High School - Grade 11
Lesson 4: Formal "Let's..."
-(으)ㅂ시다
Making Formal Suggestions
You've learned `-(으)ㄹ까요?` ("Shall we...?"). This grammar point, `-(으)ㅂ시다`, is another way to make a suggestion, but it's used in more formal situations. Think presentations, announcements, or addressing a group where you need to maintain a level of formality.
It translates directly to "**Let's...**" but carries a formal tone.
The Conjugation Rules
This follows the same consonant/vowel logic as the formal `-(스)ㅂ니다` ending.
Rule 1: Vowel ending
Verb stem ends in a vowel.
... + ㅂ시다
가다 갑시다
"Let's go"
하다 합시다
"Let's do"
Rule 2: Consonant ending
Verb stem ends in a consonant.
... + 읍시다
먹다 먹읍시다
"Let's eat"
앉다 앉읍시다
"Let's sit"
Special Case: ㄹ ending
If the stem ends in ㄹ, the ㄹ is dropped, and you add ㅂ시다.
(Drop ㄹ) + ㅂ시다
만들다 만듭시다 (만들 + ㅂ시다 -> 만듭시다)
"Let's make"
Examples in Action
FORMAL MEETING
이제 회의를 시작합시다.
Now, let's start the meeting.
GROUP ANNOUNCEMENT
점심 식사를 하러 같이 갑시다.
Let's go together to have lunch.
CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION
책 50페이지를 읽읍시다.
Let's read page 50 of the book.
WORKPLACE SUGGESTION
새로운 프로젝트를 만듭시다.
Let's make a new project.
Important Note:
While `-(으)ㅂ시다` is polite, it's generally used when speaking *down* or *across* the social hierarchy (e.g., a boss to employees, a teacher to students, among colleagues of similar rank). It's usually **not** used when speaking *up* to someone significantly older or higher in status. In those cases, `-(으)실까요?` (using honorifics) is often more appropriate.
Coming Up Next...
You now have multiple ways to make suggestions! Next, let's learn how to express guesses based on appearance ("It looks like...") and general observation ("I think...").