In this workshop you will practice responding to a friendly invitation in Korean. You will hear and use recorded lines for accepting, declining, and suggesting another time. The focus is on choosing a suitable reply and keeping the order of the exchange clear. You can practice both roles, and you can check your work with the answer keys and self-checks provided.
Accepting an Invitation
When someone invites you, a simple acceptance can be enough. The recorded line «네, 좋아요.» means "Yes, that sounds good." It is a polite acceptance for acquaintances, coworkers, or people you just met. Another useful acceptance is «네, 갈게요.», which means "Yes, I'll go" or "Yes, I'll be there." Use «네, 갈게요.» when you are agreeing to attend an event. In a conversation, the invitation comes first, and your acceptance comes after it. For example, after you hear an invitation such as «내일 시간 있어요? 같이 저녁 먹어요.», you can reply with «네, 좋아요.» or «네, 갈게요.». Keep your tone warm and clear. If you are practicing with audio, pause after the invitation and say your chosen acceptance aloud.
Declining Politely
Sometimes you cannot accept. A polite refusal can start with an apology. The recorded line «미안하지만 못 가요.» means "I'm sorry, but I can't go." Another polite refusal is «죄송하지만 어려울 것 같아요.», which means "I'm sorry, but it looks difficult for me." These lines let you say no without sounding harsh. In a conversation, the invitation comes first, and your refusal comes after it. For example, after an invitation such as «내일 시간 있어요? 같이 저녁 먹어요.», you can reply with «미안하지만 못 가요.» or «죄송하지만 어려울 것 같아요.». If you want to explain briefly, you can add a simple reason, but the recorded lines above are enough for a polite refusal.
Rescheduling and Keeping the Order
If you decline but want to meet later, you can suggest another time. In the recorded exchange, speaker A invites with «내일 시간 있어요? 같이 저녁 먹어요.», which means "Do you have time tomorrow? Let's have dinner together." Speaker B declines with «미안하지만 내일은 어려울 것 같아요. 약속이 있어요.», which means "I'm sorry, but tomorrow seems difficult. I have plans." Then speaker A asks «아, 그래요? 그럼 다음 주는 어때요?», which means "Oh, really? Then how about next week?" Speaker B accepts with «네, 다음 주는 좋아요. 다음에 같이 해요.», which means "Yes, next week is good. Let's do it together next time." Notice the order: invitation, refusal, new suggestion, acceptance. When you practice, keep that order even if you swap roles.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
네, 좋아요.
Yes, that sounds good.
ne, joayo
네, 갈게요.
Yes, I'll go / I'll be there.
ne, galgeyo
미안하지만 못 가요.
I'm sorry, but I can't go.
mianhajiman mot gayo
죄송하지만 어려울 것 같아요.
I'm sorry, but it looks difficult for me.
joesonghajiman eoryeoul geot gatayo
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
내일 시간 있어요? 같이 저녁 먹어요.
Do you have time tomorrow? Let's have dinner together.미안하지만 내일은 어려울 것 같아요. 약속이 있어요.
I'm sorry, but tomorrow seems difficult. I have plans.아, 그래요? 그럼 다음 주는 어때요?
Oh, really? Then how about next week?네, 다음 주는 좋아요. 다음에 같이 해요.
Yes, next week is good. Let's do it together next time.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Accept or Decline
You will hear an invitation. Choose one recorded reply to accept or decline. Then check the answer key.
Your task: Listen to the invitation «내일 시간 있어요? 같이 저녁 먹어요.». If you want to accept, say «네, 좋아요.» or «네, 갈게요.». If you want to decline, say «미안하지만 못 가요.» or «죄송하지만 어려울 것 같아요.». Say your reply aloud once.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Matching Answer
You will read a short exchange and choose the reply that fits the situation. Use only the recorded lines.
Your task: Speaker A says «내일 시간 있어요? 같이 저녁 먹어요.». Speaker B wants to decline and give a reason. Which recorded line should Speaker B use: «미안하지만 못 가요.» or «미안하지만 내일은 어려울 것 같아요. 약속이 있어요.»? Then Speaker A asks «아, 그래요? 그럼 다음 주는 어때요?». Which recorded line should Speaker B use to accept: «네, 좋아요.» or «네, 다음 주는 좋아요. 다음에 같이 해요.»?
Recall with Correct Roles
You will rebuild the recorded exchange from memory. One learner can play both roles with audio.
Your task: Without looking at the lines, say the four parts in order: invitation, decline with reason, new suggestion, acceptance. Use the recorded lines «내일 시간 있어요? 같이 저녁 먹어요.», «미안하지만 내일은 어려울 것 같아요. 약속이 있어요.», «아, 그래요? 그럼 다음 주는 어때요?», and «네, 다음 주는 좋아요. 다음에 같이 해요.». Then swap roles and say the same four parts in the same order.
Common questions
Can I accept with «네, 좋아요.» after any invitation?
«네, 좋아요.» means "Yes, that sounds good." It is a polite acceptance for acquaintances, coworkers, or people you just met. It can follow an invitation such as «내일 시간 있어요? 같이 저녁 먹어요.». If you want to say you will be there, use «네, 갈게요.» instead. Both are suitable acceptances.
What if I want to decline but still meet later?
Use a polite refusal such as «미안하지만 못 가요.» or «죄송하지만 어려울 것 같아요.» first. If the other person suggests another time, as in «아, 그래요? 그럼 다음 주는 어때요?», you can accept with «네, 다음 주는 좋아요. 다음에 같이 해요.». This keeps the order: invitation, refusal, new suggestion, acceptance.
Sources and further reading
- korean: accepting and declining invitationsChecked September 2026
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