LEARN + KOREAN / 116 of 125 TOPIK II

This or That, Why Not? -(으)ㄹ까

Your friend keeps weighing two choices: take a course or practise alone? You can describe that indecision, then offer a suggestion with -지 그래요. The suggestion’s tone matters as much as its ending.

Weigh Two Possibilities

Repeat -(으)ㄹ까 for the alternatives: 갈까 말까, 살까 빌릴까. It often leads into 고민하다 or 망설이다 to say the speaker is considering the options. Use -ㄹ까 after a vowel or ㄹ and -을까 after another consonant.

sueobeul deureulkka honja gongbuhalkka gominhago isseoyo.

I’m wondering whether to take a class or study alone.

i chaegeul salkka billilkka mangseoryeosseoyo.

I hesitated over buying this book or borrowing it.

Offer a Possible Next Step

Verb stem + -지 그래요? means something like “Why don’t you…?” or “How about…?” In a friendly setting it can offer advice. With a past form, -지 그랬어요? often means “Why didn’t you…?” and can sound reproachful.

meonjeo jjalbeun sueobeul deureo boji geuraeyo?

Why don’t you try a short class first?

chinguhante hanbeon mureoboji geuraeyo?

Why don’t you ask a friend?

Hint · 힌트

Use -지 그래요? with care when the listener has already struggled with the problem. 해 보는 게 어때요? can offer the same practical step with a different conversational feel.

Vocabulary

Korean	English
고민하다 gominhada	to think over a problem
망설이다 mangseorida	to hesitate
빌리다 billida	to borrow
짧다 jjalda	to be short
먼저 meonjeo	first
물어보다 mureoboda	to ask
진로 jillo	career path
적성 jeokseong	aptitude
상담 sangdam	consultation
조언 joeon	advice
전공 jeongong	academic major
취직하다 chwijikhada	to get a job
사업 saeop	business
창업하다 changeophada	to start a business
옮기다 omgida	to move or transfer
결정하다 gyeoljeonghada	to decide
선택하다 seontaekhada	to choose
경제적이다 gyeongjejeogida	to be economical
기회 gihoe	opportunity
경험 gyeongheom	experience

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