Korean for Offering to Bring Something: Asking "What Should I Bring?"
Learn elementary Korean phrases to ask what you can bring to a gathering, offer dessert or drinks, and respond politely when someone suggests an item.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you are invited to a Korean meal or gathering, offering to contribute something is a friendly and common move. This lesson teaches you how to ask what you can bring, suggest a specific item like dessert or drinks, and respond when someone tells you what is needed. You will use the polite -아/어요 style, which is safe for most everyday situations with acquaintances, coworkers, and friends you have just met. Focus on the patterns 뭐 가져갈까요? (What should I bring?) and 제가 디저트를 가져갈까요? (Should I bring dessert?). These questions put the decision in the other person's hands, which is often the most polite approach in Korean.
By the end, you can…
- ask what I should bring to a gathering using 뭐 가져갈까요?
- offer to bring a specific item such as dessert or drinks using 제가 ... 가져갈까요?
- respond politely when someone suggests what to bring, using 좋아요 or 알겠어요.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
뭐 가져갈까요?
What should I bring?
mwo ga-jyeo-gal-kka-yo?
A general, polite way to ask what contribution is needed. Use it after accepting an invitation.
제가 디저트를 가져갈까요?
Should I bring dessert?
je-ga di-jeo-teu-reul ga-jyeo-gal-kka-yo?
Offers a specific item. 제가 means 'I' as the doer, and 를 marks dessert as the object.
뭐가 필요해요?
What is needed?
mwo-ga pil-yo-hae-yo?
A direct but still polite way to ask what is needed. Useful when you want an open answer.
제가 음료수를 가져갈게요.
I will bring drinks.
je-ga eum-ryo-su-reul ga-jyeo-gal-ge-yo.
This is a statement of intention, not a question. Use it when you have decided to bring drinks.
좋아요, 그렇게 해 주세요.
That sounds good, please do that.
jo-a-yo, geu-reo-ke hae ju-se-yo.
A warm, polite response accepting someone's offer to bring something.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern -ㄹ까요? asks for the listener's opinion or suggestion. Attach it to a verb stem: 가져가다 (to bring/take) becomes 가져갈까요? (shall I bring?). With 제가, you make clear that you are the one offering. For example, 제가 디저트를 가져갈까요? means 'Shall I bring dessert?' This is softer than saying 'I will bring dessert' because it lets the other person decide. You can swap 디저트 for other items: 제가 음료수를 가져갈까요? (Shall I bring drinks?) or 제가 김치를 가져갈까요? (Shall I bring kimchi?).
When to use it
Use these questions when you have already accepted an invitation and want to contribute. They are appropriate with friends, coworkers, and acquaintances. If you are very close to the host, you can use the casual 반말 form 뭐 가져갈까? or 내가 디저트 가져갈까? But in most elementary-level situations, the -요 form is safer. If the host says 아무것도 안 가져와도 돼요 (You don't need to bring anything), you can still offer once more: 그래도 제가 뭐 좀 가져갈까요? (Still, should I bring something?).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
주말에 집들이에 초대해 주셔서 감사해요. 뭐 가져갈까요?
Thank you for inviting me to the housewarming this weekend. What should I bring?ju-mal-e jip-deu-ri-e cho-dae-hae ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-hae-yo. mwo ga-jyeo-gal-kka-yo?아무것도 안 가져와도 돼요. 그냥 오세요.
You don't need to bring anything. Just come.a-mu-geot-do an ga-jyeo-wa-do dwae-yo. geu-nyang o-se-yo.그래도 제가 디저트를 가져갈까요?
Still, should I bring dessert?geu-rae-do je-ga di-jeo-teu-reul ga-jyeo-gal-kka-yo?그럼, 케이크를 가져와 주시면 좋겠어요.
Then, it would be nice if you could bring a cake.geu-reom, ke-i-keu-reul ga-jyeo-wa ju-si-myeon jo-ke-sseo-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korean gatherings, it is common to offer to bring something even when the host says it is not necessary. A light second offer shows sincerity without being pushy. If the host names a specific item, accept with 알겠어요 (I understand) or 좋아요 (That sounds good). Bringing more than asked is not required; matching the host's suggestion is usually appreciated.
One thing to watch for
Using 가져오다 instead of 가져가다 when asking what to bring to someone else's place.
Try this instead: Use 가져가다 when you take something from your current place to another place. For example, 제가 디저트를 가져갈까요? means 'Shall I bring dessert (to your place)?' Use 가져오다 when someone brings something to where you are: 케이크를 가져와 주세요 means 'Please bring a cake (here).'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What should I bring?' politely in Korean?
Show a sample answer
뭐 가져갈까요?
This uses 뭐 (what) plus 가져갈까요? (shall I bring?). It is polite and appropriate for most everyday situations. 뭐 가져와도 돼요? is a different question meaning 'May I bring what?' and is less natural here.
2You want to offer to bring drinks. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
제가 음료수를 가져갈까요?
제가 marks you as the doer, 음료수 means drinks, and 를 marks the object. 가져갈까요? asks for the listener's opinion. You could also say 제가 음료수를 가져갈게요 if you have already decided.
3The host says 아무것도 안 가져와도 돼요. What is a polite reply that still offers to bring something?
Show a sample answer
그래도 제가 뭐 좀 가져갈까요?
그래도 means 'still' or 'nevertheless,' and 뭐 좀 means 'something.' This gently offers again without insisting. Another option is 그래도 제가 디저트를 가져갈까요? if you have a specific item in mind.
Ask 뭐 가져갈까요? to find out what to bring, and offer a specific item with 제가 ... 가져갈까요? Use 가져가다 when bringing something to someone else's place, and accept the host's answer politely with 좋아요 or 알겠어요.
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