Meaning
To eat the midday meal.
Cultural Background
Lunch is a communal activity. Eating alone (hon-bap) was once stigmatized, though it is becoming more common among younger generations. The 'Lunch Hoe-sik' is a modern trend where teams have a fancy lunch instead of the traditional late-night drinking dinner to promote work-life balance. The eldest person must lift their spoon first. It is considered rude to start your '점심 식사' before your elders. Koreans frequently share photos of their lunch on social media (Instagram) using the hashtag #맛점 (Mat-jeom).
Drop the 'reul'
In daily conversation, '점심 식사 하셨어요?' is much more natural than '점심 식사를 하셨어요?'.
Don't use with friends
Using '식사' with your best friend can make you sound like you're trying to be too formal or distant.
Meaning
To eat the midday meal.
Drop the 'reul'
In daily conversation, '점심 식사 하셨어요?' is much more natural than '점심 식사를 하셨어요?'.
Don't use with friends
Using '식사' with your best friend can make you sound like you're trying to be too formal or distant.
The 'Greeting' Rule
If someone asks '점심 식사 하셨어요?' at 1 PM, they aren't always inviting you to eat; they are often just saying hello.
The Bill
In a '점심 식사' with a superior, the superior almost always pays. Don't fight too hard for the bill, but do offer a polite 'Thank you' (잘 먹었습니다).
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct polite form of 'to have lunch'.
부장님, 지금 ______ 하셨어요?
When speaking to a superior (Manager/부장님), '점심 식사' is the most appropriate polite term.
Which sentence is the most natural for a business email invitation?
Choose the best option:
This uses the formal '식사' and the polite suggestion form '-하실까요?'.
Match the Korean phrase with its appropriate context.
Match the following:
Each phrase matches its specific social register and context.
Complete the dialogue between two coworkers.
A: 오늘 ______ 어디서 할까요? B: 회사 앞 김치찌개 집 어때요?
'점심 식사' fits the professional yet friendly tone of coworkers.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Siksa vs. Bap
Practice Bank
4 exercises부장님, 지금 ______ 하셨어요?
When speaking to a superior (Manager/부장님), '점심 식사' is the most appropriate polite term.
Choose the best option:
This uses the formal '식사' and the polite suggestion form '-하실까요?'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Each phrase matches its specific social register and context.
A: 오늘 ______ 어디서 할까요? B: 회사 앞 김치찌개 집 어때요?
'점심 식사' fits the professional yet friendly tone of coworkers.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, but '식사' usually implies a more substantial, sit-down meal. For a quick snack, '간식' or just '빵 먹다' is better.
No, it covers any midday meal including noodles, bread, or salad, though the cultural expectation is often a hot meal.
'Jeomsim' is the everyday word. 'Ochan' is extremely formal, used for official luncheons or diplomatic events.
It's a cultural way of showing concern for your well-being, rooted in Korea's history of food scarcity.
It's grammatically understandable but sounds redundant. Use '식사를 하다' or '점심을 먹다' instead.
'점심 식사 맛있게 하세요!' is the perfect polite way to say this.
Yes, '식사' is used, but North Koreans often use '점심' to mean 'lunch' just like in the South.
It's a popular slang abbreviation for 'Mas-iss-neun Jeom-sim' (Delicious Lunch).
In writing, yes. In speaking, it is almost always dropped for better flow.
You can say '아직 못 했습니다' (I haven't been able to yet) or '아직 안 했습니다' (I haven't yet).
Usually between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM. Most Korean offices have a strict 12-1 PM lunch hour.
Absolutely, it is the most appropriate phrase for a professional lunch setting.
Related Phrases
아침 식사를 하다
similarTo have breakfast
저녁 식사를 하다
similarTo have dinner
밥을 먹다
synonymTo eat rice/a meal
오찬을 즐기다
specialized formTo enjoy a luncheon
식사를 거르다
contrastTo skip a meal
간식을 먹다
relatedTo eat a snack
