Meaning
The act of consuming coffee as a beverage.
Cultural Background
The 'Iced Americano' (Ah-Ah) is the unofficial national drink. It's consumed year-round, even in freezing temperatures. After a group dinner (Hoe-sik), it is standard for the group to go to a cafe together. This is called '2-cha' (the second round). Instant 'Mix Coffee' (yellow sticks) is a staple in every Korean office. It's a symbol of the 'Ppalli-ppalli' (fast) culture. Cafes are often used as 'Ka-gong' (Cafe-Gongbu) spaces where students study for hours with a single cup of coffee.
Drop the marker
In casual conversation, just say '커피 마셔요'. It sounds more natural than always including '를'.
Honorifics matter
Never say '마셔요' to your boss or a stranger much older than you. Use '드세요'.
Meaning
The act of consuming coffee as a beverage.
Drop the marker
In casual conversation, just say '커피 마셔요'. It sounds more natural than always including '를'.
Honorifics matter
Never say '마셔요' to your boss or a stranger much older than you. Use '드세요'.
The 'Ah-Ah' Slang
If you want to sound like a local, say '아아 마시고 싶다' (I want to drink an Iced Americano).
Coffee as an invite
If a Korean says 'Let's have coffee sometime,' it might just be a polite way of saying goodbye, similar to 'Let's do lunch' in English.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct object marker.
저는 {커피|珈琲}___ 마셔요.
'커피' ends in a vowel, so '를' is the correct object marker.
Choose the correct honorific form to use with your grandmother.
할머니, {커피|珈琲} ___?
'드세요' is the polite honorific form of '마시다'.
Complete the dialogue with the correct conjugation of '마시다'.
A: 어제 뭐 했어요? B: 카페에서 친구랑 {커피|珈琲}를 ___.
The question asks about yesterday (어제), so the past tense '마셨어요' is required.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Which phrase is best for inviting a close friend to a cafe?
'마실래?' is a casual, friendly way to ask 'Do you want to...?'
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Types of Coffee to Drink
Hot
- • 아메리카노
- • 카페라떼
- • 카푸치노
Cold
- • 아이스 아메리카노
- • 콜드브루
- • 아이스티
Practice Bank
4 exercises저는 {커피|珈琲}___ 마셔요.
'커피' ends in a vowel, so '를' is the correct object marker.
할머니, {커피|珈琲} ___?
'드세요' is the polite honorific form of '마시다'.
A: 어제 뭐 했어요? B: 카페에서 친구랑 {커피|珈琲}를 ___.
The question asks about yesterday (어제), so the past tense '마셨어요' is required.
Which phrase is best for inviting a close friend to a cafe?
'마실래?' is a casual, friendly way to ask 'Do you want to...?'
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt's not 'wrong' in casual speech, but '마시다' is the standard. Using '마시다' makes you sound more educated and precise.
You say '저는 커피를 안 마셔요'.
The Iced Americano (아이스 아메리카노) is by far the most popular.
Yes! Just replace '커피' with '물' (water), '주스' (juice), or '맥주' (beer).
'한 잔' means 'one cup'. It makes the invitation sound more specific and casual.
It varies. Brand cafes like Starbucks are around 5,000 KRW, but budget shops offer coffee for 1,500 KRW.
Yes, many cafes stay open late, and people drink coffee while socializing or studying at night.
It's a 3-in-1 instant coffee (coffee, sugar, creamer) that is very popular in offices.
It becomes '마셨어요'.
Say '{차|茶}를 마시다'.
Yes, it's very common to see people with take-out cups on the street.
Say '설탕 넣지 마세요' (Please don't put in sugar).
Related Phrases
차를 마시다
similarTo drink tea
커피 한 잔 하다
idiomaticTo have a cup of coffee
물을 마시다
builds onTo drink water
커피를 타다
specialized formTo make/mix coffee
커피를 시키다
specialized formTo order coffee
