와서 밥 먹어
waseo bap meogeo
The Korean phrase for "come and eat" is 와서 밥 먹어 (waseo bap meogeo).
This phrase is an invitation used to tell someone to join others for a meal.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 와서 (come and), 밥 (rice/meal) and 먹어 (eat).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 와서 밥 먹어 is casual and should be used with friends or younger people. To be more polite, you can use 와서 밥 먹으세요. For a more formal and respectful way to invite someone to eat, use 식사하세요.
How do you pronounce it?
waseo bap meogeo
When do people say it?
In this phrase, 밥 (rice) is used metonymically to mean a meal in general.
Did you know?
- In Korea, asking someone 밥 먹었어? (Have you eaten?) functions more like a warm greeting than a literal inquiry about their diet. It is a way to show care and concern for the other person's well-being.
- The term 밥 may have originated from a mimesis of baby talk, similar to how 'mama' or 'papa' are used in many other languages to describe food or caregivers.
- The word for 'rice', 밥, is also used in various idiomatic expressions to describe one's livelihood or the basic means of living.
Examples in context
- 오셔서 식사해 주세요.Please come and eat (respectful form).
- 드실래요?Would you like to have a meal?
- 먹자!Let's eat!
- 와서 밥 먹어.waseo bap meogeo.Come and eat.
- 다 차렸으니까 와서 밥 먹어.da charyeosseunikka waseo bap meogeo.Everything is ready, so come and eat.
- 식기 전에 빨리 와서 밥 먹어.sikgi jeone ppalli waseo bap meogeo.Come and eat quickly before it gets cold.
Example conversation
A brother calling his sister to the dining table.
- 도현 Do-hyeon수빈아, 와서 밥 먹어.Subin-a, waseo bap meogeo.Subin, come and eat.
- 수빈 Su-bin지금 가요!jigeum gayo!I'm coming now!
- 도현 Do-hyeon도현 오빠가 다 준비했어.Dohyeon oppaga da junbihaesseo.Dohyeon prepared everything.
- 수빈 Su-bin고마워요, 금방 갈게요.gomawoyo, geumbang galgeyo.Thank you, I'll be there soon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 밥, CC BY-SA 4.0.
