-(으)ㄹ까요?
shall we? I wonder if
A question that turns inward or outward depending on the subject. With we it proposes; with anyone else it wonders aloud.
Build it
Pick a verb
When to use it
With we, it is a proposal that invites an answer: 같이 갈까요? Because it is a question rather than a decision, it is gentler than -(으)ㅂ시다 and safe with almost anyone.
With a third person or a situation, the same form becomes speculation: 내일 비가 올까요? (do you think it’ll rain?). Here you are not proposing anything, just thinking out loud and inviting an opinion.
Attachment is the standard rule, and ㄹ takes the short form: 만들다 gives 만들까요? For speculation about the past, the tense goes inside: 벌써 갔을까요?
How to attach it
| Stem type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ends in a vowel | -ㄹ까요? | 가다 → 갈까요? |
| Ends in a consonant | -을까요? | 먹다 → 먹을까요? |
| Ends in ㄹ | -까요? | 만들다 → 만들까요? |
| Proposal | subject is we | 같이 갈까요? |
| Speculation | third person | 비가 올까요? |
| Past speculation | -았/었을까요? | 벌써 갔을까요? |
In use
우리 같이 점심 먹을까요?
Shall we have lunch together?
주말에 영화 볼까요?
Shall we see a movie this weekend?
제가 도와드릴까요?
Shall I help you?
내일 비가 올까요?
Do you think it’ll rain tomorrow?
그 사람이 벌써 집에 갔을까요?
Do you think he’s already gone home?
이 음식이 매울까요?
Do you think this dish is spicy?
Compared with
-(으)ㅂ시다
A question leaves the decision open; -(으)ㅂ시다 announces it. Open with -(으)ㄹ까요? and switch once the other person agrees.
갈까요? (shall we?) / 갑시다. (let’s go)
-(으)ㄹ래요?
-(으)ㄹ래요? asks what the listener wants; -(으)ㄹ까요? asks what the two of you should do. The first is more casual and puts the choice entirely on them.
같이 갈까요? (shall we go together?) / 같이 갈래요? (do you want to come?)
-겠-
For speculation, -(으)ㄹ까요? asks the listener for their view; -겠어요 states your own on-the-spot impression.
맛있을까요? (do you think it’s good?) / 맛있겠어요. (that looks good)
Watch out
저녁을 만들을까요?
저녁을 만들까요?
Stems ending in ㄹ already supply it, so 을 is not added. Compare 만들 거예요 and 만들면, which behave the same way.
제가 먼저 갈까요. — as a decision
제가 먼저 갈게요.
This ending always asks. To announce what you have decided to do, use -(으)ㄹ게요.
그 사람이 벌써 갈까요?
그 사람이 벌써 갔을까요?
Speculation about something already finished needs the past inside the ending: -았/었을까요?
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