-자
-ja
let's (do)
A plain, low-register sentence-final ending used to propose doing something together with the listener, equivalent to English 'let's...'
Form
- Attaches to
- Verb, 이다, Auxiliary
Meanings
- 1
(formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to indicate the suggestion to do a certain act together.
(아주낮춤으로) 어떤 행동을 함께 하자는 뜻을 나타내는 종결 어미.
※ 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.
Examples
지수야, 너 잠깐 나 좀 보자.
Jisu, let's talk for a moment.
수업 시간인데 좀 조용히 하자.
It's class time, so let's be quiet.
날씨도 좋은데 가까운 곳으로 소풍을 가자.
The weather's nice, so let's go on a picnic somewhere nearby.
오늘은 서로 바쁘니까 우리 내일 만나자.
We're both busy today, so let's meet tomorrow.
우리 서로에게 상처를 주는 말은 하지 말자.
Let's not say hurtful things to each other.
너희끼리만 자꾸 마시지 말고 나도 좀 같이 마시자.
Don't keep drinking just among yourselves -- let me join in too.
Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.
Don’t confuse with
Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.
Quick check
1. What does ‘-자’ mean?
2. Which form means “let's (do)”?