-자 (청유)

Build it

When to use it

Attach -자 to any action verb stem: 가자, 먹자, 하자. Nothing changes, and ㄹ stays: 만들자. The negative is -지 말자.

It is for close friends, siblings, and people clearly younger. With colleagues you would use -(으)ㅂ시다 or a question; with anyone senior, neither — you would ask with -(으)ㄹ까요?

Like all propositives it takes action verbs only. You cannot propose a state, so 좋자 does not exist.

One thing worth flagging now: this is also the form that reported suggestions are built on. 가자고 했어요 means “he suggested we go,” whatever politeness level the original used.

How to attach it

In use

1. 우리 같이 가자.

   Let’s go together.

2. 배고픈데 뭐 좀 먹자.

   I’m hungry — let’s get something to eat.

3. 오늘은 그냥 집에서 쉬자.

   Let’s just rest at home today.

4. 저녁은 우리가 만들자.

   Let’s make dinner ourselves.

5. 그 얘기는 오늘 하지 말자.

   Let’s not talk about that today.

6. 친구가 같이 가자고 했어요.

   My friend suggested we go together.

Compared with

• -(으)ㅂ시다

  Same meaning, different register. -자 is for friends; -(으)ㅂ시다 for colleagues and meetings. Neither works upward.

  같이 가자. (friends)  /  같이 갑시다. (colleagues)

• -(으)ㄹ까?

  A question leaves the decision open; -자 announces it. Among friends both are common, and -(으)ㄹ까 is the gentler opener.

  같이 갈까? (shall we?)  /  같이 가자. (let’s go)

• -자고 하다

  The reported form. Whatever ending the speaker originally used, a reported suggestion always comes out as -자고.

  같이 갑시다. → 같이 가자고 했어요.

Watch out

• 선생님, 같이 점심 먹자.

  선생님, 같이 점심 드실까요?

  -자 is used downward or between close equals. With anyone senior, ask with -(으)ㄹ까요? and use the honorific verb.

• 오늘 날씨가 좋자.

  오늘 날씨가 좋으면 좋겠다.

  You can propose an action but not a state. Adjectives cannot take a propositive ending.

• 그 얘기는 하지 않자.

  그 얘기는 하지 말자.

  Negative propositives are built on 말다, as are negative commands. 않다 cannot do this job.

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