Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 식사하다 | siksahada | [ɕʰiks͈a̠ɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 밥 먹다 | bap meokda |
The phrase is used to describe the act of eating a meal. While 식사하다 is a general and polite way to express having a meal, 밥 먹다 is used more colloquially in everyday life.
What does it mean word for word?
The form 밥 먹다 literally translates to "eat rice". In this context, 밥 means cooked rice, but it is used idiomatically to mean a meal.
Which one should you use?
식사하다 means "to have a meal" and is a more formal and polite option. In contrast, 밥 먹다 is the common, everyday way to say "to eat" or "to have a meal" in casual conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
When speaking to elders or superiors, you should use the honorific question 식사하셨어요? (Did you eat?) instead of the casual 밥 먹었어?
How do you pronounce it?
siksahada
When do people say it?
In Korean culture, asking "Did you eat?" (밥 먹었어?) is a common way to greet someone and show care, functioning much like the English phrase "How are you?"
Did you know?
- The verb 먹다 is used for things other than food. It is used to describe 'taking' medicine, 'drinking' alcohol, or even 'suffering' a loss in a game.
- The word 밥 is used in many idioms that have nothing to do with food. For example, 'eating rice' can metaphorically refer to earning a living or a person's livelihood.
- Korean uses different verbs for 'eat' depending on who is eating. While you use 먹다 for yourself, you must use the honorific verb 드시다 when speaking about an elder.
Examples in context
- 회의가 끝나면 저희 식당에서 식사하시겠어요?Will you have a meal at our restaurant after the meeting is over?
- 오랜만에 만나서 함께 식사하니까 너무 반가워요.I'm so glad we can eat together after a long time of not seeing each other.
- 점심에 한국 음식 뭐 먹을까?What should we eat for lunch? Korean food?
- 저녁에 치킨 먹을래?Do you want to eat chicken for dinner?
- 가족과 함께 식사하다.gajok-gwa hamkke siksa-hada.Eat a meal with my family.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eat” translations and entries 식사하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
