Lesson 25 · Let’s Do It: -(으)ㅂ시다

Hyeju’s Beginner Korean Grammar Class · Lesson 25

Let’s Do It: -(으)ㅂ시다

Suggest a shared action with -(으)ㅂ시다, practice final ㄹ changes, and choose an invitation that fits the listener and situation.

Beginner · Level 2Learn · Practice · Review

Introduction & Review

A group leader may suggest starting an activity with -(으)ㅂ시다: “Let’s ….” The speaker joins the activity. Compare the gentler invitation from Lesson 24, -(으)ㄹ까요?, which asks for agreement.

N = noun; V = action verb; A = descriptive verb. Romanization is a reading aid.

Today’s Grammar / Explanation

After a vowel, add ㅂ시다: 가다 → 갑시다; 하다 → 합시다. After a consonant, add 읍시다: 먹다 → 먹읍시다.

A final ㄹ drops: 만들다 → 만듭시다; 놀다 → 놉시다. This differs from 만들까요 in Lesson 24.

Common irregulars before 으: 듣다 → 들읍시다; 걷다 → 걸읍시다. Learn these useful pairs with their dictionary forms.

Examples

같이 점심을 먹읍시다.gachi jeomsimeul meogeupsidaLet’s have lunch together.

지금 시작합시다.jigeum sijakapsidaLet’s start now.

공원에서 걸읍시다.gongwoneseo georeupsidaLet’s walk in the park.

같이 음식을 만듭시다.gachi eumsigeul mandeupsidaLet’s make food together.

잠깐 쉽시다.jamkkan swipsidaLet’s take a short break.

네, 같이 연습합시다.ne, gachi yeonseupapsidaYes, let’s practice together.

Compare with similar grammar

LESSON 24

-(으)ㄹ까요?

같이 점심 먹을까요?

A softer suggestion that asks for the listener’s opinion. Safer with older people.

Review Lesson 24 →

LESSON 34

-(으)세요

여기 앉으세요.

-(으)세요 asks the listener to do something. -(으)ㅂ시다 includes the speaker too: “let’s”.

Look ahead: Lesson 34 →

LESSON 40

-(으)십시오

한 줄로 서십시오.

A formal instruction to others; the speaker doesn’t join in.

Look ahead: Lesson 40 →

LESSON 47

-자

내일 같이 영화 보자.

The casual “let’s”, for close friends.

Look ahead: Lesson 47 →

Pattern	Who does it?	Style	Example
-(으)ㅂ시다	We (speaker + listeners)	Formal-sounding	갑시다
-(으)ㄹ까요?	We (asking)	Everyday polite	갈까요?
-(으)세요	You	Everyday polite	가세요
-(으)십시오	You	Formal	가십시오

Mini Dialogue

A: 지금 시작합시다.
jigeum sijakapsida · Let’s start now.

B: 네, 같이 연습합시다.
ne, gachi yeonseupapsida · Yes, let’s practice together.

A: 잠깐 쉽시다.
jamkkan swipsida · Let’s take a short break.

B: 좋아요.
joayo · Sounds good.

Common mistakes

This form is grammatically polite but can sound directive. With a teacher, customer, or unfamiliar senior, 같이 …-(으)ㄹ까요? is often a more considerate invitation. Do not use -(으)ㅂ시다 for an instruction that only the listener will perform.

같이 먹ㅂ시다.같이 먹읍시다.

먹 ends in a consonant, so add 읍시다.

같이 가읍시다.같이 갑시다.

가 ends in a vowel, so ㅂ goes under it: 갑시다.

같이 놀읍시다.같이 놉시다.

Stems ending in ㄹ drop the ㄹ: 놀다 → 놉시다.

(선생님께) 선생님, 같이 점심 먹읍시다.(선생님께) 선생님, 같이 점심 드실까요?

-(으)ㅂ시다 can sound like an order to someone older. Use -(으)ㄹ까요? (and 드시다 instead of 먹다).

Mini practice · six questions

All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.

Fill in the blank시간이 없어요. 빨리 ______. (가다)
Check answer
시간이 없어요. 빨리 갑시다.
가 + ㅂ시다 → 갑시다. “We don’t have time. Let’s hurry.”
Fill in the blank많이 걸었어요. 여기에서 잠깐 ______. (쉬다)
Check answer
여기에서 잠깐 쉽시다.
쉬 + ㅂ시다 → 쉽시다.
Choose the correct form자, 모두 같이 노래를 (부릅시다 / 부르읍시다).
Check answer
부릅시다
부르 ends in a vowel → 부릅시다.
Choose the better form(회의에서) 그럼 다음 주에 다시 (만납시다 / 만나자).
Check answer
만납시다
In a meeting, the polite -(으)ㅂ시다 fits. 만나자 is casual.
Find and fix the mistake좀 더워요. 창문을 열읍시다.
Check answer
좀 더워요. 창문을 엽시다.
열다 is an ㄹ-stem: drop ㄹ → 엽시다.
Say it in KoreanLet’s speak only Korean from today.
Check answer
오늘부터 한국어로만 말합시다.
한국어로만 = (으)로 + 만. 말하다 → 말합시다.

Today’s Key Point

The speaker joins the suggested activity.

Vowel + ㅂ시다; consonant + 읍시다; final ㄹ drops.

Consider the listener: -(으)ㄹ까요? is often a gentler invitation.

Hyeju Yoo

M.A. in Korean Language Education · Certified Korean language teacher

About the educator →