Meaning
To prepare a table for a meal.
Cultural Background
The position of the spoon and chopsticks is crucial. The spoon goes on the left of the chopsticks. Rice is always placed on the left, and soup is placed on the right of the person eating. It is polite for the youngest person to set the table and wait for the elders to start eating. A 'full' table is a sign of great hospitality, often referred to as 'bapsang-i bu-reojida' (the table breaks).
Use '좀'
Adding '좀' (jom) before '차리다' makes a request sound much softer and more natural: '{식탁|食卓} 좀 차려 줄래?'
The Spoon Rule
When setting the table, never place the spoon face down. It's considered bad luck or poor manners.
Meaning
To prepare a table for a meal.
Use '좀'
Adding '좀' (jom) before '차리다' makes a request sound much softer and more natural: '{식탁|食卓} 좀 차려 줄래?'
The Spoon Rule
When setting the table, never place the spoon face down. It's considered bad luck or poor manners.
Verb Versatility
Remember that '차리다' is used for anything you 'set up,' including businesses and even your own mind (focus).
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '차리다'.
어머니께서 지금 주방에서 {식탁|食卓}을 ( ).
The context '지금' (now) indicates a progressive action.
Which sentence is the most natural way to ask a friend to help set the table?
친구에게 도움을 요청할 때:
'차려 줄래?' is the natural collocation for setting the table.
Match the Korean phrase with its English meaning.
매칭하기
All these use '차리다' in different but related contexts of 'arranging/setting up'.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 배고파요! 밥 언제 먹어요? 나: 지금 ( ) 있으니까 조금만 기다려.
Setting the table is the final step before eating.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Items for {식탁|食卓}을 차리다
Utensils
- • 수저 (Spoon/Chopsticks)
- • 물컵 (Water cup)
Food
- • 밥 (Rice)
- • 국 (Soup)
- • 반찬 (Side dishes)
Practice Bank
4 exercises어머니께서 지금 주방에서 {식탁|食卓}을 ( ).
The context '지금' (now) indicates a progressive action.
친구에게 도움을 요청할 때:
'차려 줄래?' is the natural collocation for setting the table.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
All these use '차리다' in different but related contexts of 'arranging/setting up'.
가: 배고파요! 밥 언제 먹어요? 나: 지금 ( ) 있으니까 조금만 기다려.
Setting the table is the final step before eating.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is used for any meal of the day.
In spoken Korean, '상을 차리다' is slightly more common because it's shorter and more traditional, but both are perfectly fine.
The opposite is '{식탁|食卓}을 치우다' (to clear the table).
No, it means to arrange. However, if you say you 'set the table' for someone, it often implies you also prepared the food.
Only if you are the employee. As a customer, you don't use this for yourself.
It means 'Wake up!' or 'Snap out of it!' It uses the same verb '차리다' to mean 'collecting' your spirit.
The phrase itself is neutral. Its formality depends on the verb ending (e.g., 차립니다 vs 차려).
Yes, anyone can use it, though historically it was associated with women's work. This is changing in modern Korea.
Yes, you can say '돗자리에 상을 차리다' (setting a table on a picnic mat).
{식탁|食卓} 차리는 것 좀 도와줘 (Siktak charyeoneun geot jom dowajwo).
Related Phrases
상을 차리다
synonymTo set the table (traditional)
수저를 놓다
builds onTo lay out spoons and chopsticks
상을 치우다
contrastTo clear the table
정신을 차리다
similarTo come to one's senses
진수성찬을 차리다
specialized formTo prepare a feast
