How to Invite Someone in Korean: Polite and Casual Invitation Phrases
Learn to invite friends, colleagues, and acquaintances to events in Korean using polite and casual forms, plus how to respond when someone is unsure.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Inviting someone in Korean means choosing a verb ending that matches your relationship and the situation. The core pattern is the suggestion ending -(으)ㄹ래요? for casual invitations and -(으)시겠어요? or -(으)실래요? for polite ones. You also need a way to name the event, the time, and the place. This lesson gives you ready-made invitation lines, a pattern you can adapt to any activity, and phrases for when the other person says they are not sure yet. It does not cover accepting or declining, so you can focus only on making the invitation clearly and politely.
By the end, you can…
- invite a friend or close colleague to an activity using a casual Korean suggestion ending.
- invite a superior, teacher, or new acquaintance using a polite Korean invitation form.
- ask whether someone is free and name the time and place of an event.
- respond helpfully when someone gives a tentative answer such as 'maybe' or 'I'm not sure'.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
같이 갈래요?
Do you want to go together?
ga-chi gal-lae-yo?
Casual invitation to a friend or someone close in age. Use with an activity verb such as 가다 (to go), 먹다 (to eat), 보다 (to watch).
주말에 시간 있어요?
Do you have time on the weekend?
ju-ma-re si-gan i-sseo-yo?
A gentle way to check availability before naming the event. Replace 주말에 with a specific day or time.
토요일에 같이 영화 볼래요?
Do you want to watch a movie together on Saturday?
to-yo-il-e ga-chi yeong-hwa bol-lae-yo?
A complete casual invitation with day, activity, and together. The ending -ㄹ래요? is common in everyday speech.
선생님, 혹시 시간 괜찮으시면 같이 저녁 드시겠어요?
Teacher, if you happen to have time, would you like to have dinner together?
seon-saeng-nim, hok-si si-gan gwaen-chan-eu-si-myeon ga-chi jeo-nyeok deu-si-get-sseo-yo?
Polite invitation to a superior or someone you respect. 혹시 softens the request, and -시겠어요? raises the politeness level.
이번 주 금요일에 모임이 있는데, 오실 수 있으세요?
There is a gathering this Friday; would you be able to come?
i-beon ju geum-yo-il-e mo-i-mi it-neun-de, o-sil su i-sseu-se-yo?
Formal invitation for a meeting or event. The -는데 ending gives background, and -실 수 있으세요? asks about possibility politely.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The most useful invitation pattern is [time] + [place/person] + 같이 + [verb stem] + -(으)ㄹ래요? For example, 토요일에 같이 영화 볼래요? means 'Do you want to watch a movie together on Saturday?' The verb stem 보다 becomes 볼래요? because the stem ends in a vowel. If the stem ends in a consonant, use -을래요?, as in 먹을래요? from 먹다. For polite invitations, use -(으)시겠어요? with a respectful subject: 드시겠어요? means 'Would you like to eat?' This pattern works for almost any activity, so learn the frame rather than memorizing single sentences.
When to use it
Use -(으)ㄹ래요? with friends, close coworkers, and people clearly younger than you. It is friendly but not rude. Use -(으)시겠어요? or -(으)실래요? with teachers, bosses, older relatives, and new acquaintances. If you are unsure, choose the polite form; it is safer. You can also add 혹시 (by any chance) to make the invitation feel less direct: 혹시 토요일에 시간 있으세요? This is helpful when inviting someone you do not know well. Always include a clear time and activity so the other person can answer easily.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
민수 씨, 이번 주말에 시간 있어요?
Minsu, do you have time this weekend?min-su ssi, i-beon ju-ma-re si-gan i-sseo-yo?주말이요? 글쎄요, 아직 잘 모르겠어요.
The weekend? Well, I'm not sure yet.ju-ma-ri-yo? geul-sse-yo, a-jik jal mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo.그럼 토요일 오후에 같이 등산 갈래요?
Then do you want to go hiking together Saturday afternoon?geu-reom to-yo-il o-hu-e ga-chi deung-san gal-lae-yo?토요일 오후요? 네, 가능할 것 같아요.
Saturday afternoon? Yes, I think that will be possible.to-yo-il o-hu-yo? ne, ga-neung-hal geot ga-ta-yo.A little context goes a long way
Korean invitations often begin with a question about availability rather than a direct request. Asking 시간 있어요? first gives the other person room to answer without pressure. With superiors, using title plus -시- forms, such as 선생님, 오실 수 있으세요?, shows respect. Age and workplace hierarchy strongly affect which ending feels natural, so when in doubt, use the more polite form.
One thing to watch for
Using the casual ending -(으)ㄹ래요? with a boss or teacher because it is shorter and easier.
Try this instead: Use a polite form such as -(으)시겠어요? or -실 수 있으세요? with superiors. For example, say 선생님, 같이 저녁 드시겠어요? instead of 선생님, 같이 저녁 먹을래요? The polite form respects the listener's status and is safer in formal situations.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you casually invite a close friend to eat lunch together tomorrow?
Show a sample answer
내일 같이 점심 먹을래요?
This uses 내일 (tomorrow), 같이 (together), and the casual invitation ending -을래요? because 먹다 has a consonant stem. Other valid answers include 내일 같이 점심 먹을래? without 요 for a very close friend.
2How would you politely ask a teacher whether they can come to an event on Friday?
Show a sample answer
선생님, 금요일에 오실 수 있으세요?
This uses the honorific verb form 오시다 and the polite possibility question -실 수 있으세요? It is appropriate for a teacher or superior. You could also say 금요일에 오시겠어요? with a similar polite meaning.
3Someone answers 글쎄요, 아직 잘 모르겠어요. What can you say to keep the invitation open without pressuring them?
Show a sample answer
알겠습니다. 생각해 보시고 알려 주세요.
This acknowledges the tentative answer and asks them to let you know later. It uses polite -시- and does not force a decision. A casual alternative is 알겠어. 생각해 보고 알려 줘.
Learn the frame [time] + 같이 + [verb] + -(으)ㄹ래요? for casual invitations and -(으)시겠어요? for polite ones, and always check availability before naming the event.
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