TL;DR
- -자고 하다 lets you quote suggestions or proposals that someone made 💬
- Attach -자고 to the verb stem, then add 하다 (했다 for past tense) 🔗
- This is how you say "They suggested we..." or "He said let's..." in Korean! 🎯
What is -자고 하다? 🤔
When someone suggests doing something together and you want to tell others about it, you use -자고 하다! 📣
Think of it as the indirect speech version of -자 (let's do something). Instead of directly saying "let's eat," you're reporting that someone suggested eating together 🍽️
How to Form It ✨
Verb stem + -자고 하다/했다
That's it! Super simple structure 🎉
→ 친구가 영화 보자고 했어요.
(My friend suggested we watch a movie.) 🎬
→ 엄마가 같이 요리하자고 하셨어요.
(Mom suggested we cook together.) 👩🍳
→ 동생이 공원에 가자고 해요.
(My younger sibling is suggesting we go to the park.) 🌳
Present vs Past Tense ⏰
Use -자고 하다 when the suggestion is ongoing or recent 🆕
Use -자고 했다 when reporting a suggestion made in the past 📅
→ 오빠가 내일 등산하자고 해요.
(My older brother is suggesting we go hiking tomorrow.) 🥾
→ 선생님이 숙제를 같이 하자고 했어요.
(The teacher suggested we do homework together.) 📚
More Examples 💡
→ 민수가 커피 마시자고 했어요.
(Minsu suggested we drink coffee.) ☕
→ 친구들이 노래방 가자고 해요.
(My friends are suggesting we go to karaoke.) 🎤
→ 남자친구가 주말에 여행 가자고 했어요.
(My boyfriend suggested we go on a trip this weekend.) 🧳
→ 동료가 점심 같이 먹자고 했어요.
(My coworker suggested we eat lunch together.) 🍱
Exceptions & Special Notes 🔍
Honorific Form 🎩
When the person making the suggestion is someone you need to show respect to, use -(으)시- before -자고 하다:
→ 할머니가 같이 산책하자고 하셨어요.
(Grandma suggested we take a walk together.) 👵
Negative Suggestions 🙅
To report someone suggesting not to do something, use -지 말자고 하다 instead:
→ 친구가 술 마시지 말자고 했어요.
(My friend suggested we not drink alcohol.) 🚫🍺
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using -자고 하다 to report suggestions. 💬
- 친구가 내일 영화를 .
Answer
보자고 했어요
- 동생이 주말에 같이 등산을 .
Answer
가자고 했어요
- 선생님이 다음 주에 시험을 .
Answer
보자고 하셨어요
- 언니가 저녁에 파스타를 .
Answer
만들자고 했어요
- 남자친구가 다음 달에 제주도로 .
Answer
여행가자고 했어요
- 엄마가 오늘은 일찍 .
Answer
자자고 하셨어요
- 친구들이 카페에서 .
Answer
만나자고 했어요
- 동료가 점심에 회사 근처 식당에서 .
Answer
먹자고 했어요
- 선배가 다음 주 금요일에 술을 .
Answer
마시자고 했어요
- 오빠가 이번 방학에 운전을 .
Answer
배우자고 했어요
Vocabulary
영화 - movie
등산 - hiking
시험 - test, exam
파스타 - pasta
제주도 - Jeju Island
여행가다 - to travel
일찍 - early
자다 - to sleep
동료 - coworker, colleague
근처 - nearby, vicinity
선배 - senior
술 - alcohol
방학 - vacation, break
운전 - driving
Common mistakes
- ⚠️ Don't forget to change -자고 하다 to past tense (했어요/하셨어요) when reporting past suggestions
- 🔄 Remember that -자고 comes directly after the verb stem, not after -아/어
- 👤 Use 하셨어요 (not 했어요) when quoting suggestions from someone older or in a higher position
- ❌ Don't confuse -자고 하다 (reporting suggestions) with -라고 하다 (reporting commands)