-(으)ㅂ시다
Let's
Use -ㅂ시다 to politely suggest 'Let's do something' in formal situations. It attaches to action verb stems.
How It Works
-ㅂ시다 is the formal and polite way to say "Let's..." in Korean. It's used to propose an action that the speaker and listener(s) will do together. This ending is commonly used in professional settings, public announcements, or when addressing a group of people respectfully.
Conjugation Rules:
1. If the verb stem ends in a vowel or the consonant ㄹ, you attach -ㅂ시다. For stems ending in ㄹ, the ㄹ is dropped first.
• 가다 (to go) → 가 + ㅂ시다 → 갑시다 (Let's go)
• 만들다 (to make) → 만드 + ㅂ시다 → 만듭시다 (Let's make)
2. If the verb stem ends in a consonant (except ㄹ), you attach -읍시다.
• 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 읍시다 → 먹읍시다 (Let's eat)
• 읽다 (to read) → 읽 + 읍시다 → 읽읍시다 (Let's read)
Usage Context:
This form is part of the formal polite speech style, often used with the -ㅂ/습니다 ending. It is generally used when speaking to superiors, colleagues in a formal setting, or an audience. It is not typically used with close friends or people younger than you, where the casual -자 would be more appropriate.
Examples (5)
- 회의를 시작합시다.
Let's start the meeting.
Word by Word: Meeting(object) start(let's).
- 점심 먹으러 갑시다.
Let's go to eat lunch.
Word by Word: Lunch to eat go(let's).
- 이제 저녁을 먹읍시다.
Let's eat dinner now.
Word by Word: Now dinner(object) eat(let's).
- 이 문제를 같이 해결합시다.
Let's solve this problem together.
Word by Word: This problem(object) together solve(let's).
- 내일 아침 일찍 만납시다.
Let's meet early tomorrow morning.
Word by Word: Tomorrow morning early meet(let's).
Common Mistakes
Using -ㅂ시다 with descriptive verbs (adjectives).
Not Quite우리 행복합시다.Better우리 행복하게 지냅시다.-ㅂ시다 can only be attached to action verbs. To express a similar meaning with a descriptive verb like 행복하다 (to be happy), you need to use a different structure, such as using the adverbial form with another verb, like '지내다' (to live, to get along).
Using -ㅂ시다 in casual situations with close friends.
Different Meaning(To a close friend) 우리 영화 봅시다.Better(To a close friend) 우리 영화 보자.-ㅂ시다 is formal and polite. Using it with close friends can sound distant or overly formal. The casual propositive form -자 is the natural choice for informal situations.
Incorrectly conjugating verbs ending in ㄹ.
Not Quite같이 만들읍시다.Better같이 만듭시다.For verb stems ending in the consonant ㄹ, you must drop the ㄹ and then add -ㅂ시다, not -읍시다. This is a common irregular pattern.
Learn This First
To use this 'let's' form, you need to understand verb conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -자As Soon as, Let's
This is the informal, casual equivalent of -ㅂ시다. Both mean 'Let's...', but -자 is used with friends and people of the same age or younger, while -ㅂ시다 is for formal or polite situations.
- -(으)ㄹ까Shall We, I Wonder
This is another way to make a suggestion, meaning 'Shall we...?'. It's less direct and more like asking for the other person's opinion, making it sound softer than -ㅂ시다, which is a more direct proposal.
- -(으)십시오Please Do
This is the formal command form ('Please do...'). While -ㅂ시다 is a proposal for a shared action ('Let's do...'), -(으)십시오 is a directive for the listener to perform an action. Both are part of the same formal speech level.
- -ㅂ/습니다Formal Polite Ending
This is the formal declarative/interrogative ending. -ㅂ시다 shares the same formal politeness level and follows similar consonant/vowel conjugation rules. Understanding -ㅂ/습니다 helps place -ㅂ시다 within the broader formal speech style.