When you want to suggest doing something together in English, you naturally say “Let’s…” right?
Well, in Korean, there’s an incredibly easy shortcut for this, and mastering Casual Korean (반말) is the best way to connect with your friends.
Why “~자” and “~라” Matter So Much
한국어에서 존댓말이랑 반말 차이는 그냥 “예의”의 문제가 아니야.
In Korean, the difference between formal and casual speech isn’t just about “politeness.”
“~자”랑 “~라”는 두 개의 짧은 음절이지만, 이 한 글자 차이가 상대랑 얼마나 가까운지를 그대로 보여줘.
“~자” and “~라” are just single syllables, but that one syllable reveals exactly how close you feel to the person you’re talking to.
이 글은 초급~중급 학습자를 위한 거야. 친구한테 “같이 하자”고 제안하는 법(“~자”)이랑 장난스럽게 명령하는 법(“~라”)을 다뤄.
This article is for beginner-to-intermediate learners, covering how to suggest doing something together with a friend (“~자”) and how to playfully command someone (“~라”).
다 읽고 나면, 친구랑 약속 잡거나 장난칠 때 훨씬 자연스럽게 반말 쓸 수 있을 거야.
By the end, you’ll be able to use casual speech much more naturally when making plans with friends or joking around.
A Common Mistake to Avoid
“~자”는 친한 친구나 동갑, 손아랫사람한테만 써야 돼. 처음 만난 사람이나 나이 많은 사람한테 “가자!”라고 하면 무례하게 들려 — 이럴 땐 “갈까요?”처럼 존댓말로 제안해야 해.
“~자” should only be used with close friends, people your age, or those younger than you. Saying “가자!” to someone you just met or someone older sounds rude — in that case, you should suggest with formal speech, like “갈까요?”
“~라”는 훨씬 더 조심해야 돼. 이건 명령조라서, 아무리 친한 사이여도 진지한 상황에서 쓰면 다투는 것처럼 들릴 수 있어. 장난스러운 톤이랑 상황에서만 안전하게 쓸 수 있어.
“~라” needs even more caution. It’s a command form, so even among close friends, using it in a serious situation can sound like you’re picking a fight. It’s only safe to use in a clearly playful tone and context.
1. “~자” — Let’s…
이런 캐주얼한 제안들은 거의 다 / 마법의 글자 하나로 끝나: “자”! / 엄청 간단한데 효과는 최고야.
Almost all of these casual suggestions end with just one magic letter: “자”! / It’s super simple but highly effective.
진짜 현지 친구처럼 말하고 싶다면, / 이 “~자” 패턴이 제일 먼저 마스터해야 할 거야.
If you want to talk like a real local friend, / this “~자” pattern is the absolute first thing you should master.
#Do_you_Want_to #Learn_Korean #하자 #먹자 #자자
🏃♂️ Action
| 한국어 | 영어 뜻 |
|---|---|
| 가자! | Let’s go! |
| 하자! | Let’s do it! |
| 보자! | Let’s meet! / Let’s see! |
| 그러자! | Let’s do that! / Sounds like a plan! |
| 해보자! | Let’s give it a try! / Let’s do it! |
🍔 Food and Drinks
| 한국어 | 영어 뜻 |
|---|---|
| 먹자! | Let’s eat! |
| 마시자! | Let’s drink! |
| 사자! | Let’s buy (food/coffee)! |
🛌 Rest and Fun
| 한국어 | 영어 뜻 |
|---|---|
| 자자! | Let’s sleep! / Let’s go to bed! |
| 쉬자! | Let’s take a break! / Let’s rest! |
| 놀자! | Let’s hang out! / Let’s play! |
✍️ Work and Study
| 한국어 | 영어 뜻 |
|---|---|
| 보자! | Let’s check it out! / Let’s read! |
| 쓰자! | Let’s write! |
| 듣자! | Let’s listen! |
💡 문법 노트: “~자”는 동사 어간에 붙어서 / 캐주얼하고 다정한 제안으로 바꿔줘 — / 영어의 “Let’s…”에 해당하는 한국어야.
Grammar Note: “~자” attaches to a verb stem to turn it into a casual, friendly suggestion — / the Korean equivalent of “Let’s…” in English.
친한 친구나 / 나보다 어리거나 동갑인 사람한테만 써.
It’s only for close friends or people younger/same age as you.
2. “~라” — Do It! (Direct Command)
“~자”가 다정한 “Let’s…”였다면, / 이건 직접적인 명령이야 — / “이거 해!”나 “거기 가!” 같은 느낌이지.
While “~자” was a friendly “Let’s…”, / this one is a direct command — think “Do this!” or “Go there!”
⚠️ 주의사항: 이건 아주 강하고 명령조로 들려. / 제일 친한 친구랑 장난칠 때나, / 나보다 어린 사람한테만 써야 해.
Word of Caution: This sounds very strong and commanding. / Only use it with your absolute best friends when joking around, or with someone younger than you.
상사나 어른한테 이 말을 쓰면, / 눈썹이 확 올라가는 반응을 볼 거야! 😲🚫
If you say this to your boss or an elder, you’ll definitely get some raised eyebrows! 😲🚫
🏃♂️ Action
| 한국어 | 영어 뜻 |
|---|---|
| 가라! | Go! |
| 해라! | Do it! |
| 와라! | Come here! |
| 봐라! | Look! / Watch! |
| 앉아라! | Sit down! |
| 거기 서라! 🚨 | Stop right there! |
| 줘라! | Give it to me! |
| 가져라! | Take it! / Keep it! |
🍔 Food and Drinks
| 한국어 | 영어 뜻 |
|---|---|
| 먹어라! | Eat! |
| 마셔라! | Drink! |
| 사라! | Buy it! |
| 팔아라! | Sell it! |
🛌 Rest and Fun
| 한국어 | 영어 뜻 |
|---|---|
| 자라! | Go to sleep! |
| 쉬어라! | Take a rest! |
| 씻어라! 🚿 | Wash up! / Go take a shower! |
✍️ Work and Study
| 한국어 | 영어 뜻 |
|---|---|
| 써라! | Write it! |
| 들어라! | Listen! |
| 읽어라! 📚 | Read it! |
🚨 현지인의 강력 경고: 명령조라서, / 낯선 사람, 직장 동료, / 나보다 나이 많은 사람한테는 절대 쓰면 안 돼.
A Big Warning from a Local: Being commanding, you should NEVER use this with strangers, coworkers, or anyone older than you.
그래도 정말 써보고 싶다면, / 톤을 부드럽고 장난스럽게 유지하고, / 제일 친한 친구나 “동생”(나보다 어린 사람)한테만 말해봐.
If you really want to try it, keep your tone soft and playful, / and only say it to your best friends or a “동생” (someone younger).
마셔라 부어라1
Closing Thoughts
“~자”(같이 하자)랑 “~라”(해! 명령)는 한 글자 차이지만 뉘앙스는 완전히 달라.
“~자” (let’s do it together) and “~라” (do it! — a command) differ by just one syllable, but the nuance is completely different.
이 차이를 알면, 친구들이랑 훨씬 자연스럽고 재밌게 대화할 수 있어.
Understanding this difference lets you talk with friends far more naturally and playfully.
연습 방법: 오늘 배운 표현 중 하나를 친한 친구한테 실제로 써봐. 카카오톡으로 “오늘 저녁에 밥 먹자!”처럼 문자 보내보는 것도 좋은 연습이 돼.
Practice Tip: Try actually using one of today’s expressions with a close friend. Sending a text like “오늘 저녁에 밥 먹자!” (let’s eat dinner tonight!) over KakaoTalk is also great practice.
Hear It in a Song
이제 두 패턴을 다 알았으니, / 아래 노래에서 잘 들어봐 — / 들으면서 “~자”(Let’s)랑 “~라”(명령)가 / 정확히 어디서 나오는지 찾아볼 수 있는지 봐라!
Now that you know both patterns, listen for them in this song below — / see if you can catch exactly where “~자” (Let’s) and “~라” (Command) show up as you listen!
저작권 문제로 전체 가사는 옮길 수 없지만, / 대략적인 내용은 이래: / 내일 걱정은 잠시 내려놓고, / 지금 이 순간을 만끽하며 / 오늘 밤 친구들과 즐겁게 노는 걸 노래하는 / 신나는 회식/축하 분위기의 곡이야 — / 딱 “~자”랑 “~라”가 함께 자연스럽게 나오는 / 캐주얼하고 에너지 넘치는 상황이지.
I can’t reproduce the full lyrics here for copyright reasons, / but here’s the gist: the song is an upbeat drinking/celebration anthem about letting go of tomorrow’s worries, / living fully in the moment, / and having fun with friends tonight — / which is exactly the kind of casual, high-energy context / where “~자” and “~라” naturally show up together.
아래 영상을 재생하고, / 노래하는 동안 이 패턴들을 잡아보려고 해봐라!
Turn on the video below and try to catch them as they sing!
Key Expressions Cheat Sheet
| Pattern | Meaning | Formality Level | Who to Use It With |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~자 | Let’s… | Casual and friendly | Friends, close peers |
| ~라 | Do it! (command) | Very casual and blunt | Best friends only (joking), or someone younger |
노래 가사처럼, / 오늘 밤은 모든 걱정을 잊고 / 한국어 공부를 즐겨보자!
Just like the song lyrics, let’s forget all our worries tonight and enjoy learning Korean!
오늘 배운 마법의 글자들을 기억해라.
Remember the magic letters we learned today.
상사나 어르신 앞에서는 꼭 조심하는 것 잊지 마라!
Don’t forget to be extra careful around your boss or elders!
💡 Once casual speech feels natural, it might be time to formally certify your Korean ability. Check out our Complete TOPIK Guide for everything from registration to level-specific study methods.
다음에 보자!
See you next time!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use “~자” with someone I just met?
아니요, “~자”는 친한 친구나 동갑, 나보다 어린 사람한테만 써야 해요 — / 처음 만난 사이라면 “갈까요?”처럼 존댓말로 제안하는 게 안전해요.
No, “~자” should only be used with close friends, people your age, or those younger than you — / with someone you just met, it’s safer to suggest with polite speech like “갈까요?”
Is “~라” ever safe to use with a stranger?
아니요, 절대 안 돼요 — “~라”는 명령조라서 낯선 사람이나 윗사람한테 쓰면 무례하게 들려요.
No, never — “~라” is a command form, and using it with strangers or elders comes across as rude.
What’s the difference between “~자” and “~라” in one sentence?
“~자”는 “같이 하자”는 다정한 제안이고, “~라”는 “해!”라는 직접적인 명령이에요.
“~자” is a friendly suggestion meaning “let’s do it together,” while “~라” is a direct command meaning “do it!”
Can “~라” ever sound friendly instead of harsh?
아주 친한 친구 사이에서 장난스러운 톤으로 쓰면 친근하게 들릴 수 있지만, 진지한 상황에서는 다투는 것처럼 들릴 수 있어요.
Among very close friends, using it in a playful tone can sound friendly, but in a serious situation it can come across as combative.
Related Lessons
👉 Talk to Your Korean Friends in Casual Korean: Getting Their Attention
👉 Talk to Your Korean Friends in Casual Korean Step 3 — Hug Me
👉 Talk to Your Korean Friends in Casual Korean: Step 4 — It’s Not…
👉 More Casual Korean Lessons
Review Quiz: “~자” vs “~라”
Part 1. Vocabulary Matching
Match each expression to its meaning.
- 가자!
- 가라!
- 놀자!
- 씻어라!
- 그러자!
A. Wash up! B. Let’s go! C. Sounds like a plan! D. Go! (command) E. Let’s hang out!
Part 2. Grammar Fill-in-the-Blank
- 친구한테 “같이 밥 먹자” 대신 윗사람한테는 “같이 밥 ______?” 라고 물어봐야 해요.
- 제일 친한 친구한테 장난스럽게 “이거 봐______” 라고 할 수 있어요.
- 오늘 밤 걱정 다 잊고 한국어 공부를 즐겨보______!
Part 3. Translate into Korean
- “Let’s eat!” (to a close friend)
- “Sit down!” (playfully, to a close friend)
- “Let’s take a break!”
Part 4. Comprehension Questions
- Why can “가자!” sound rude if said to someone you just met?
- Why does the article call “~라” a “big warning” form?
- What’s a safe context for using “~라” at all?
Part 5. Open-Ended Short Answer
- Write a short KakaoTalk-style message to a friend using “~자.”
- Describe a situation where using “~라” would clearly be a mistake.
(Answers are at the bottom.)
Answer Key
Part 1: 1-B, 2-D, 3-E, 4-A, 5-C
Part 2: 1. 먹을까요, 2. 봐라, 3. 자
Part 3: 1. 먹자! 2. 앉아라! 3. 쉬자!
Part 4: 1. Because “~자” is casual speech reserved for close friends, peers, or younger people, and using it with someone you just met skips the expected politeness. 2. Because “~라” is a blunt command form that can sound like you’re picking a fight, even among close friends, if the tone isn’t clearly playful. 3. Joking around with your absolute best friends or with someone younger than you, in a clearly lighthearted tone.
Part 5: Open-ended — check your own answers against the terms above.