In the informal polite style (해요체), there are many ways to suggest. The informal casual ending(해체) also has two suggestive forms. You'll especially learn about the suggestive ending 자 and other meanings of it as well.
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1. Informal Casual Suggestion
There are two ways to say "Let's V" in the informal casual form. I'll explain both here.
First, you can use the present tense of the informal casual form 아/어/여. It can be used in the four sentence types; statement, question, command, and suggest. Since it can be all, we need to add some context like adding "together(같이 or 함께)" to deliver suggestion meaning.
Another method for making suggestions is by using the 자 grammar. 자 is a sentence ending that signifies a request or suggestion in an informal casual manner.
As it inherently conveys a sense of suggestion, there is no need to include additional words, although you may do so if desired. Therefore, the following examples all convey the same meaning: "Let's go."
같이 가! | "아/어/여" is used as a suggestion. We attach 같이 to make sure. |
가자! | 자 already has a suggestion meaning. So, you can omit 같이. |
같이 가자! | You can still add 같이 to emphasize the meaning. |
Usually, we can make 해체 easily by taking 요 out from 해요체. In other words, if you add 요 to the informal casual, you can make a polite sentence! However, not this 자 grammar!
It only can be used in the casual ending! You can't attach 요 to make politer. Though, you may hear it in the show or something. Usually, little children talk like this.
(O) 같이 먹자.
(X) 같이 먹자요.
As I mentioned above, it is an informal casual ending! You can use it only for someone who is the same age or younger than you. Do not use it with someone you have to talk to politely!
(X) 사장님, 같이 가자. Boss, let's go. - This is incredibly rude!
2. Conjugation Information
As it is written just 자, you may notice. Yes, you don't have to worry about the conjugation! No matter what verb stems you use, you can simply attach 자 to them! No complicated irregular rules or anything. Still, I'll show you some examples below.
먹다 to eat → 먹자.
가다 to go → 가자.
놀다 to play → 놀자.
듣다 to listen → 듣자.
짓다 to build → 짓자.
굽다 to bake → 굽자.
Since you suggest doing something together, you can attach this 자 only to a verb stem, not an adjective stem! You can't also attach it with 이다 or 아니다.
같이 먹자. Let's eat together.
(X) 같이 예쁘자. Let's be pretty.
(X) 우리 학생이자. Let's be students.
(X) 우리 학생이 아니자. Let's not be a student.
3. Sentence Information
Special Adjectives
I just said you can't attach this 자 to an adjective. However, some adjectives can be attached as an euphemism manner.
to be loyal | 충실하자. | |
to be calm | 침착하자. | |
to be honest | 정직하자. | |
to be diligent | 부지런하자. |
As you can see the vibe, those are the adjectives that show doing something with intention. You have to memorize these special ones separately.
Negative Form
The negative form of 자 grammar is "지 말자." It means "Let's not V" in English. Just like 자, you can simply attach it to a verb stem.
이제 저기 가지 말자. Let's not go there from now on.
오늘은 공부 하지 말자! Let's not study today!
Other Uses
"-자" has many other uses. Here I'll show you where you can use it other than suggestions.
1. Accepting suggestion
It can be used not only to suggest but also to accept suggestions! If someone asks you to do something together, try using this form to answer. (Well, of course, when he or she is your friend.)
A: 같이 가자. Let's go together.
B: 그래, 같이 가자. Sure, let's go together.
Q: 점심 같이 먹을래? Would you like to eat lunch together?
A: 좋아, 같이 먹자. Sounds good. Let's eat together.
2. Talk to Oneself
자 grammar can be used in talking to oneself manner. In this case, it shows the speaker's determination, decision, or thinking something. But it only happens with some special words like below.
두고 보다 to wait and see. | 두고 보자. You won't get away with this. / You'll pay for this. |
가만 있다 keep quite, remain still | 가만 있자. Hold on. / Let me see. / Wait. |
You can hear "두고 보자." in a movie, usually a scene where a small-time villain runs away after he or she loses.
3. Let me...
You can use "자" to ask a listener to leave you alone. You add the tone that you are irritated. The word "좀" is usually used together. 좀 came from the word 조금 (a little), but in daily life, it is just used as a filler. You can see it as "just" in this case.
책 좀 읽자!
It will be translated as "Let me just read a book!" But the full meaning and the tone is close to "Leave me alone and let me just read a book!"
잠 좀 자자!
=Let me sleep! = Leave me alone! I'm trying to sleep!
You can use 좀 in a suggestive sentence as well. It'll still add that irritated tone to it.
같이 좀 가자! Let's go together.
↳ We can imagine a situation in which A walks too fast then B gets irritated. So, B says to A like this example.
4. Examples
Here are more examples with breakdown explanations! After studying, try to make your own sentences as well.
1
A: 뭐 해? What are you doing?
B: 음악 들어. I'm listening to music.
A: 뭐 들어? 같이 듣자. What are you listening to? Let's listen together.
자 is the informal casual suggestion ending. So, from their conversations, you can guess that they are friends (or at least the same age.)
2
A: 내일 뭐 해? What will you do tomorrow?
B: 민지랑 등산 가. I'll go hiking with Minji.
A: 진짜? 같이 가자. Really? Let's go together.
랑 is a marker that shows "and" or "with." 등산 is a noun that means hiking or climbing a mountain.
3
너무 더워. 에어컨 좀 틀자. It's too hot. Let's turn the A/C on.
더워 came from the adjective 덥다. If you are curious about more weather words and expressions, please click here to read my other lesson.
If you read aloud the word 에어컨, you may notice the meaning―air conditioner. The basic form of 틀자 is 틀다(to turn on).
4
Q: 나 내일 뷔페 가. 같이 갈래? I'll go to a buffet tomorrow. Would you like to go?
A: 좋아! 같이 가자! Sounds good! Let's go together.
When someone suggests you do something, you can agree using the 자 ending. Read aloud 뷔페. You can get the meaning, right?
5. Wrap-up & Worksheet: 자 Grammar
You learned how to suggest in the informal casual style with 자 grammar. Here is the summary. Let's review. (복습하자.)
자 is attached to a verb and used to suggest.
No conjugation is needed.
It can also show agreement to suggestions, and irritation.
I prepared the free and printable worksheet for you! 문제를 풀어 보자. (Let's try solving the quiz.)
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