-(으)ㄹ까
Shall We, I Wonder
-ㄹ까 is used to ask 'Shall we...?' or to say 'I wonder if...'.
How It Works
-ㄹ까 is a versatile sentence ending with two main meanings: making a suggestion or expressing speculation/wonder. It attaches directly to verb stems.
Conjugation:
- If the verb stem ends in a vowel or the consonant ㄹ, add -ㄹ까.
- 가다 (to go) → 갈까?
- 만들다 (to make) → 만들까? (The ㄹ is not dropped) - If the verb stem ends in a consonant (other than ㄹ), add -을까.
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹을까?
- 찾다 (to find) → 찾을까?
Usage 1: Suggestion ('Shall we...?')
This is a gentle and common way to suggest doing an activity together. It's a question, inviting the listener's agreement. The polite form is -ㄹ까요?.
- Example: 우리 커피 마실까? (Shall we drink coffee?)
- This is softer than a direct proposal like -ㅂ시다 (Let's...) or -자 (Let's... - casual).
Usage 2: Wondering ('I wonder if...')
This is used when the speaker is thinking aloud, pondering a question, or speculating about a situation. It can be a question to oneself or a way to ask for the listener's opinion on an uncertain matter.
- Example: 시험이 어려울까? (I wonder if the test will be difficult?)
- It can be used with question words (뭐, 언제, 어디, 누가, etc.) to wonder about specifics.
- Example: 이 시간에 버스가 아직 있을까? (I wonder if the bus is still running at this hour?)
Tense:
To wonder about a past event, you can add the past tense marker -았/었- before -을까.
- Example: 그 사람이 시험에 합격했을까? (I wonder if that person passed the exam?)
This pattern is also used with many irregular verbs, such as 듣다 (들을까) and 덥다 (더울까).
Examples (5)
- 저녁으로 뭐 먹을까요?
What shall we eat for dinner?
Word by Word: For dinner what shall eat?
This is a common way to make a suggestion by asking a question. The polite ending -요 is added to -ㄹ까.
- 주말에 같이 영화 볼까?
Shall we watch a movie together this weekend?
Word by Word: On the weekend together movie shall watch?
A casual suggestion made between friends.
- 내일 날씨가 좋을까?
I wonder if the weather will be good tomorrow.
Word by Word: Tomorrow weather will be good?
Here, -ㄹ까 is used to express wonder or speculation about the future.
- 그 사람이 왜 화가 났을까?
I wonder why that person got angry.
Word by Word: That person why angry became?
This shows -ㄹ까 used with a question word (왜) and the past tense marker (-았/었-) to wonder about a past event.
- 이 길이 맞을까?
I wonder if this is the right way.
Word by Word: This road is right?
A question to oneself, expressing uncertainty.
Common Mistakes
Confusing -ㄹ까 (I wonder/shall we) with -ㄹ게 (I will).
Different Meaning제가 창문을 닫을까.Better제가 창문을 닫을게요.-ㄹ까 is a question or a self-musing. '제가 창문을 닫을까?' means 'I wonder if I should close the window?' or 'Shall I close the window?'. To state your intention to do something for the listener, you should use -ㄹ게(요), which means 'I will close the window.'
Using it with adjectives to make a suggestion.
Different Meaning우리 행복할까?Better우리 영화 볼까?When making suggestions, -ㄹ까 is used with action verbs (e.g., 보다, 먹다, 가다). Using it with a descriptive verb (adjective) like 행복하다 changes the meaning to 'I wonder if...'. So, '우리 행복할까?' means 'I wonder if we will be happy?', which is a philosophical question, not a practical suggestion like 'Shall we watch a movie?'.
Learn This First
To use this suggestion/wondering pattern, you need conjugation and question knowledge.
Related Patterns
- -(으)ㅂ시다Let's
Both are used for suggestions. However, -ㄹ까(요)? is a question inviting agreement, making it a softer suggestion. -ㅂ시다 is a more direct, statement-like proposal ('Let's do...').
- -자As Soon as, Let's
-자 is the informal, casual equivalent of -ㅂ시다. Like -ㅂ시다, it's a direct proposal ('Let's...'), whereas '-ㄹ까?' is a question ('Shall we...?') and is generally considered a gentler way to suggest something even among friends.
- -(으)ㄹ래Going to, Will
When used as a question, -ㄹ래요? can also be a suggestion, similar to -ㄹ까요?. However, -ㄹ래요? focuses more on the listener's preference or intention ('Do you want to...?'). -ㄹ까요? is more about proposing a joint action ('Shall we...?').
- -ㄴ가/나I Wonder, Is It?
Both can mean 'I wonder'. -ㄴ가/나 보다 is used for speculating based on some observation ('It seems/I guess...'). When used alone, '-ㄴ가(요)?' is very similar to the 'wondering' meaning of -ㄹ까(요)?, expressing the speaker's internal question or curiosity.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.