Planning a quiet dinner with a friend | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: While making plans with a friend, two adults arrange a quiet dinner and choose familiar food at a calm place..

EN → KO / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Planning a quiet dinner with a friend to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

같이 저녁 먹을래요?

gah-CHEE juh-NYUK muh-gul-LEH-yoh Would you like to have dinner together?
B

좋아요. 조용한 저녁 식사가 좋을 것 같아요.

joh-AH-yoh. joh-yong-hahn juh-NYUK shik-SSAH-gah joh-ul guht-KKAH-tah-yoh I'd like that. A quiet dinner sounds nice.
A

제가 조용한 곳을 고를까요?

JEH-gah joh-yong-hahn goh-suhl goh-rul-KKAH-yoh Should I choose a calm place?
B

조용한 곳이면 이야기하기 좋을 것 같아요.

joh-yong-hahn goh-SHEE-myuhn ee-yah-gee-hah-GEE joh-ul guht-KKAH-tah-yoh Somewhere quiet would help us talk.
A

간단한 음식이 좋아요, 아니면 새로운 음식이 좋아요?

gahn-dahn-hahn uhm-SHEE-gee joh-AH-yoh, ah-nee-MYUHN seh-ROH-oon uhm-SHEE-gee joh-AH-yoh Do you prefer simple food or something new?
B

오늘 저녁에는 익숙한 음식을 고르고 싶어요.

oh-NUHL juh-NYUH-geh-neun eek-SSOO-kahn uhm-SHEE-guhl goh-ruh-goh SHEE-puh-yoh I would rather choose something familiar tonight.
A

제가 근처 식당에 자리를 예약할 수 있어요.

JEH-gah guhn-CHUH shik-TTAHNG-eh jah-REE-rul yeh-yah-KAHL ssoo ee-SSUH-yoh I can reserve a table at a nearby restaurant.
B

가능할 때 자세한 내용을 보내 주세요.

gah-NEUNG-hahl TTEH jah-SEH-hahn neh-YONG-uhl boh-NEH joo-SEH-yoh Please send me the details when you can.

Word by Word

같이 “같이” means together in “같이 저녁 먹을래요?”. It is placed before the action to show that the speaker wants to do it with the other person. Use it when inviting someone to do an activity together.
저녁 “저녁” means dinner in “같이 저녁 먹을래요?”. With 먹다, it refers to the evening meal rather than simply the time of evening. “저녁 먹다” is a common pattern for having dinner.
먹을래요 “먹을래요” asks whether someone would like to eat in “같이 저녁 먹을래요?”. It comes from 먹다 and uses a polite question form about willingness or intention. Use “같이 ... 먹을래요?” when inviting someone to eat together.
좋아요 “좋아요” means “sounds good” or shows agreement in this reply. Here, the speaker accepts the dinner idea before adding a preference for a quiet meal. Use it as a friendly positive response to a suggestion or plan.
조용한 “조용한” means quiet and describes the noun that follows it in “조용한 저녁 식사” and “조용한 곳”. It is the form of 조용하다 used before a noun. Use “조용한” with a place, meal, or other noun you want to describe as quiet.
식사가 “식사가” means “the meal” as the subject in “조용한 저녁 식사가 좋을 것 같아요”. 식사 means meal, and 가 marks it as what is being evaluated. Use a noun with 가 when presenting it as the subject of an opinion such as “...이/가 좋다”.
좋을 “좋을” means “would be good” in “좋을 것 같아요”. It is the form of 좋다 used before 것 to describe a possible or expected state. The pattern “좋을 것 같아요” is useful for giving a soft opinion about a plan or choice.
것 “것” means “thing” literally, but in “좋을 것 같아요” it turns the preceding idea into something that can be assessed. It helps form the expression meaning “seems like it would be good”; the whole expression, not 것 alone, gives that meaning. Use “... 것 같아요” to say that something seems or appears a certain way.
같아요 “같아요” expresses “it seems” or “I think” in “좋을 것 같아요”. It comes from 같다 and makes the opinion less direct or certain. Use “것 같아요” when giving a tentative view about a plan, situation, or possibility.
제가 “제가” means “I” as the person who will choose in “제가 조용한 곳을 고를까요?”. It is 저 with the subject marker 가. Use “제가 ... 할까요?” when offering to take responsibility for an action.
곳을 “곳을” means “a place” as the object in “조용한 곳을 고를까요?”. 곳 means place, and 을 marks the place as what will be chosen. Use a place noun with 을/를 when it is the object of an action such as choosing.
고를까요 “고를까요” means “shall I choose?” in “제가 조용한 곳을 고를까요?”. It comes from 고르다 and uses a polite question form that offers to do something. Use “...을/를 고를까요?” when asking whether you should choose an option.
곳이면 “곳이면” means “if it is a place” or “if the place is...” in “조용한 곳이면 이야기하기 좋을 것 같아요”. 곳 is followed by 이면 to set a condition. Use “...이면” after a noun when describing a condition or situation.
이야기하기 “이야기하기” means talking in “이야기하기 좋을 것 같아요”. It comes from 이야기하다 and presents talking as an activity that can be evaluated. Here, a quiet place is described as suitable for talking; use “...하기 좋다” for an activity that is easy or pleasant in a setting.
간단한 “간단한” means simple in “간단한 음식”. It is the form of 간단하다 used before a noun. Use “간단한” when describing food or another choice as uncomplicated or not elaborate.
음식이 “음식이” means “food” as the subject in “간단한 음식이 좋아요”. 음식 means food, and 이 marks it as what the speaker likes or prefers. Use “음식이 좋아요” to say that you like or prefer a type of food.
아니면 “아니면” means “or” when presenting an alternative in “간단한 음식이 좋아요, 아니면 새로운 음식이 좋아요?”. It connects the first choice with the second choice. Use the pattern “A 아니면 B” when asking someone to choose between two options.
새로운 “새로운” means new in “새로운 음식”. It is the form of 새롭다 used before a noun. Use “새로운” when describing food or another option that is new to the situation or person.
오늘 “오늘” means today in “오늘 저녁에는”. In this dinner-planning context, it points to the current day. Use it before a time expression to specify that an event is happening today.
저녁에는 “저녁에는” means “in the evening” or “at dinner tonight” in “오늘 저녁에는 익숙한 음식을 고르고 싶어요”. 저녁 is followed by 에는 to mark the time frame as the topic. Use “오늘 저녁에는” when setting a plan for tonight’s dinner.
익숙한 “익숙한” means familiar in “익숙한 음식을”. It is the form of 익숙하다 used before a noun. Use “익숙한” with food or another choice when it is already known or comfortable to the speaker.
음식을 “음식을” means “food” as the object in “익숙한 음식을 고르고 싶어요”. 음식 means food, and 을 marks it as what the speaker wants to choose. Use “음식을 고르다” when selecting food.
고르고 “고르고” means “choose and” in “음식을 고르고 싶어요”. It comes from 고르다 and connects the action of choosing to 싶어요. Use “...을/를 고르고 싶어요” to say that you want to choose something.
싶어요 “싶어요” expresses the speaker’s desire in “고르고 싶어요”, meaning “want to choose”. It follows the action form 고르고 to describe what the speaker wants to do. Use it when stating a personal wish or preference, such as choosing familiar food.
근처 “근처” means the nearby area in “근처 식당”. It describes a restaurant located close to the relevant place or people. Use “근처” before a place noun when talking about somewhere nearby.
식당에 “식당에” refers to the restaurant as the place connected with the reservation in “근처 식당에 자리를 예약할 수 있어요”. 식당 means restaurant, and 에 marks the place. Use a place plus 에 when connecting that place with an action such as making a reservation.
자리를 “자리를” means a seat or table as the object in “자리를 예약할 수 있어요”. 자리 can refer to the place or table reserved for someone, and 를 marks it as the object. “자리를 예약하다” is a useful pattern for booking a seat or table.
예약할 “예약할” means “reserve” in “자리를 예약할 수 있어요”. It comes from 예약하다 and is the form used before 수 in the ability expression. Use “자리를 예약할 수 있어요” to say that you can reserve a seat or table.
수 “수” is the element that expresses ability or possibility in “예약할 수 있어요”. It does not mean “ability” by itself here; its meaning comes from the construction with 예약할 and 있어요. Use “동사 + 을/ㄹ 수 있어요” to say that someone can do something.
있어요 “있어요” completes the ability expression in “예약할 수 있어요”, so the sentence means “I can reserve a table”. Here it expresses that an action is possible, not simply that something exists. Use “...할 수 있어요” to confirm that an action can be done.
가능할 “가능할” means “possible” in “가능할 때”. It comes from 가능하다 and is the form used before 때. Use “가능할 때” when saying that you will do something when it is possible or when you are able to do it.
때 “때” means “when” or “the time” in “가능할 때”. It follows the condition 가능할 to identify the time for the requested action. Use “...할 때” after a clause when describing when something happens.
자세한 “자세한” means detailed in “자세한 내용을”. It is the form of 자세하다 used before a noun. Use “자세한” when asking for or describing information that includes specific details.
내용을 “내용을” means the details or content as the object in “자세한 내용을 보내 주세요”. 내용 means content or information, and 을 marks it as what should be sent. Use “내용을 보내다” when sending information or details.
보내 “보내” means send in “보내 주세요”. It comes from 보내다 and connects the requested action to 주세요. Use “내용을 보내 주세요” when politely asking someone to send information.
주세요 “주세요” adds a polite request meaning to “보내” in “보내 주세요”, so the whole expression means “please send it”. In this sentence, it asks the friend to carry out the action politely. Use “동사 + 아/어 주세요” when asking someone to do something for you.

Grammar Points

동사 + -(으)ㄹ래요?

같이 저녁 먹을래요?

gah-CHEE juh-NYUK muh-gul-LEH-yoh

Would you like to eat dinner together?

A polite way to ask someone's willingness or suggest an action. Attach -(으)ㄹ래요 to a verb.

동사 + -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요

오늘 근처 식당에서 자리를 예약할 수 있어요.

oh-NUHL guhn-CHUH shik-TTAHNG-eh-suh jah-REE-rul yeh-yah-KAHL ssoo ee-SSUH-yoh

We can reserve a table at a nearby restaurant today.

Expresses ability or possibility. Attach -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요 to a verb.

Korean Vocabulary

간단하다 adj
gahn-dahn-HAH-dah be simple 간단한
같이 adv
gah-CHEE together
것 같다 phrase
guht-KKAH-tah seem; think 것 같아요
고르다 verb
goh-ruh-DAH choose 고를까요
곳 noun
GOHT place
먹다 verb
muhk-TTAH eat 먹을래요
식사 noun
shik-SSAH meal
음식 noun
uhm-SHIK food
이야기하다 verb
ee-yah-gee-HAH-dah talk 이야기하기
저녁 noun
juh-NYUK dinner
조용하다 adj
joh-yong-HAH-dah be quiet 조용한
좋다 adj
joh-TAH be good; like 좋아요

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Would you like to have dinner together?

Show Answer같이 저녁 먹을래요?

Should I choose a calm place?

Show Answer제가 조용한 곳을 고를까요?

Somewhere quiet would help us talk.

Show Answer조용한 곳이면 이야기하기 좋을 것 같아요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

choose

Show Answer고를까요

eat

Show Answer먹을래요

talk

Show Answer이야기하기

food

Show Answer음식