How to Offer Suggestions in Korean: Maybe You Should... / Have You Thought About...?
Learn to give supportive suggestions in Korean using -는 게 어때요? and -아/어 보는 건 어때요? with clear examples and a dialogue.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Offering a suggestion in Korean is different from offering help. When you say 'Maybe you should...' or 'Have you thought about...?' you are giving guidance, not doing the task for someone. Korean has several gentle patterns for this. The most useful for beginners are -는 게 어때요? (literally 'how about doing...?') and -아/어 보는 건 어때요? ('how about trying...?'). These are polite and supportive. This lesson teaches you to form them with common verbs, use the right politeness level, and avoid common mistakes. You will practice with real examples in Hangul and Revised Romanization.
By the end, you can…
- suggest an action to someone using -는 게 어때요?
- suggest trying something using -아/어 보는 건 어때요?
- respond supportively to a suggestion in Korean.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
지금 쉬는 게 어때요?
Maybe you should rest now? / How about resting now?
ji-geum swi-neun ge eo-ttae-yo?
Use with someone who looks tired. Polite and gentle. Literally 'how about the thing of resting now?'
내일 다시 해 보는 건 어때요?
Have you thought about trying again tomorrow?
nae-il da-si hae bo-neun geon eo-ttae-yo?
Suggests trying an action again later. The -아/어 보다 part means 'try doing'.
그 사람에게 물어보는 게 어때요?
Maybe you should ask that person?
geu sa-ra-me-ge mu-reo-bo-neun ge eo-ttae-yo?
Use when someone needs information. 물어보다 means 'ask (a person)'.
조금 더 기다리는 건 어때요?
How about waiting a little longer?
jo-geum deo gi-da-ri-neun geon eo-ttae-yo?
A soft suggestion to be patient. The -는 건 is a contraction of -는 것은.
한번 생각해 보는 게 어때요?
Maybe you should think about it once?
han-beon saeng-gak-hae bo-neun ge eo-ttae-yo?
Very common when giving advice. 한번 means 'once' or 'give it a try'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is verb stem + -는 게 어때요? For action verbs, add -는 게 어때요? to the stem. Example: 가다 (to go) → 가는 게 어때요? (How about going?). For 'try' suggestions, use verb stem + -아/어 보는 건 어때요? Example: 먹다 (to eat) → 먹어 보는 건 어때요? (How about trying eating it?). The difference is subtle: -는 게 어때요? suggests a general action; -아/어 보는 건 어때요? suggests trying something new or experimental. Both are polite and supportive.
When to use it
Use these patterns when someone shares a problem and you want to offer guidance without being pushy. For example, if a friend says 'I'm tired' (피곤해요), you can say 지금 쉬는 게 어때요? If a coworker is stuck, you can say 그 사람에게 물어보는 건 어때요? Avoid using these with people above you in age or status unless you add -요 and use a soft tone. For very close friends, you can drop -요: 지금 쉬는 게 어때? But for strangers or elders, keep -요. Also, these are suggestions, not commands. Do not use them when you need to give a direct order.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
요즘 너무 피곤해요.
These days I'm so tired.yo-jeum neo-mu pi-gon-hae-yo.그럼 오늘 일찍 자는 게 어때요?
Then maybe you should sleep early today?geu-reom o-neul il-jjik ja-neun ge eo-ttae-yo?그래도 할 일이 많아요.
But I have a lot to do.geu-rae-do hal i-ri ma-na-yo.그럼 내일 아침에 하는 건 어때요?
Then how about doing it tomorrow morning?geu-reom nae-il a-chi-me ha-neun geon eo-ttae-yo?A little context goes a long way
In Korean, suggestions are often softened with -ㄹ까요? or -는 게 어때요? to show respect and avoid sounding demanding. Using -어때요? without -요 can sound rude to strangers or elders. Also, Koreans may use '우리' (we) when suggesting joint action, e.g., 우리 쉬는 게 어때요? (How about we rest?). This is inclusive and friendly.
One thing to watch for
Using the plain command form -아/어 instead of the suggestion pattern. For example, saying 지금 쉬어 (Rest now) when you mean 'Maybe you should rest'.
Try this instead: Use -는 게 어때요? to make it a suggestion: 지금 쉬는 게 어때요? This is polite and supportive. The plain form is a direct command and can sound bossy.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you suggest 'Maybe you should drink some water?' using -는 게 어때요? (verb: 마시다 = to drink)
Show a sample answer
물을 마시는 게 어때요?
The verb stem 마시- + -는 게 어때요? gives a polite suggestion. You could also say 물을 마셔 보는 건 어때요? to emphasize trying.
2What is the difference between -는 게 어때요? and -아/어 보는 건 어때요?
Show a sample answer
-는 게 어때요? suggests a general action; -아/어 보는 건 어때요? suggests trying something new or experimental.
Both are suggestions, but the second includes the nuance of 'try'. For example, 가는 게 어때요? (How about going?) vs 가 보는 건 어때요? (How about trying going?).
3Change this command to a suggestion: 내일 다시 해. (Do it again tomorrow.)
Show a sample answer
내일 다시 해 보는 건 어때요?
Adding -아/어 보는 건 어때요? turns the command into a gentle suggestion. You could also say 내일 다시 하는 게 어때요? Both are correct.
Use -는 게 어때요? for general suggestions and -아/어 보는 건 어때요? for 'try' suggestions. Always keep the polite -요 ending with people you don't know well. These patterns let you give supportive guidance without sounding pushy.
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