way to offer a treat.
Specifics are Better
If you know what's available, it's even more polite to list them: '커피나 주스 뭐 마실래요?'
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'to drink' using the -(으)ㄹ래요 ending.
A: 날씨가 너무 더워요. 음료수 뭐 _______? B: 저는 시원한 물 마실래요.
The context is an offer of a drink, which requires the -(으)ㄹ래요 ending.
Which sentence is the most natural way to offer a drink to a guest at your home?
Choose the best option:
Option 2 is the standard polite offer. Option 1 is a literal translation, 3 asks what they are currently doing, and 4 asks about the past.
Complete the dialogue at a cafe.
점원: 주문하시겠어요? 민수: 네, 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요. 지수 씨는 뭐 _______?
Minsu is asking Jisu for her preference before ordering.
Match the phrase to the correct social situation.
Phrase: '음료수 뭐 마실래?'
The ending '-래' (without -요) is informal and only used with close friends or younger people.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Politeness Levels of 'What will you drink?'
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةYes, but usually '술 뭐 마실래요?' or '뭐 마실래요?' (in a bar context) is used. '음료수' specifically implies non-alcoholic drinks like soda or juice.
'뭐' is the contracted, spoken form of '무엇'. In this phrase, '무엇을 마실래요?' sounds very stiff and textbook-like.
Use the present tense: '뭐 마셔요?' or '뭐 마시고 있어요?'.
Simply say '[Drink Name] 마실래요.' For example: '저는 콜라 마실래요.'
No, it's very polite but friendly. It's perfect for people you are acquainted with. It's only 'rude' if used toward someone of much higher status where extreme honorifics are expected.
No, for food you use '뭐 먹을래요?'.
'음료' is a more formal/technical term for beverages. '음료수' is the common word used in daily life.
In spoken Korean, object markers are often omitted when the meaning is clear from context.
No! That is informal (Banmal). You must use '요' at the end, or better yet, the honorific '드시겠어요?'.
Technically yes, but usually if you just want water, you ask '물 마실래요?'. '음료수' often suggests something with flavor.
عبارات ذات صلة
어떤 거 마실래요?
similarWhich one would you like to drink?
목 안 말라요?
builds onAren't you thirsty?
한 잔 할래요?
similarDo you want to have a glass/drink?
뭐 먹을래요?
similarWhat do you want to eat?
음료수 좀 드릴까요?
specialized formShall I give you some beverage?
أين تستخدمها
At a Cafe
A: 여기 메뉴 보세요. 음료수 뭐 마실래요?
B: 저는 아이스 아메리카노 마실래요.
Hosting a Guest
Host: 어서 오세요. 음료수 뭐 마실래요? 주스랑 차가 있어요.
Guest: 따뜻한 차 한 잔 주세요.
Office Break
Colleague A: 편의점 가는데, 음료수 뭐 마실래요? 제가 사 올게요.
Colleague B: 정말요? 그럼 저는 비타민 음료 마실래요.
On a Date
A: 목 안 말라요? 음료수 뭐 마실래요?
B: 좋아요. 저는 시원한 에이드 마실래요.
After Sports
Friend A: 와, 진짜 힘들다. 음료수 뭐 마실래?
Friend B: 난 포카리스웨트! 진짜 목말라.
At a Restaurant
A: 음식이 좀 매운데, 음료수 뭐 마실래요?
B: 쿨피스 마실래요. 매운 거에는 그게 최고예요.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Eum-ryo-su' as 'Yum-Real-Soup' (even though it's a drink). 'Mwo' is 'More?' and 'Masillaeyo' sounds like 'My-Silly-Yo'. 'Yum real soup, more? My silly yo!'
Visual Association
Imagine a colorful vending machine with a giant question mark on it. You are pointing at it while smiling at a friend, holding your wallet out to show you're buying.
Rhyme
Eum-ryo-su mwo, let's go with the flow, masillaeyo?
Story
You are at a sunny park in Seoul. Your friend looks thirsty. You walk to a small kiosk. You point to the rows of colorful bottles and ask, 'Eumryosu mwo masillaeyo?' Your friend smiles and points to a green tea bottle.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Go to a Korean cafe (or pretend to) and say this phrase out loud 5 times, imagining a different person each time (a friend, a boss, a younger sibling).
In Other Languages
飲み物、何にしますか？ (Nomimono, nani ni shimasu ka?)
Korean focuses on the action of drinking, Japanese focuses on the decision.
你想喝什么饮料？ (Nǐ xiǎng hē shénme yǐnliào?)
Chinese explicitly uses the word for 'want'.
What would you like to drink?
English uses a conditional 'would', Korean uses an intentional ending.
¿Qué quieres beber?
Spanish relies on the verb 'to want' more than Korean does.
Que voulez-vous boire ?
French structure is very rigid with the 'vouloir' verb.
Was möchten Sie trinken?
German uses a specific modal verb for 'would like'.
ماذا تحب أن تشرب؟ (Mādhā tuḥibb an tashrab?)
The focus is on what the person 'likes' rather than their immediate 'intention'.
O que você quer beber?
Regional variations in Portuguese change the 'feel' of the offer more than in Korean.
Easily Confused
Learners confuse '-ㄹ래요' with '-ㄹ까요'.
'-ㄹ래요' asks for the listener's preference. '-ㄹ까요' is a suggestion for a joint action ('What shall WE drink?').
Confusing the present tense with the intentional offer.
'-어요' is for facts or habits. '-ㄹ래요' is for intentions and offers.
الأسئلة الشائعة (10)
Yes, but usually '술 뭐 마실래요?' or '뭐 마실래요?' (in a bar context) is used. '음료수' specifically implies non-alcoholic drinks like soda or juice.
'뭐' is the contracted, spoken form of '무엇'. In this phrase, '무엇을 마실래요?' sounds very stiff and textbook-like.
Use the present tense: '뭐 마셔요?' or '뭐 마시고 있어요?'.
Simply say '[Drink Name] 마실래요.' For example: '저는 콜라 마실래요.'
No, it's very polite but friendly. It's perfect for people you are acquainted with. It's only 'rude' if used toward someone of much higher status where extreme honorifics are expected.
No, for food you use '뭐 먹을래요?'.
'음료' is a more formal/technical term for beverages. '음료수' is the common word used in daily life.
In spoken Korean, object markers are often omitted when the meaning is clear from context.
No! That is informal (Banmal). You must use '요' at the end, or better yet, the honorific '드시겠어요?'.
Technically yes, but usually if you just want water, you ask '물 마실래요?'. '음료수' often suggests something with flavor.
