Making a Suggestion with '자'

01

Formation Rules

This grammar point is very regular. To form a suggestion, simply remove the 다 (dadadata) from the dictionary form of the verb to get the stem, and attach 자 (jajajaca). This rule remains the same regardless of whether the verb stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.

• 가자!

  ga·ja!ga·ja!ga·ja!ka·ca!

  Let's go!

• 조금 쉬자.

  jo·gŭm swi·ja.jo·geum swi·ja.jo·gŭm shwi·ja.co·kum sui·ca.

  Let's rest a little.

• 여기 앉자.

  yŏ·gi an·jja.yeo·gi an·jja.yŏ·gi an·tcha.ye·ki an·cca.

  Let's sit here.

02

Social Context and Politeness

The -자 (-ja-ja-ja-ca) ending belongs to 반말 (ban·malban·malban·malpan·mal) (informal/casual speech). It indicates that the speaker and listener are close friends, or that the speaker is of equal or higher status than the listener.

You should use this form with:

• Close friends of the same age.
• People significantly younger than you (like children or younger siblings).
• Yourself (as a monologue, e.g., "Let's do this!").

Do not use this form with elders, teachers, strangers, or in business settings, as it will sound rude. In those formal situations, the ending -(으)ㅂ시다 (-(ŭ)p·si·da-(ŭ)p·si·da-(ŭ)p·si·da-(ŭ)p·si·ta) is used instead.

• 내일 보자.

  næ·il bo·ja.nae·il bo·ja.nae·il bo·ja.nay·il po·ca.

  Let's meet (see each other) tomorrow.

• 빨리 하자.

  bbal·li ha·ja.bbal·li ha·ja.ppal·li ha·ja.ppal·li ha·ca.

  Let's do it quickly.

03

Negative Suggestions

To suggest not doing something ("Let's not..."), you use the structure -지 말자 (-ji mal·ja-ji mal·ja-ji mal·ja-ci mal·ca). This is a combination of the negation ending -지 말다 (-ji mal·da-ji mal·da-ji mal·da-ci mal·ta) and the suggestion ending 자 (jajajaca).

• 가지 말자.

  ga·ji mal·ja.ga·ji mal·ja.ga·ji mal·ja.ka·ci mal·ca.

  Let's not go.

• 오늘은 운동하지 말자.

  o·nŭ·rŭn un·dong·ha·ji mal·ja.o·neu·reun un·dong·ha·ji mal·ja.o·nŭ·rŭn un·dong·ha·ji mal·ja.o·nu·lun un·tong·ha·ci mal·ca.

  Let's not exercise today.

• 그것을 사지 말자.

  gŭ·gŏ·sŭl sa·ji mal·ja.geu·geo·seul sa·ji mal·ja.gŭ·gŏ·sŭl sa·ji mal·ja.ku·ke·sul sa·ci mal·ca.

  Let's not buy that.