What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 저녁 (dinner/evening) and 먹었어요? (ate/did eat?).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to express this depending on who you are talking to. The casual version 저녁 먹었어? is used with close friends or people younger than you. The standard polite form is 저녁 먹었어요? For a more polite and formal way to ask the same question, often used with elders or superiors, you can use 저녁 식사 하셨어요? or the highly formal 식사하셨습니까?
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 먹었어요 is in the past tense, which is the standard way to ask if the action of eating has been completed.
How do you pronounce it?
jeonyeok meogeosseoyo?
When do people say it?
In Korean culture, asking if someone has eaten is a common way to show care or greet someone, often functioning similarly to "How are you?" in English.
Did you know?
- The word 저녁 is thought to be linked to the verb 저물다, which means 'to get dark' or 'to set' (as in the sun). This suggests the word 'evening' is etymologically tied to the onset of darkness.
- If someone asks 저녁 먹었어요? and you answer 'no', it is often a social cue for them to invite you to a meal.
- Depending on the social hierarchy, using the casual 저녁 먹었어? toward a stranger or an older person can be perceived as an intentional insult.
Examples in context
- 안녕하세요? 밥 먹으셨어요?Hello, have you had your meal?
- 저녁 먹었어요?jeonyeok meogeosseoyo?Have you had your dinner?
- 현우 씨, 저녁 먹었어요?hyeon-u ssi, jeonyeok meogeosseoyo?Hyunwoo, have you had your dinner?
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking in the office after work.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo서연 씨, 저녁 먹었어요?seoyeon ssi, jeonyeok meogeosseoyo?Seoyeon, have you had your dinner?
- 서연 Seo-yeon아니요, 아직 안 먹었어요.aniyo, ajik an meogeosseoyo.No, I haven't eaten yet.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo같이 저녁 먹을까요?gatchi jeonyeok meogeulkkayo?Shall we have dinner together?
- 서연 Seo-yeon좋아요, 같이 가요!joayo, gatchi gayo!That sounds good, let's go!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 저녁, CC BY-SA 4.0.
