When you hear 외식 (oesik), think about going out to eat at a restaurant. It's a combination of two words: 외 (oe), meaning 'outside,' and 식 (sik), meaning 'food' or 'a meal.' So, literally, it means 'outside food' or 'eating outside.'
You'll use this word often in everyday conversations when talking about dining experiences. For example, if someone asks '오늘 저녁에 외식할까요?' (O-neul jeonyeo-ge oesik-hal-kka-yo?), they're asking, 'Shall we eat out tonight?'
This term specifically refers to eating a meal at a restaurant, not just any food consumed outside your home. It's a common and practical word to know for A2 level learners.
외식 en 30 segundos
- Eating out
- Restaurant meal
- Not home-cooked
§ What does 외식 mean?
The Korean word 외식 (oesik) is a noun that means 'eating out' or 'dining out' at a restaurant. It's a straightforward term that you'll hear and use very often in daily conversations in Korea. Think of it as the Korean equivalent of saying 'let's go out to eat' or 'we had a meal outside the home'.
- DEFINITION
- Eating out (at a restaurant).
You might be wondering, why is there a specific word for 'eating out'? Well, in Korean culture, meals are a very important part of daily life, and the act of eating, whether at home or outside, often carries social significance. 외식 specifically refers to the act of consuming a meal prepared and served in a commercial establishment, rather than cooking and eating at home. It implies a sense of occasion, convenience, or simply a change of pace from home-cooked meals.
주말에 외식했어요. (We ate out on the weekend.)
§ When do people use 외식?
People use 외식 in a variety of situations. Here are some common ones:
- Celebrating special occasions: Birthdays, anniversaries, promotions – any reason to celebrate often involves 외식.
- Convenience: After a long day of work, or when you're simply too tired to cook, 외식 is a great option.
- Social gatherings: Meeting friends, family, or colleagues for a meal outside the home is a very common way to socialize.
- Trying new foods: Korea has an incredibly diverse food scene, and 외식 is the perfect way to explore different cuisines and restaurants.
- Travel: When traveling, eating out is almost always part of the experience.
It's important to note that 외식 is usually used for meals. If you're just grabbing a coffee or a snack, you wouldn't typically use 외식. It's reserved for more substantial meals.
우리 오늘 저녁에 외식할까요? (Shall we eat out tonight for dinner?)
You can use 외식 as a noun, as in 'we had an eating out experience', or often with the verb '하다' (hada), meaning 'to do', to form '외식하다' (oesikhada), which means 'to eat out'. This is a very common verb form you'll encounter.
저희 가족은 자주 외식해요. (My family eats out often.)
So, next time you're in Korea, or just talking about food with Korean friends, don't forget to use 외식! It's a fundamental word for talking about meals outside the home.
How Formal Is It?
"이번 주말에는 부모님과 함께 외식을 하려고 합니다. (This weekend, I plan to eat out with my parents.)"
"퇴근 후에 동료들과 외식했어요. (After work, I ate out with my colleagues.)"
"야, 오늘 외식할까? (Hey, wanna eat out today?)"
Guía de pronunciación
- Pronouncing the '외' as a diphthong like 'oy' instead of a single vowel sound.
- Not clearly separating the '외' and '식' syllables.
Gramática que debes saber
Using -할까요? to suggest an action.
우리 오늘 저녁에 외식할까요? (Shall we eat out tonight?)
Using -는 to mark the topic of a sentence (often for general statements or habits).
주말에는 자주 외식해요. (On weekends, I often eat out.)
Using -이/가 들다 to express that something 'costs' or 'takes' (time/money).
외식 비용이 많이 들어요. (Eating out costs a lot.)
Using -에 as a time or location marker.
오늘 저녁에 외식할까요? (Tonight, shall we eat out?)
Combining nouns with verbs to form new expressions (e.g., 외식하다 - to eat out).
친구들과 외식했어요. (I ate out with friends.)
Ejemplos por nivel
주말에 가족과 외식했어요.
I ate out with my family on the weekend.
오늘은 외식할까요?
Shall we eat out today?
가끔 외식하는 것을 좋아해요.
I like eating out sometimes.
외식은 비싸지만 편리해요.
Eating out is expensive but convenient.
생일에 외식하는 것이 특별해요.
Eating out on a birthday is special.
친구와 외식하고 싶어요.
I want to eat out with my friend.
외식 메뉴를 골라보세요.
Choose a menu for eating out.
저녁에 외식하러 갈 거예요.
I will go out to eat in the evening.
주말에 가족들과 함께 외식하는 것을 정말 좋아해요. 어떤 종류의 음식을 선호하시나요?
I really enjoy eating out with my family on the weekends. What kind of food do you prefer?
The `-는 것을 좋아하다` structure is used to express liking an action.
바쁜 일정 때문에 요즘은 집에서 요리하기보다 외식하는 경우가 더 많아졌어요.
Due to a busy schedule, I've been eating out more often these days than cooking at home.
The `-보다` particle is used for comparison, meaning 'more than'.
특별한 기념일에는 분위기 좋은 레스토랑에서 외식하는 것이 저희 부부의 전통이에요.
On special anniversaries, eating out at a restaurant with a nice atmosphere is our couple's tradition.
The `-는 것` acts as a noun phrase, making 'eating out' the subject.
새로운 도시로 이사 오면 가장 먼저 그 지역의 맛집에서 외식부터 해봐야죠.
When you move to a new city, the first thing you should do is try eating out at the local famous restaurants.
The `-부터 해보다` means 'to try doing something first'.
건강을 생각해서 외식할 때는 채소 위주의 메뉴를 선택하려고 노력해요.
Considering my health, I try to choose vegetable-based menus when eating out.
The `-려고 노력하다` expresses 'to try to do something'.
예전에는 친구들과 자주 외식했지만, 요즘은 각자 바빠서 기회가 많이 없네요.
I used to eat out often with friends, but these days we're all busy so there aren't many opportunities.
The `-지만` is a conjunctive ending meaning 'but'.
외식 비용이 만만치 않아서, 가끔은 집에서 직접 요리해서 먹는 것도 좋은 방법이에요.
Eating out costs a lot, so sometimes cooking and eating at home yourself is also a good method.
The `-는 것도` emphasizes 'also doing something' as a good idea.
회식이나 중요한 모임이 있을 때면 항상 외식 장소를 고르는 것이 고민이에요.
Whenever there's a company dinner or an important gathering, choosing a place to eat out is always a concern.
The `-을 때면` indicates 'whenever' or 'at such times'.
Familia de palabras
Sustantivos
Verbos
Consejos
Basic Meaning of 외식
외식 (oeshik) literally means 'outside food' or 'eating outside'. It refers to the act of eating a meal at a restaurant or away from home.
외식 vs. Takeout
While 외식 means eating out, it doesn't usually include getting takeout or delivery to eat at home. That's a different concept (포장 or 배달).
Common Verb with 외식
The most common verb used with 외식 is 하다 (hada), meaning 'to do'. So, to say 'to eat out', you'd say 외식하다.
외식 Context Example 1
우리 외식할까요? (Uri oeshikhalkkayo?) - Shall we eat out?
외식 Context Example 2
저는 주말에 가족이랑 외식해요. (Jeoneun jumare gajogirang oeshikhaeyo.) - I eat out with my family on the weekend.
외식 as a Noun
외식 itself is a noun. You can use it in sentences like 외식 계획 (oeshik gyehoek) which means 'eating out plan' or 'plan to eat out'.
Korean Eating Out Culture
Eating out is very common in Korea, whether it's with family, friends, or colleagues. There are many types of restaurants for all occasions.
Synonyms/Related Words
While 외식 is specific to eating out, you might also hear 식사하다 (shiksahada) which means 'to have a meal', but this can be anywhere.
Formal vs. Informal Usage
외식 is a standard term and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Practice Using 외식
Try forming your own sentences using 외식하다. For example, '언제 외식하고 싶어요?' (Eonje oeshikhago shipeoyo?) - When do you want to eat out?
Ponte a prueba 60 preguntas
Choose the correct Korean word for 'eating out'.
'외식' means eating out. The other options are 'school', 'friend', and 'house' respectively.
Which sentence correctly uses '외식'?
The sentence '오늘 저녁에 외식해요.' correctly uses '외식' to mean 'eating out for dinner'. The other options have incorrect grammar or meaning.
My family likes to ___ on weekends. Which word fits best?
To say 'my family likes to eat out on weekends', '외식합니다' is the most appropriate word.
'외식' means to eat at home.
'외식' specifically means eating out, not at home.
You can use '외식' when talking about going to a restaurant.
'외식' is the correct term for eating out, which includes going to a restaurant.
If you say '저는 외식을 좋아해요,' you mean 'I like eating out.'
'저는 외식을 좋아해요' directly translates to 'I like eating out', which is a correct usage of '외식'.
저는 주말에 가족과 함께 ___을 자주 해요. (I often ___ with my family on weekends.)
The sentence is about doing something with family on weekends, and '외식' (eating out) fits the context of a common weekend activity.
오늘은 피곤해서 저녁은 ___하고 싶어요. (I'm tired today, so I want to ___ for dinner.)
Being tired often leads to wanting to eat out rather than cook. '외식' (eating out) is the most appropriate option.
생일이라서 특별한 곳에서 ___했어요. (It was my birthday, so I ___ at a special place.)
On a birthday, having a special meal at a restaurant is a common celebration. '외식' (eating out) fits well.
이번 달은 ___을 많이 해서 돈을 너무 많이 썼어요. (I ___ a lot this month, so I spent too much money.)
Eating out frequently (외식) often leads to spending more money, making it the correct choice.
친구와 약속이 있어서 내일 저녁은 ___할 거예요. (I have a plan with a friend, so I will ___ tomorrow evening.)
When meeting a friend for dinner, eating out (외식) is a common activity.
가끔은 집에서 요리하는 것보다 ___이 더 편해요. (Sometimes, ___ is more convenient than cooking at home.)
'외식' (eating out) is often more convenient than cooking at home, especially when one is busy or tired.
The speaker is asking if they should eat out tonight.
The speaker eats out often on weekends.
The speaker wants to eat at home today and suggests eating out another time.
Read this aloud:
주말에 외식했어요.
Focus: 외식 [외ː식]
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
친구랑 같이 외식하고 싶어요.
Focus: 싶어요 [시퍼요]
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
가족하고 외식하러 갈 거예요.
Focus: 가족 [가족]
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence asks 'Shall we eat out tonight?' The natural order is 'We today evening eat out (question particle)?'
This means 'I often eat out.' The order is 'I often eat out.'
This sentence means 'It is good to eat out sometimes.' The structure is 'Sometimes eating out thing is good.'
주말에는 보통 집에서 요리하지만, 가끔은 ___을(를) 해요. (On weekends, I usually cook at home, but sometimes I ___.)
'외식'은 '밖에서 식사하는 것'을 의미합니다. (외식 means 'eating outside'.)
바쁜 날에는 집에서 요리하기 힘들어서 ___을(를) 자주 합니다. (On busy days, it's hard to cook at home, so I often ___.)
문맥상 '밖에서 식사하는 것'이 가장 적절합니다. (Contextually, 'eating out' is the most appropriate.)
친구들과 오랜만에 만나서 근사한 레스토랑에서 ___을(를) 했어요. (I met my friends after a long time and ___ at a nice restaurant.)
레스토랑에서 식사하는 상황에 '외식'이 어울립니다. ('Eating out' fits the situation of dining at a restaurant.)
특별한 날에는 분위기 좋은 곳에서 ___을(를) 하는 것을 좋아해요. (On special days, I like to ___ at a place with a good atmosphere.)
좋은 분위기에서 식사하는 것은 '외식'과 관련이 있습니다. (Dining in a good atmosphere is related to 'eating out'.)
집안 행사가 있을 때에는 가족들과 함께 ___을(를) 하는 경우가 많아요. (When there's a family event, we often ___ with family.)
가족 행사에서 식사는 보통 '외식'으로 이루어집니다. (Meals during family events are often done by 'eating out'.)
요리하기 귀찮을 때는 편하게 ___을(를) 하는 것이 가장 좋아요. (When I'm too lazy to cook, ___ comfortably is the best.)
요리하기 싫을 때 가장 편한 방법은 '외식'입니다. (When you don't want to cook, the most convenient way is to 'eat out'.)
주말에는 보통 집에서 요리하지만, 가끔은 친구들과 함께 고급 레스토랑에서 ___을/를 해요. (On weekends, I usually cook at home, but sometimes I ___ with friends at a fancy restaurant.)
The context implies eating at a restaurant with friends, so '외식' (eating out) is the most suitable word.
바쁜 업무 일정 때문에 저녁 식사를 준비할 시간이 없어서 오늘은 동료들과 근처 식당에서 ___을/를 하기로 했어요. (Because of my busy work schedule, I don't have time to prepare dinner, so today I decided to ___ with colleagues at a nearby restaurant.)
The sentence talks about not having time to prepare dinner and going to a restaurant with colleagues, which directly relates to '외식' (eating out).
기념일에는 특별한 분위기를 즐기기 위해 항상 분위기 좋은 곳에서 ___을/를 하는 편이에요. (On anniversaries, I always tend to ___ at a place with a nice atmosphere to enjoy a special mood.)
The phrase '분위기 좋은 곳에서' (at a place with a nice atmosphere) and '기념일' (anniversary) strongly suggest dining out.
이번 달은 예산이 빠듯해서 ___을/를 줄이고 집에서 식사를 해결하려고 해요. (This month, my budget is tight, so I'm trying to reduce ___ and eat at home.)
To save money when the budget is tight, one would typically reduce '외식' (eating out).
갑자기 손님이 찾아와서 저녁 식사를 준비할 여유가 없어져서, 결국 다 같이 밖에서 ___을/를 하기로 결정했어요. (Unexpected guests arrived, so I no longer had time to prepare dinner. In the end, we all decided to ___ outside.)
When there's no time to prepare dinner for guests, the logical solution is to eat out.
새로운 도시로 이사 온 후, 다양한 현지 음식을 맛보기 위해 자주 ___을/를 해요. (After moving to a new city, I often ___ to try various local foods.)
To try various local foods in a new city, one would typically '외식' (eat out).
What do they like to do on weekends?
What are the two options for dinner?
What is the problem with eating out?
Read this aloud:
친구들과 오랜만에 외식을 했다.
Focus: 외식 (oe-sik)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
다음 주에 외식할 장소를 정해야 해.
Focus: 정해야 해 (jeong-hae-ya hae)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
특별한 날에는 외식하는 것이 즐겁다.
Focus: 즐겁다 (jeul-geop-da)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write a short paragraph about your favorite restaurant for eating out (외식). Include what kind of food they serve and why you like it.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
제가 가장 좋아하는 외식 장소는 한국 식당입니다. 그 식당은 항상 신선한 재료로 맛있는 불고기와 김치찌개를 만듭니다. 분위기도 좋고 직원들도 친절해서 자주 갑니다.
Imagine you are planning a special 외식 for a friend's birthday. Describe where you would go, what you would order, and why it would be a good choice for a birthday celebration.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
친구 생일을 위해 분위기 좋은 이탈리안 레스토랑을 예약할 거예요. 파스타와 스테이크를 주문하고, 와인도 한 잔 하면서 축하할 생각입니다. 조용하고 고급스러운 분위기가 생일 축하에 딱 좋을 것 같아요.
Write a short email to a friend suggesting a 외식 this weekend. Include details about the type of food you'd like to eat and when you're available.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
안녕 [친구 이름], 이번 주말에 같이 외식할까? 오랜만에 맛있는 한정식을 먹고 싶은데 어때? 나는 토요일 저녁이나 일요일 점심이 괜찮아. 네 시간 되는 대로 알려줘! [네 이름] 드림
위 글에 따르면, 한국인들이 외식을 선호하는 주된 이유는 무엇입니까?
Read this passage:
최근 한 설문조사에 따르면, 한국인들은 일주일에 평균 2-3번 외식을 하는 것으로 나타났습니다. 특히 젊은 세대일수록 외식 빈도가 높았으며, 주로 주말이나 특별한 날에 외식을 즐기는 경향이 있었습니다. 경제적인 부담 때문에 집에서 요리하는 것을 선호하는 사람들도 많았지만, 편리함과 다양한 메뉴 선택 때문에 외식을 포기하기 어렵다는 의견도 많았습니다.
위 글에 따르면, 한국인들이 외식을 선호하는 주된 이유는 무엇입니까?
지문에 '편리함과 다양한 메뉴 선택 때문에 외식을 포기하기 어렵다는 의견도 많았습니다'라고 언급되어 있습니다.
지문에 '편리함과 다양한 메뉴 선택 때문에 외식을 포기하기 어렵다는 의견도 많았습니다'라고 언급되어 있습니다.
김민수 씨가 외식을 하는 주된 목적은 무엇입니까?
Read this passage:
김민수 씨는 평소에 집에서 요리하는 것을 좋아하지만, 가끔은 색다른 음식을 맛보고 싶을 때 외식을 합니다. 특히 주말 저녁에는 아내와 함께 분위기 좋은 레스토랑을 찾아 맛있는 음식을 먹으며 이야기를 나누는 것을 좋아합니다. 그는 외식을 통해 스트레스를 해소하고 새로운 활력을 얻는다고 말합니다.
김민수 씨가 외식을 하는 주된 목적은 무엇입니까?
지문에 '그는 외식을 통해 스트레스를 해소하고 새로운 활력을 얻는다고 말합니다'라고 명시되어 있습니다.
지문에 '그는 외식을 통해 스트레스를 해소하고 새로운 활력을 얻는다고 말합니다'라고 명시되어 있습니다.
코로나19 팬데믹 이후 외식 산업에 어떤 변화가 있었습니까?
Read this passage:
코로나19 팬데믹 이후 외식 산업은 큰 변화를 겪었습니다. 많은 식당들이 배달 서비스를 강화하고, 온라인 주문 시스템을 도입했습니다. 소비자들 또한 안전을 위해 포장이나 배달을 선호하는 경향이 생겼습니다. 하지만 사회적 거리두기 완화와 함께 다시 식당을 찾아 외식을 즐기는 사람들이 점차 늘어나고 있습니다.
코로나19 팬데믹 이후 외식 산업에 어떤 변화가 있었습니까?
지문에 '많은 식당들이 배달 서비스를 강화하고, 온라인 주문 시스템을 도입했습니다'라고 언급되어 있습니다.
지문에 '많은 식당들이 배달 서비스를 강화하고, 온라인 주문 시스템을 도입했습니다'라고 언급되어 있습니다.
The speaker is talking about their family's weekend activities.
Someone is offering to treat others to a meal.
The speaker is giving advice about eating habits and health.
Read this aloud:
친구들과 외식할 때 보통 어떤 음식을 먹나요?
Focus: 외식 (oe-sik)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
특별한 날 외식 장소를 고르는 당신만의 기준이 있나요?
Focus: 장소 (jang-so)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
외식비 부담을 줄이기 위한 자신만의 방법이 있다면 공유해주세요.
Focus: 부담 (bu-dam)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'Eating out has become an important part of our culture.' The words need to be ordered to form a grammatically correct and meaningful sentence.
This sentence means 'As the economy worsens, the burden of eating out expenses is increasing.' The words need to be ordered correctly to convey this meaning.
This sentence means 'I'm planning a special meal out for our anniversary.' The words are arranged to form this coherent sentence.
/ 60 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
외식 means to eat a meal at a restaurant or outside of one's home.
- Eating out
- Restaurant meal
- Not home-cooked
Basic Meaning of 외식
외식 (oeshik) literally means 'outside food' or 'eating outside'. It refers to the act of eating a meal at a restaurant or away from home.
외식 vs. Takeout
While 외식 means eating out, it doesn't usually include getting takeout or delivery to eat at home. That's a different concept (포장 or 배달).
Common Verb with 외식
The most common verb used with 외식 is 하다 (hada), meaning 'to do'. So, to say 'to eat out', you'd say 외식하다.
외식 Context Example 1
우리 외식할까요? (Uri oeshikhalkkayo?) - Shall we eat out?
Contenido relacionado
Gramática relacionada
Frases relacionadas
Más palabras de food
몇 개
A2How many items?
~정도
A1Suffix meaning "about" or "approximately."
추가
A2Addition, extra (e.g., extra order).
~은/는 후에
A2After ~ing; indicates an action that occurs subsequent to another.
중에서
A2Among, out of (selection).
식욕
A2Appetite.
에피타이저
A2An appetizer.
전채
A2Appetizer.
먹음직스럽다
B2To look appetizing, delicious.
사과
A1apple
