What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 밥 먹었어요? literally translates to "Have you eaten rice?" or "Did you eat a meal?"
Which one should you use?
먹었어? and 밥 먹었어? are informal. For higher levels of respect, you can use the honorific-based 드셨어요? or the more formal and elaborate 식사하셨습니까?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You should use 밥 먹었어? or 먹었어? with close friends or people younger than you. When addressing someone with higher respect, use the honorific 드셨어요? or the highly formal 식사하셨습니까?
How do you pronounce it?
bap meogeosseoyo?
When do people say it?
In Korean culture, asking if someone has eaten is often a warm greeting intended to show care rather than a literal inquiry about whether the person is hungry. A common polite response is 네, 먹었어요. (Yes, I ate.), while if you have not eaten, you can say 아니요, 아직 안 먹었어요. (No, I haven't eaten yet.).
Did you know?
- In Korea, asking 밥 먹었어요? can be a way of apologizing or making up after an argument without explicitly saying 'I am sorry'.
- The word for rice, 밥, might actually be a remnant of ancient baby-talk. Much like the English word 'mama', the Korean term for food may have evolved from the repetitive sounds infants make when eating, such as in the childish word 맘마.
- If someone asks you 밥 먹었어요? and you answer 'No', they might actually feel a social pressure to offer you food or a meal right then and there. It is an expression of care that can sometimes lead to an unexpected invitation.
Examples in context
- 먹었어?Have you eaten?
- 식사하셨습니까?Have you had a meal?
- 지훈 씨, 밥 먹었어요?Ji-hun ssi, bap meogeosseoyo?Ji-hun, have you eaten?
Example conversation
Ji-hoon meets Su-bin at the office in the afternoon.
- 지훈 Ji-hun수빈 씨, 밥 먹었어요?Su-bin ssi, bap meogeosseoyo?Su-bin, have you eaten?
- 수빈 Su-bin아직 안 먹었어요.Ajik an meogeosseoyo.I haven't eaten yet.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그럼 같이 먹으러 가요.Geureom gachi meogeureo gayo.Then let's go eat together.
- 수빈 Su-bin좋아요, 가요!Joayo, gayo!Sounds good, let's go!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 밥, CC BY-SA 4.0.
