Explanation
Suggestion. "Shall we? / Want to?"
Examples
갈까요?
gal-kka-yo?
Shall we go?
먹을까요?
meo-geul-kka-yo?
Shall we eat?
-(으)ㄹ까요: complete usage guide
Suggestion or wonder.
같이 갈까요?
Start with “갈까요?” (Shall we go?). Say the whole sentence first, then identify exactly what -(으)ㄹ까요 contributes before changing any other words.
Compare “먹을까요?” with “시작할까요?”. Keep the function of -(으)ㄹ까요 the same while noticing what changes around it; then rebuild one of the examples with vocabulary you already know.
Usage notes
- Production check: say “갈까요?” naturally, then change one content word without changing the job -(으)ㄹ까요 is doing.
- When a related pattern is listed below, compare both forms in the same situation instead of memorizing two English glosses separately.
More examples
갈까요?
Shall we go?
먹을까요?
Shall we eat?
시작할까요?
Shall we start?
Common mistakes
- Do not choose -(으)ㄹ까요 only because an English translation contains “shall we / I wonder”. Check the Korean function, attachment, and speech level in the full sentence.
- Do not memorize -(으)ㄹ까요 as an isolated ending. Mark the stem or phrase it attaches to in one example, then rebuild that example with new vocabulary.
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