What does 밥 먹었어 (bap meogeosseo) mean?
- 밥 먹었어bap meogeosseo
Did you eat?
Casual: friends and people younger than you
밥 먹었어 (bap meogeosseo) means "Did you eat?" in Korean. As a question, it is a caring, everyday greeting, close to "How are you?" Said as a statement, it means "I ate."
Where it comes from
밥 means cooked rice and, more broadly, a meal. 먹었어 is the casual past form of 먹다, "to eat." So it literally asks "Did you eat rice?"
How to use 밥 먹었어
Koreans ask it to show they care, so you do not need to give a detailed answer. 응, 먹었어 (yeah, I ate) or 아직 (not yet) is enough.
It is casual, for friends, partners and family. With older people, use 식사하셨어요? (Did you have your meal?) or 밥 먹었어요? with someone a bit older.
If someone says 아직 (not yet), the natural next line is 밥 먹자! (Let's eat!)
Examples
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Texting a friend at lunchtime
Calling mom after work
Answering the question
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 밥 먹었어요? | Did you eat? | Polite. |
| 식사하셨어요? | Have you eaten? | Respectful, for elders or bosses. |
| 진지 잡수셨어요? | Have you eaten? | Very honorific, for grandparents. |
| 밥 먹자 | Let's eat | Casual invitation. |
| 언제 밥 한번 먹자 | Let's grab a meal sometime | Friendly, often not a firm plan. |
Questions learners ask
Why do Koreans ask if you ate?
It is a way of showing care, a bit like "How are you?" It comes from times when having enough food was not guaranteed.
How do you say it to someone older?
Say 식사하셨어요? (siksahasyeosseoyo). For grandparents, 진지 잡수셨어요? is the most respectful.