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Easy Korean - Level 6, Unit 14: Quoting Suggestions (-자고 하다)

So far we know how to quote statements (-다고) and questions (-냐고). Now we will learn how to quote a suggestion ("Let's...").

When someone says "Let's go," and you want to tell another person "He suggested that we go," you use -자고 하다.

How to Conjugate

Do you remember from Level 3 that the casual way to say "Let's" is -자? (e.g., 가자! = Let's go!). To quote this, you simply take that casual form and add -고 하다.

Action Verb Stem + -자고 하다

  • 가다 -> 가자고 하다 (To suggest going)
  • 먹다 -> 먹자고 하다 (To suggest eating)
  • 만나다 -> 만나자고 하다 (To suggest meeting)
  • 놀다 -> 놀자고 하다 (To suggest hanging out)

(Note: Adjectives cannot be used with -자고 하다 because you cannot say "Let's be tall" or "Let's be pretty").

Shortened Conversational Form

In spoken Korean, "-자고 해요" is shortened to -재요. * 같이 밥 먹자고 해요 -> 같이 밥 먹재요. (He suggests that we eat together.) * 영화 보자고 해요 -> 영화 보재요. (She suggests we watch a movie.)

Quoting "Let's not..." (-지 말자고 하다)

If someone suggests not doing something ("Let's not go"), you use the negative structure -지 말다. * 가지 말자고 하다 -> 가지 말재요. (He suggests we not go.) * 하지 말자고 하다 -> 하지 말재요. (She suggests we not do it.)

Example Sentences

  1. 지민 씨가 오늘 같이 저녁 먹자고 했어요. (Jimin suggested we eat dinner together today.)
  2. 친구가 이번 주말에 여행 가재요. (My friend suggests we go on a trip this weekend.)
  3. 너무 피곤하니까 오늘은 집에서 쉬자고 했어요. (Because we are too tired, I suggested we rest at home today.)