읍시다 is one of the formal endings and it is used to suggest. There are 2 types of honorific formal endings and 읍시다 is one of the 하오 styles. If you are curious about 하십시오 style (습니다 family) suggestion, please click here to read my other post.
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1. V읍시다 grammar
(으)ㅂ시다 is the propositive form in the formal endings. So, if you see a sentence ending with "읍시다" or "ㅂ시다", you can translate it as "Let's V." Since you are telling a listener to do something together, technically you can only attach it to a verb stem.
The subject of the sentence will be 우리 or 저희 meaning 'we'. 저희 is a more polite version than 우리. They can be easily omitted. As the ending already means "Let's," it is not necessary to say "we" in a sentence.
우리 공부합시다. = 공부합시다. Let's study!
(으)ㅂ시다 is a formal ending. But I tell you what. It can be used in both formal and informal situations! However, in personal conversations, it is considered rude to use (으)ㅂ시다 to an older person or someone of higher status. So, (으)ㅂ시다 is used in formal situations to encourage someone who has an equal or slightly lower rank to do something together.
여러분, 앞으로 열심히 공부합시다. Everyone, let’s study hard from now on.
우리 이야기 좀 합시다. Let's have a conversation.
선생님, 이야기를 합시다. (X) - It isn't nice to say 읍시다 to a teacher.
It can be formal(official) but it doesn't mean it is polite. When you ask a teacher to talk with you, you must use an expression in a more beating-the-bush way. For example, you can drag a sentence like this. You'll learn about it, in future lessons.
선생님, 혹시 잠깐 이야기 할 시간이 있으실까요? - Sir/ma'am, do you have a moment to talk with me?
2. Conjugation Information
(으)ㅂ시다 is a shortened form of these two endings; 읍시다 and ㅂ시다. Can you guess what is important to conjugate this? Yes, you have to watch out for the stem's final consonant (받침)! I will show you the examples here. You can download the free worksheet and practice it along with my post.
A. Regular Rules
1. 받침 O + 읍시다.
If a stem has the final consonant, please add 읍시다 to the stem. Nothing difficult at all!
먹다 | Let's eat. | |
앉다 | Let's sit. | |
읽다 | Let's read. |
2. 받침 X+ ㅂ시다.
If there is no final consonant, you will make one! Please add ㅂ under the stem and attach 시다. For the case of "하다" verbs, they will be all applied with this rule. Can you tell me why? It is because the stem of 하다 verbs is always "하". It doesn't have the final consonant!
보다 | Let's see. | |
마시다 | Let's drink. | |
공부하다 | Let's study. | |
쓰다 | Let's write. | |
식사를 하다 | Let's eat. |
If you are interested in K-drama, you may have heard or watched the show called "Let's Eat. (식샤를 합시다.)" The original form of the sentence will be 식사를 합시다. But the main character's father pronounces 식사 to 식샤. Anyway, 식사를 하다 is another way of saying "to eat." 식사 is a meal and by adding 하다, you make it as a verb eat a meal.
3. ㄹ 받침: Drop ㄹ + ㅂ시다
If the stem ends with ㄹ, you will erase that first. Fill up the empty spot with ㅂ. Then, you'll finish up with 시다. In other words, erase ㄹ and add ㅂ시다.
살다 | Let's live. | |
놀다 | Let's play. | |
만들다 | Let's make. |
B. Irregular Rules
Yes, when the final consonant is the key to conjugate, you have to watch out for the irregular ones! You should get used to these irregular rules by now!
1. ㄷ 받침: Change ㄷ to ㄹ. Add 읍시다.
For irregular words that end with ㄷ as the final consonant, you'll use this rule. Change that ㄷ of the stem to ㄹ. Then, add 읍시다. Easy peasy!
듣다 | Let's listen. | |
걷다 | Let's walk. |
2. ㅅ받침: Drop ㅅ. Add 읍시다.
You know the drill! For irregular ㅅ, always erase ㅅ first. Then, you can add 읍시다 to make the formal suggestion.
잇다 | Let's connect. | |
긋다 | Let's draw lines. |
3. ㅂ받침: Drop ㅂ. Add 웁시다.
Watch out for the form. Unlike others you added 읍시다, you have to attach 웁시다.
돕다 | Let's help. | |
줍다 | Let's pick it up. |
3. Sentence Information
I'll show you more advanced information about this 읍시다 grammar. If you are a beginner, you can briefly check this part.
Special adjectives
Some adjectives can be attached to this 읍시다! This is what makes 읍시다 special. I'll show you the lists of adjectives you can attach to this ending. You can understand them as idioms.
침착하다/냉정하다 (to be calm)
부지런하다/성실하다 (to be diligent)
충실하다 (to be loyal)
정직하다 (to be honest)
우리 침착합시다. Let’s be calm.
정직합시다. Let's be honest.
Commonly used words
It is often used with ‘같이', or '함께.’ They both mean 'together'. Also, it can be used with '모두.' It means 'all' or 'all together'.
여기에 같이 앉읍시다. Let’s sit here together.
우리 모두 노래합시다. Let's sing all together.
Negative form (부정문)
You can attach "지 맙시다" to a verb stem to make a negative sentence. It will mean "Let's do not V."
쓰레기를 버리지 맙시다. Let’s not dump the trash.
↪ 버리다 means to throw away or dump.
차도로 걷지 맙시다. Let’s not walk on the street.
Honorific
Since it is a propositive ending, you don't have to worry about honorific forms. In Korea, it is considered rude to use honorific words to oneself. By default, you are already included in the "Let's" sentence, you have to use regular verbs. For example, if you want to say "Let's eat." You can say "먹읍시다." but not "잡수십시다." You can show respect to others but not to yourself!
4. Examples
How was the lesson so far? Since the rules are very similar in Korean, if you are familiar with conjugation, you should be able to easily understand this one. I'll show you more examples using this 읍시다 grammar.
1
내일 시험이 있습니다. We have a test tomorrow.
열심히 공부를 합시다! Let's study hard!
시험 is a test. If you have 시험, you'd better study hard(열심히)!
2
친구가 아픕니다. Our friend is ill.
같이 카드를 씁시다. Let's write a card for her.
A card is a very easy word in Korean, you can say "카드." Though, in Korean, people usually write the letter, 편지 instead of 카드.
3
일이 끝났습니다. Our work is done.
부장님께 보고 드립시다. Let's report to the boss.
부장님 is the head of the department. When you refer to those people, you must use their titles, not their names.
5. Wrap-up & Worksheet
읍시다 is a suggestion that can be used in formal settings. However, you can use it only for people of a similar age or similar social rank. If you use it for someone much older than you or your boss or teacher, it will sound very rude!
Download the worksheet and practice the conjugation. When you do so, try to say out loud each word. That will help you to remember! "마이 코리안 레슨"과 함께 열심히 공부하십다! (Let's study hard with "My Korean Lesson!")