-(으)ㄹ까요 is used to make suggestions or ask for someone's opinion about doing something. It means "shall we?", "should I/we?", or "would you like to?" in English.
Structure
Verb stem + -(으)ㄹ까요?
Breakdown:
- -(으)ㄹ: Future modifier
- 까: Wonder, whether
- 요: Polite ending
Literal meaning: "I wonder if we should/shall..." → "Shall we?"
Formation Rules
Stem Ending in Vowel or ㄹ: -ㄹ까요?
Vowel stems:
- 가다 → 갈까요? (Shall we go?)
- 하다 → 할까요? (Shall we do?)
- 오다 → 올까요? (Shall I come?)
- 되다 → 될까요? (Will it work?)
ㄹ stem (drop ㄹ):
- 만들다 → 만들까요? (Shall we make?)
- 살다 → 살까요? (Shall we live?)
- 놀다 → 놀까요? (Shall we play?)
Stem Ending in Consonant: -을까요?
Consonant stems:
- 먹다 → 먹을까요? (Shall we eat?)
- 읽다 → 읽을까요? (Shall we read?)
- 듣다 → 들을까요? (Shall we listen?)
- 앉다 → 앉을까요? (Shall we sit?)
Core Meaning: Making Suggestions
Suggesting Actions
Proposing to do something together:
- 갈까요? (Shall we go?)
- 먹을까요? (Shall we eat?)
- 시작할까요? (Shall we start?)
- 쉴까요? (Shall we rest?)
Asking for Opinion
What do you think we should do?:
- 뭐 먹을까요? (What shall we eat?)
- 어디 갈까요? (Where shall we go?)
- 언제 만날까요? (When shall we meet?)
- 어떻게 할까요? (What shall we do? / How should we do it?)
Offering to Do Something
Shall I...? (offering help):
- 도와드릴까요? (Shall I help you?)
- 창문을 열까요? (Shall I open the window?)
- 불을 켤까요? (Shall I turn on the light?)
- 전화할까요? (Shall I call?)
Common Usage Patterns
Making Plans
Suggesting activities:
- 영화 볼까요? (Shall we watch a movie?)
- 커피 마실까요? (Shall we drink coffee?)
- 산책할까요? (Shall we take a walk?)
- 쇼핑할까요? (Shall we go shopping?)
Choosing Options
Deciding between choices:
- 이거 살까요? 저거 살까요? (Shall we buy this? Or that?)
- 여기 앉을까요? (Shall we sit here?)
- 이걸로 할까요? (Shall we go with this one?)
- 지금 갈까요? 나중에 갈까요? (Shall we go now? Or later?)
Offering Help
Politely offering assistance:
- 도와드릴까요? (Shall I help you? - honorific)
- 제가 할까요? (Shall I do it?)
- 문 열어 드릴까요? (Shall I open the door for you?)
- 가방 들어 드릴까요? (Shall I carry your bag?)
Uncertain Situations
Wondering what to do:
- 어떻게 할까요? (What should we do?)
- 기다릴까요? (Should we wait?)
- 전화해 볼까요? (Should we try calling?)
- 물어볼까요? (Should we ask?)
Politeness Levels
Polite (해요체) - Most Common
-(으)ㄹ까요?:
- 갈까요? (Shall we go?)
- 먹을까요? (Shall we eat?)
- 시작할까요? (Shall we start?)
Casual (반말)
-(으)ㄹ까?:
- 갈까? (Shall we go?)
- 먹을까? (Shall we eat?)
- 시작할까? (Shall we start?)
Honorific
Add honorific marker:
- 가실까요? (Shall we go? - when including elder/superior)
- 드실까요? (Would you like to eat? - honorific)
- 계실까요? (Shall we stay? - honorific)
Responding to -(으)ㄹ까요
Agreeing
네/좋아요 (Yes/Good):
- 갈까요? → 네, 가요 (Shall we go? → Yes, let's go)
- 먹을까요? → 좋아요 (Shall we eat? → Sounds good)
- 시작할까요? → 네, 시작해요 (Shall we start? → Yes, let's start)
Disagreeing or Suggesting Alternative
아니요 + alternative:
- 갈까요? → 아니요, 좀 더 있어요 (Shall we go? → No, let's stay a bit more)
- 이거 살까요? → 아니요, 저거가 더 좋아요 (Shall we buy this? → No, that one is better)
Leaving Decision to Others
당신이 결정하세요 (You decide):
- 뭐 먹을까요? → 아무거나 좋아요 (What shall we eat? → Anything is fine)
Common Expressions
Making Plans
- 갈까요? (Shall we go?)
- 올까요? (Shall I come?)
- 만날까요? (Shall we meet?)
- 시작할까요? (Shall we start?)
- 끝낼까요? (Shall we finish?)
Food and Drink
- 먹을까요? (Shall we eat?)
- 마실까요? (Shall we drink?)
- 주문할까요? (Shall we order?)
- 뭐 먹을까요? (What shall we eat?)
- 커피 마실까요? (Shall we drink coffee?)
Activities
- 영화 볼까요? (Shall we watch a movie?)
- 산책할까요? (Shall we take a walk?)
- 쉴까요? (Shall we rest?)
- 공부할까요? (Shall we study?)
- 놀까요? (Shall we play/hang out?)
Offering Help
- 도와드릴까요? (Shall I help you?)
- 도와줄까요? (Shall I help?)
- 제가 할까요? (Shall I do it?)
- 열어 드릴까요? (Shall I open it for you?)
Location/Position
- 여기 앉을까요? (Shall we sit here?)
- 어디 갈까요? (Where shall we go?)
- 밖에 나갈까요? (Shall we go outside?)
Example Sentences
Making Suggestions
- 점심 먹으러 갈까요? (Shall we go eat lunch?)
- 잠깐 쉬었다 갈까요? (Shall we rest a bit before going?)
- 다음 주에 만날까요? (Shall we meet next week?)
- 같이 공부할까요? (Shall we study together?)
Asking for Preference
- 뭐 마실까요? 커피? 차? (What shall we drink? Coffee? Tea?)
- 어디서 만날까요? (Where shall we meet?)
- 언제 시작할까요? (When shall we start?)
- 이거 할까요? 저거 할까요? (Shall we do this? Or that?)
Offering Help
- 짐 들어 드릴까요? (Shall I carry your luggage?)
- 제가 설명해 드릴까요? (Shall I explain it for you?)
- 택시를 불러 드릴까요? (Shall I call you a taxi?)
- 도와드릴까요? (May I help you?)
Uncertain Situations
- 전화해 볼까요? (Should we try calling?)
- 조금 더 기다릴까요? (Should we wait a bit more?)
- 물어봐 볼까요? (Should we try asking?)
- 다시 해 볼까요? (Shall we try again?)
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Making Plans
A: 주말에 뭐 할까요?
(What shall we do on the weekend?)
B: 영화 볼까요?
(Shall we watch a movie?)
A: 좋아요! 어떤 영화 볼까요?
(Sounds good! What movie shall we watch?)
Dialogue 2: At Restaurant
A: 뭐 먹을까요?
(What shall we eat?)
B: 저는 비빔밥 먹을래요. 당신은요?
(I'll have bibimbap. And you?)
A: 저도 비빔밥 먹을까요?
(Shall I have bibimbap too?)
Dialogue 3: Offering Help
A: 도와드릴까요?
(May I help you?)
B: 네, 감사합니다. 이 짐 좀 들어 주실 수 있어요?
(Yes, thank you. Could you help me carry this luggage?)
Dialogue 4: Choosing Options
A: 이거 살까요? 저거 살까요?
(Shall we buy this? Or that?)
B: 이거가 더 예쁜 것 같아요.
(I think this one is prettier.)
A: 그럼 이걸로 할까요?
(Then shall we go with this one?)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 갈게요?
Wrong ending for suggestion
✅ Correct: 갈까요?
Use -ㄹ까요 for suggestions
❌ Incorrect: 가요까요?
Mixing polite ending with -ㄹ까요
✅ Correct: 갈까요?
Just stem + -(으)ㄹ까요
❌ Incorrect: 먹을까?
Too casual for polite context
✅ Correct: 먹을까요?
Add 요 for politeness
Usage Notes
Mutual Decision
Suggests doing something together:
- 갈까요? (Shall we go? - together)
Not for asking what someone else will do alone:
- Use 갈 거예요? (Are you going to go?)
Can Be Rhetorical
Sometimes expresses uncertainty rather than true question:
- 어떻게 할까요... (What should I do... - thinking aloud)
Different from -(으)ㄹ게요
-(으)ㄹ까요 (suggestion/question):
- 갈까요? (Shall we go? - asking)
-(으)ㄹ게요 (promise/intention):
- 갈게요 (I'll go - stating intention)
Comparison with Similar Patterns
-(으)ㄹ까요 vs -(으)ㄹ래요
-(으)ㄹ까요 (suggestion for both):
- 갈까요? (Shall we go? - suggestion)
-(으)ㄹ래요 (speaker's desire):
- 갈래요 (I want to go)
-(으)ㄹ까요 vs -아/어요
-(으)ㄹ까요 (seeking opinion):
- 먹을까요? (Shall we eat? - asking opinion)
-아/어요 (simple question):
- 먹어요? (Are you eating? - asking fact)
-(으)ㄹ까요 vs -(으)ㅂ시다
-(으)ㄹ까요 (suggesting, asking):
- 갈까요? (Shall we go? - question)
-(으)ㅂ시다 (proposing, stronger):
- 갑시다 (Let's go - proposal)
Summary Table
| Pattern | Meaning | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㄹ까요? | Shall we/I? | Making suggestions | 갈까요? |
| -(으)ㄹ까? | Shall we/I? (casual) | Casual suggestions | 갈까? |
| -(으)ㄹ게요 | I will | Stating intention | 갈게요 |
| -(으)ㄹ래요 | I want to | Expressing desire | 갈래요 |
| -(으)ㅂ시다 | Let's | Strong proposal | 갑시다 |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Makes suggestions: Shall we? Should I?
- ✅ Seeks opinion: What do you think about doing this?
- ✅ Polite and natural: Very common in conversation
- ✅ Can offer help: Shall I help you?
- ✅ Different from -(으)ㄹ게요: Question vs. statement
- ✅ Essential pattern: Must know for making plans and suggestions
-(으)ㄹ까요 is fundamental for making polite suggestions and asking for opinions in Korean. Master this pattern to naturally propose activities, offer help, and involve others in decision-making.