How to say “Let's eat” in Korean
- 밥 먹자bap meokja
Let's eat
"Let's eat" in Korean is 밥 먹자 (bap meokja) with friends, or 같이 먹어요 (gachi meogeoyo) when you need to be polite. 밥 means rice, but here it just means a meal.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 밥 먹자 bap meokja | Casual | "Let's eat." The everyday way between friends, partners and family. |
| 먹자 meokja | Casual | Just "let's eat". Often said when the food arrives. |
| 같이 먹어요 gachi meogeoyo | Polite | "Let's eat together." Polite and friendly for coworkers or new acquaintances. |
| 밥 먹으러 가자 bap meogeureo gaja | Casual | "Let's go eat." For heading out to a restaurant with friends. |
| 식사하러 가요 siksahareo gayo | Polite | "Let's go have a meal." 식사 is a politer word for a meal, good with people older than you. |
| 먹읍시다 meogeupsida | Formal | Used by someone speaking to a group, like a boss to a team. Avoid it with elders, since it can sound bossy. |
Examples
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Calling a friend over when the food arrives
Inviting a coworker to lunch
Making late-night plans with friends
Tips
언제 밥 한번 먹자 (eonje bap hanbeon meokja), "let's grab a meal sometime", is often a friendly way to say goodbye rather than a real plan. If someone sets a date, then it's real.
밥 먹었어? (bap meogeosseo?, "did you eat?") is used almost like "how are you?" between friends and family.
Before eating, people say 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgesseumnida), especially when someone else is paying or cooked.
Questions learners ask
What does 밥 한번 먹자 mean?
It means "let's eat together sometime". It is often a polite way to keep in touch rather than a firm invitation.
How do you say "let's eat" to someone older?
Say 식사하러 가요 (siksahareo gayo), "let's go have a meal". At work, 식사하러 가시죠 (siksahareo gasijyo) is even more respectful.