Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Korean phrase for building relationships and making plans through the shared experience of dinner.
- Means: To have dinner together with someone else.
- Used in: Business networking, dating, and catching up with friends.
- Don't confuse: '먹다' is casual; '식사하다' is the polite standard.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
To share the evening meal with others.
Contexte culturel
The 'Second Round' (2차) culture. Sharing dinner often leads to a second location for coffee or drinks, showing that the 'togetherness' is more important than the food. The 'Hoe-sik' (company dinner) is a semi-mandatory social event where '저녁 식사를 함께 하다' is the standard activity to build team spirit. Asking to have dinner together is a significant step. It usually implies a 2-3 hour commitment, showing serious interest in the other person. The rise of 'Hon-bap' (eating alone) has made the act of 'sharing dinner' even more special and intentional among young people.
The 'Vague' Invitation
If a Korean says 'Let's have dinner together sometime' without picking a date, it might just be a polite way to say goodbye. Don't take it too literally unless they ask for your schedule!
The Bill Battle
Be prepared for a friendly 'fight' over who pays the bill. It's a sign of respect and affection. If you want to pay, try to sneak away to the counter before the meal ends.
The 'Vague' Invitation
If a Korean says 'Let's have dinner together sometime' without picking a date, it might just be a polite way to say goodbye. Don't take it too literally unless they ask for your schedule!
The Bill Battle
Be prepared for a friendly 'fight' over who pays the bill. It's a sign of respect and affection. If you want to pay, try to sneak away to the counter before the meal ends.
Use '함께' for Impact
If you want to sound more sincere and thoughtful in a letter or a formal text, use '함께' instead of '같이'. It shows you put effort into your language choice.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct verb form to make a polite suggestion.
오늘 저녁 식사를 함께 ________?
'-ㄹ까요?' is the standard way to make a polite suggestion to an equal or superior.
Which sentence is the most appropriate for a business email to a new client?
Choose the best invitation:
This uses the formal '식사' and '함께' with the polite '-고 싶습니다' ending.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
1. 저녁 같이 먹자 / 2. 저녁 식사를 함께 하시겠습니까?
Casual language for friends, honorific/formal for superiors.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
가: 이번 프로젝트가 잘 끝났네요. 나: 네, 고생 많으셨습니다. 오늘 ________________.
'-하시죠' is a polite, confident suggestion suitable for a workplace celebration.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
5 exercices오늘 저녁 식사를 함께 ________?
'-ㄹ까요?' is the standard way to make a polite suggestion to an equal or superior.
Choose the best invitation:
This uses the formal '식사' and '함께' with the polite '-고 싶습니다' ending.
1. 저녁 같이 먹자 / 2. 저녁 식사를 함께 하시겠습니까?
Casual language for friends, honorific/formal for superiors.
가: 이번 프로젝트가 잘 끝났네요. 나: 네, 고생 많으셨습니다. 오늘 ________________.
'-하시죠' is a polite, confident suggestion suitable for a workplace celebration.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsYes, just swap '저녁' (evening) for '점심' (lunch): '점심 식사를 함께 하다'.
Not strictly, but it is more common in writing, lyrics, and formal speech. In casual talk, '같이' is much more frequent.
Usually, the person who invited or the person who is older/higher in status pays. However, 'Dutch pay' is becoming common among friends.
'식사하다' is the polite, Sino-Korean version. '밥 먹다' is the native, casual version. Use '식사하다' with people you need to show respect to.
It's understandable but sounds a bit redundant. '식사를 하다' is the standard collocation.
Expressions liées
밥 한번 먹자
similarLet's eat sometime.
한솥밥을 먹다
idiomTo eat rice from the same pot.
회식하다
specialized formTo have a company dinner.
만찬을 즐기다
formalTo enjoy a banquet.
Où l'utiliser
Office Networking
Manager: 오늘 프로젝트 끝났는데, 다 같이 저녁 식사를 함께 할까요?
Employee: 네, 좋습니다! 제가 장소를 알아보겠습니다.
First Date
Person A: 이번 주 토요일에 저녁 식사를 함께 하고 싶어요.
Person B: 좋아요. 어떤 음식을 좋아하세요?
Meeting In-laws
Son-in-law: 장인어른, 오늘 저녁 식사를 함께 하시고 싶습니다.
Father-in-law: 허허, 그래. 맛있는 거 먹으러 가자구나.
Old Friends Catching Up
Friend 1: 야, 우리 언제 저녁 식사 함께 하냐?
Friend 2: 다음 주에 시간 비워둘게. 꼭 보자!
Business Negotiation
CEO A: 계약 전에 저녁 식사를 함께 하며 세부 사항을 조율하시죠.
CEO B: 좋은 생각입니다. 조용한 곳으로 예약하겠습니다.
Traveler Meeting Locals
Traveler: 한국 요리를 배우고 싶어서 저녁 식사를 함께 하고 싶어요.
Local: 와, 제가 맛집을 소개해 드릴게요!
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Sik-sa' as 'Six-sa' (6 PM) — the time you gather 'Together' (Ham-kke) for dinner.
Association visuelle
Imagine a round table with a steaming pot of stew in the middle and four people smiling as they reach in with their spoons. The steam forms the word '함께'.
Rhyme
저녁 식사 함께 해, 우리 사이 친해져! (Have dinner together, we'll get closer!)
Story
A lonely traveler in Seoul was hungry. A local asked, '저녁 식사를 함께 할까요?' They shared a meal, and by the end, they were best friends. The meal turned a stranger into a 'Sik-gu'.
In Other Languages
In Japanese, '夕食を共にする' (Yūshoku o tomo ni suru) carries an almost identical weight of social bonding. In Mediterranean cultures like Italy or Spain, the concept of 'Conviviality' matches this phrase perfectly.
Word Web
Défi
Text a Korean friend or language partner: '언제 한번 저녁 식사를 함께 해요!' and see how they respond.
Review this phrase on Day 1, 3, 7, and 30. Focus on the transition from '식사' to '하시다' for honorifics.
Prononciation
The 'k' sound at the end is unreleased.
The 's' in 'sa' becomes tense (ss) because of the preceding 'k'.
Spectre de formalité
저녁 식사를 함께 하시고 싶습니다. (General invitation)
저녁 식사를 함께 해요. (General invitation)
저녁 같이 먹자. (General invitation)
저녁 고? (Dinner, go?) (General invitation)
Derived from the combination of the native Korean word '저녁' (evening) and the Sino-Korean {食事|식사} (meal). The verb '함께 하다' (to do together) has been used since the early Joseon period to denote communal activities.
Le savais-tu ?
In the past, the king's dinner was called 'Su-ra' ({水刺|수라}), and he rarely 'shared' it with others, unlike the common people who always ate together.
Notes culturelles
The 'Second Round' (2차) culture. Sharing dinner often leads to a second location for coffee or drinks, showing that the 'togetherness' is more important than the food.
“저녁 식사를 함께 한 후 카페에 갔어요.”
The 'Hoe-sik' (company dinner) is a semi-mandatory social event where '저녁 식사를 함께 하다' is the standard activity to build team spirit.
“우리 팀은 한 달에 한 번 저녁 식사를 함께 합니다.”
Asking to have dinner together is a significant step. It usually implies a 2-3 hour commitment, showing serious interest in the other person.
“소개팅 후에 저녁 식사를 함께 하기로 했어요.”
The rise of 'Hon-bap' (eating alone) has made the act of 'sharing dinner' even more special and intentional among young people.
“요즘은 혼밥을 많이 하지만, 가끔은 친구들과 저녁 식사를 함께 하고 싶어요.”
Amorces de conversation
오늘 저녁에 특별한 계획 있으세요? 저녁 식사를 함께 하고 싶은데요.
한국에서 저녁 식사를 함께 할 때 가장 중요한 예절은 무엇이라고 생각하세요?
가장 기억에 남는 '저녁 식사를 함께 했던' 순간은 언제인가요?
Erreurs courantes
저녁 식사를 함께 먹다
저녁 식사를 함께 하다
L1 Interference
저녁 식사를 함께 가지다
저녁 식사를 함께 하다
L1 Interference
저녁 식사가 함께 하다
저녁 식사를 함께 하다
L1 Interference
저녁 식사를 함께 하세요? (to a friend)
저녁 식사 함께 할래?
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Cenar juntos
Korean '식사' is more formal than the general Spanish 'cenar'.
Dîner ensemble
French dining focuses more on the courses; Korean on the communal sharing of side dishes.
Gemeinsam zu Abend essen
German is more literal; Korean is more about the social 'gathering'.
夕食を共にする
Japanese is slightly more likely to use the verb 'eat' (食べる) even in polite contexts.
تناول العشاء معاً
Arabic hospitality often focuses on the host's generosity; Korean on the mutual bond.
共进晚餐
The Chinese version sounds slightly more 'literary' than the Korean version.
저녁 식사를 함께 하다
N/A
Jantar juntos
Portuguese is more focused on the family unit; Korean on the social/professional 'Sik-gu'.
Spotted in the Real World
“다 같이 저녁 식사를 함께 하는 게 얼마만이야?”
The Kim family is eating together in their semi-basement, celebrating their successful infiltration.
“덕선아, 저녁 식사 함께 하게 빨리 와라!”
The mother calling her daughter to join the neighborhood dinner.
“주말까지 기다리기 힘들어... 저녁 식사라도 함께 할까요?”
A song about the excitement of a new relationship and wanting to meet sooner.
Facile à confondre
Learners don't know when to use the native '먹다' vs Sino-Korean '식사하다'.
Use '먹다' for friends and '식사하다' for everyone else.
Both mean 'together'.
'함께' is slightly more formal/poetic; '같이' is more common in daily speech.
Questions fréquentes (5)
Yes, just swap '저녁' (evening) for '점심' (lunch): '점심 식사를 함께 하다'.
usage contextsNot strictly, but it is more common in writing, lyrics, and formal speech. In casual talk, '같이' is much more frequent.
grammar mechanicsUsually, the person who invited or the person who is older/higher in status pays. However, 'Dutch pay' is becoming common among friends.
cultural usage'식사하다' is the polite, Sino-Korean version. '밥 먹다' is the native, casual version. Use '식사하다' with people you need to show respect to.
basic understandingIt's understandable but sounds a bit redundant. '식사를 하다' is the standard collocation.
common mistakes
