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You've learned the formal ending series. When you learned the Korean informal ending, you didn't have to worry about the four sentence types. Well, it was because you could express all four of them just with "아/어/여요". However, as you've seen, the formal setting has all different endings! Let's learn about the last one, the 'suggesting' formal ending.
Propositive: (으)ㅂ시다. - This is the one you will learn today.
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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.
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 but it doesn't mean it is super 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. I
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.
먹다 → 먹읍시다. Let's eat.
앉다 → 앉읍시다. Let's sit.
읽다 → 읽읍시다. 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 → 봅시다. Let's see.
마시다 → 마십시다 Let's drink.
공부하다 → 공부합시다. Let's study.
쓰다 → 씁시다. Let's write.
3. ㄹ 받침: Drop ㄹ + ㅂ시다
If the stem ends with ㄹ, you will erase that first. Then, fill up the empty spot with ㅂ.
살다 → 삽시다. Let's live.
놀다 → 놉시다. Let's play.
만들다 → 만듭시다. 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!
1. ㄷ 받침: Change ㄷ to ㄹ. Add 읍시다.
듣다 → 들읍시다. Let's listen.
걷다 → 걸읍시다. Let's walk.
2. ㅅ받침: Drop ㅅ. Add 읍시다.
잇다 → 이읍시다. Let's connect.
긋다 → 그읍시다. 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 →도웁시다. Let's help.
줍다 → 주웁시다. Let's pick 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.
A. 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 (calm)
부지런하다/성실하다 (diligent)
충실하다 (loyal)
정직하다 (honest)
우리 침착합시다. Let’s be calm.
정직합시다. Let's be honest.
B. 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.
↪노래하다 is to sing.
C. 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.
D. 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. Since 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. More 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. 열심히 공부를 합시다! We have a test tomorrow. Let's study hard!
↳ 시험 is a test. If you have 시험, you'd better study hard(열심히)!
2
친구가 아픕니다. 같이 카드를 씁시다. Our friend is ill. 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. 부장님께 보고 드립시다. Our work is done. Let's report to the boss.
↳ 보고드리다 is an honorific version of 보고하다. They mean "to report". 부장님 is the head of the department.
5. Wrap-up & Material
You've learned the propositive form of formal endings. Just like other formal endings, you have to change a verb depending on the final consonant. You can suggest to others when these others are of similar age or social status. 선생님, 사장님께는 이 엔딩을 쓰지 마십시오. (Do not use this ending for your teacher or boss.)
Try to download 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!")
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