Weekend Talk: 'What are you doing?'

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TL;DR 🦄

🎉 주말에 뭐 해요? [ju-ma-re mwo hae-yo?] — "What are you doing this weekend?"

🏠 집에서 쉴 거예요 [ji-be-seo swil geo-ye-yo] — "I'll rest at home"

🎬 영화 보러 가요 [yeong-hwa bo-reo ga-yo] — "I'm going to watch a movie"

🚶 친구랑 놀아요 [chin-gu-rang no-ra-yo] — "I'm hanging out with friends"

😴 아무것도 안 해요 [a-mu-geot-do an hae-yo] — "I'm not doing anything"

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🎧 Iru Helper Note — Head to the Korean Helper Widgets and listen to "주말에 뭐 해요?" — this question is THE classic Friday small talk opener in Korean offices and friend groups! 🎧

🌈 The Big Picture

주말 [ju-mal] means "weekend," and asking 주말에 뭐 해요? ("What are you doing this weekend?") is one of the most common ways to start a casual conversation, especially on Fridays. To talk about future plans, you'll often use -(으)ㄹ 거예요 ("I will / I'm going to") or -러 가요 ("I'm going [somewhere] to do [something]") — like 영화 보러 가요 ("I'm going to watch a movie"). 🎉

🎭 Responding: From Big Plans to Doing Nothing

Korean has natural phrases for every kind of weekend — exciting or totally lazy!

친구랑 놀아요 [chin-gu-rang no-ra-yo] — hanging out with friends 🚶

데이트해요 [de-i-teu-hae-yo] — going on a date 💕

집에서 쉴 거예요 [ji-be-seo swil geo-ye-yo] — resting at home 🏠

아무것도 안 해요 [a-mu-geot-do an hae-yo] — not doing anything (perfectly fine to say!) 😴

And don't forget the Friday send-off: 주말 잘 보내세요! [ju-mal jal bo-nae-se-yo!] — "Have a great weekend!" 🎊

🧳 Essential Phrase Kit

주말에 뭐 해요? [ju-ma-re mwo hae-yo?] — What are you doing this weekend? 🎉

이번 주말에 [i-beon ju-ma-re] — this weekend 📅

~하러 가요 [ha-reo ga-yo] — going to do ~ 🚗

집에서 쉴 거예요 [ji-be-seo swil geo-ye-yo] — I'll rest at home 🏠

친구랑 놀아요 [chin-gu-rang no-ra-yo] — hanging out with friends 🚶

영화 보러 가요 [yeong-hwa bo-reo ga-yo] — going to watch a movie 🎬

아무것도 안 해요 [a-mu-geot-do an hae-yo] — not doing anything 😴

데이트해요 [de-i-teu-hae-yo] — going on a date 💕

주말 잘 보내세요 [ju-mal jal bo-nae-se-yo] — Have a good weekend! 🎊

주말 잘 보냈어요? [ju-mal jal bo-nae-sseo-yo?] — Did you have a good weekend? 🌟

🛠️ Putting It Together

A: 이번 주말에 뭐 해요? B: 친구랑 등산하러 갈 거예요. [A: i-beon ju-ma-re mwo hae-yo? B: chin-gu-rang deung-san-ha-reo gal geo-ye-yo.]

A: "What are you doing this weekend?" B: "I'm going hiking with a friend." ⛰️ — -(으)ㄹ 거예요 expresses the plan.

A: 주말 계획 있어요? B: 딱히 없어요. 그냥 집에서 쉴 거예요. [A: ju-mal gye-hoek i-sseo-yo? B: tta-ki eo-bseo-yo. geu-nyang ji-be-seo swil geo-ye-yo.]

A: "Do you have weekend plans?" B: "Not really. I'll just rest at home." 🏠 — 딱히 없어요 = "not particularly."

A: 주말 잘 보냈어요? B: 네! 영화 보고 친구랑 놀았어요. 정말 즐거웠어요. [A: ju-mal jal bo-nae-sseo-yo? B: ne! yeong-hwa bo-go chin-gu-rang no-ra-sseo-yo. jeong-mal jeul-geo-wo-sseo-yo.]

A: "Did you have a good weekend?" B: "Yes! I watched a movie and hung out with a friend. It was really fun." 🎬 — Past tense recap on Monday!

🗣️ Speaking Practice: Mini Dialogue

Read both roles out loud, then switch roles!

민수: 지은 씨, 이번 주말에 뭐 해요?

[Minsu: ji-eun ssi, i-beon ju-ma-re mwo hae-yo?]

Minsu: "Jieun, what are you doing this weekend?"

지은: 토요일에는 친구랑 카페에 갈 거예요. 일요일에는 그냥 집에서 쉴 거예요.

[Jieun: to-yo-i-re-neun chin-gu-rang ka-pe-e gal geo-ye-yo. i-ryo-i-re-neun geu-nyang ji-be-seo swil geo-ye-yo.]

Jieun: "On Saturday I'm going to a cafe with a friend. On Sunday I'll just rest at home."

민수: 좋네요! 저는 토요일에 영화 보러 갈 거예요.

[Minsu: jo-ne-yo! jeo-neun to-yo-i-re yeong-hwa bo-reo gal geo-ye-yo.]

Minsu: "Sounds nice! I'm going to watch a movie on Saturday."

지은: 무슨 영화 봐요?

[Jieun: mu-seun yeong-hwa bwa-yo?]

Jieun: "What movie are you watching?"

민수: 아직 안 정했어요. 그냥 재밌는 거 볼 거예요.

[Minsu: a-jik an jeong-hae-sseo-yo. geu-nyang jae-min-neun geo bol geo-ye-yo.]

Minsu: "I haven't decided yet. I'll just watch something fun."

지은: 좋아요! 주말 잘 보내세요!

[Jieun: jo-a-yo! ju-mal jal bo-nae-se-yo!]

Jieun: "Sounds good! Have a great weekend!"

🧭 Speaking Tip

Use -(으)ㄹ 거예요 for plans you've already decided ("I will / I'm going to"), and -러 가요/갈 거예요 when the purpose is to go somewhere and do something (영화 보러 가요 = "going [somewhere] to watch a movie"). On Mondays, flip everything to past tense (-았/었어요) to recap your weekend — it's a great way to keep small talk going! 🎉

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

❌ Saying 주말 뭐 해요? without the particle 에 → ✅ Add 에: 주말에 뭐 해요?.

❌ Using present tense (해요) for future plans, sounding vague → ✅ Use -(으)ㄹ 거예요 for clear plans.

❌ Confusing -러 가요 (going to do something) with -고 싶어요 (want to do something) → ✅ -러 가요 = actual plan; -고 싶어요 = desire/wish.

❌ Forgetting that "아무것도 안 해요" is a totally normal, relaxed answer → ✅ It's not rude — Koreans say this often!

Great job — you're ready to chat about weekends like a local! 🎉✨

Try this exercise

Instructions: Choose the best phrase or answer for each situation.

1. Translate: "What are you doing this weekend?" ＿＿＿＿

Answer

주말에 뭐 해요? [ju-ma-re mwo hae-yo?]

2. Translate: "I'll rest at home." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

집에서 쉴 거예요 [ji-be-seo swil geo-ye-yo]

3. Translate: "I'm going to watch a movie." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

영화 보러 가요 [yeong-hwa bo-reo ga-yo]

4. Fill in: 친구＿＿＿＿ 놀아요. ("Hanging out with a friend.")

Answer

랑 [rang] (= 친구랑, "with a friend")

5. True or False: 아무것도 안 해요 is considered a rude answer.

Answer

False → it's a normal, relaxed response.

6. Translate: "Have a good weekend!" ＿＿＿＿

Answer

주말 잘 보내세요! [ju-mal jal bo-nae-se-yo!]

7. Fill in: 친구랑 등산하러 ＿＿＿＿. ("I'll go hiking with a friend.")

Answer

갈 거예요 [gal geo-ye-yo]

8. Translate: "Did you have a good weekend?" ＿＿＿＿

Answer

주말 잘 보냈어요? [ju-mal jal bo-nae-sseo-yo?]

9. True or False: -러 가요 means "going [somewhere] to do something."

Answer

True

10. Practice saying this out loud: 이번 주말에는 데이트해요. 정말 기대돼요! [i-beon ju-ma-re-neun de-i-teu-hae-yo. jeong-mal gi-dae-dwae-yo!]

Answer

"I'm going on a date this weekend. I'm really looking forward to it!" → Sharing exciting plans!

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Vocabulary Box

주말 [ju-mal] → weekend

이번 주말 [i-beon ju-mal] → this weekend

-(으)ㄹ 거예요 → will / going to

-러 가요 → going to do ~

놀다 [nol-da] → to hang out

쉬다 [swi-da] → to rest

데이트 [de-i-teu] → date

계획 [gye-hoek] → plan

딱히 [tta-ki] → not particularly

즐겁다 [jeul-geop-da] → to be enjoyable/fun

Pitfalls 💡

주말 + 에 (don't drop it!)

-러 가요 ≠ -고 싶어요

"Nothing planned" is a fine answer

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Want more reps? Visit the Practice Hub when you're ready! 🚀

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🎯 Practice Hub — Weekend Talk (주말에 뭐 해요?)

안녕하세요! [an-nyeong-ha-se-yo] Let's get ready for Friday small talk! 🎉✨

🔊 Audio reminder: Use the Korean Helper Widgets to hear any phrase.

Exercise 1 — Asking & Answering 🗓️

A. Translate: "Do you have weekend plans?" ＿＿＿＿

Answer

주말에 계획 있어요? [ju-ma-re gye-hoek i-sseo-yo?]

B. Translate: "I'm hanging out with friends." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

친구랑 놀아요 [chin-gu-rang no-ra-yo]

C. Fill in: 주말에 ＿＿＿＿ 갈 거예요. ("I'll go shopping this weekend.")

Answer

쇼핑하러 [syo-ping-ha-reo]

D. True or False: 이번 주말 means "last weekend."

Answer

False → it means "this weekend." Last weekend = 지난 주말.

E. Translate: "I'm not doing anything special." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

특별히 하는 거 없어요 [teuk-byeol-hi ha-neun geo eo-bseo-yo]

F. Fill in: A: 주말 잘 보내세요! B: ＿＿＿＿! ("You too!")

Answer

저도요 [jeo-do-yo]

G. True or False: 데이트해요 means "I'm cleaning my house."

Answer

False → it means "I'm going on a date."

H. Translate: "I'll watch a movie at home." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

집에서 영화 볼 거예요 [ji-be-seo yeong-hwa bol geo-ye-yo]

I. Fill in: 토요일에는 등산＿＿＿＿ 가요. ("On Saturday I'm going to hike.")

Answer

하러 [ha-reo]

J. Practice saying this out loud: 이번 주말에는 친구 결혼식이 있어서 좀 바빠요. [i-beon ju-ma-re-neun chin-gu gyeol-hon-si-gi i-sseo-seo jom ba-ppa-yo.]

Answer

"This weekend I'm a bit busy because I have a friend's wedding." → Sharing a specific plan!

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Quick Reference:

주말에 뭐 해요? = weekend plans

-러 가요 = going to (do)

-(으)ㄹ 거예요 = future plan

주말 잘 보내세요! = Have a good weekend!

Exercise 2 — Talking About Past Weekends 📖

A. Translate: "How was your weekend?" ＿＿＿＿

Answer

주말 어땠어요? [ju-mal eo-ttae-sseo-yo?]

B. Fill in: 지난 주말에 친구랑 영화 ＿＿＿＿. ("I watched a movie with a friend last weekend.")

Answer

봤어요 [bwa-sseo-yo]

C. True or False: 정말 즐거웠어요 means "It was really fun."

Answer

True

D. Translate: "I just rested the whole weekend." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

주말 내내 그냥 쉬었어요 [ju-mal nae-nae geu-nyang swi-eo-sseo-yo]

E. Fill in: A: 주말 잘 보냈어요? B: 네, ＿＿＿＿. ("Yes, it was good.")

Answer

좋았어요 [jo-a-sseo-yo]

F. True or False: 지난 주말 means "next weekend."

Answer

False → it means "last weekend." Next weekend = 다음 주말.

G. Translate: "I went hiking, and it was tiring but fun." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

등산했는데, 힘들었지만 재밌었어요 [deung-san-haet-neun-de, him-deu-reot-ji-man jae-mi-sseo-sseo-yo]

H. Fill in: 주말에 ＿＿＿＿ 안 해서 좀 심심했어요. ("I didn't do anything this weekend so I was a bit bored.")

Answer

아무것도 [a-mu-geot-do]

I. True or False: 기억에 남아요 means "It's memorable."

Answer

True

J. Practice saying this out loud: 이번 주말은 좀 피곤했지만, 친구를 만나서 좋았어요. [i-beon ju-ma-reun jom pi-gon-haet-ji-man, chin-gu-reul man-na-seo jo-a-sseo-yo.]

Answer

"This weekend was a bit tiring, but it was nice to meet a friend." → A balanced reflection!

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Quick Reference:

지난 주말 = last weekend

다음 주말 = next weekend

주말 어땠어요? = How was your weekend?

-았/었어요 = past tense for recaps

Exercise 3 — Full Conversations 🗣️

A. Ask a coworker their weekend plans on Friday. ＿＿＿＿

Answer

이번 주말에 뭐 하세요? [i-beon ju-ma-re mwo ha-se-yo?]

B. Respond that you have no special plans and will just rest. ＿＿＿＿

Answer

특별한 계획 없어요. 그냥 쉴 거예요. [teuk-byeol-han gye-hoek eo-bseo-yo. geu-nyang swil geo-ye-yo.]

C. True or False: 주말 잘 보내세요 is appropriate to say on a Friday.

Answer

True

D. Translate: "I'm going camping with my family this weekend." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

이번 주말에 가족이랑 캠핑 갈 거예요 [i-beon ju-ma-re ga-jok-i-rang kaem-ping gal geo-ye-yo]

E. A friend asks if you're free this weekend. Say you have plans on Saturday but Sunday is free. ＿＿＿＿

Answer

토요일에는 약속이 있는데, 일요일은 괜찮아요 [to-yo-i-re-neun yak-so-gi it-neun-de, i-ryo-i-reun gwaen-chan-a-yo]

F. True or False: 주말마다 means "every weekend."

Answer

True

G. Translate: "On Monday, talk about your weekend with a coworker." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

주말 잘 보냈어요? 저는 친구랑 영화 보고 맛있는 거 먹었어요. [ju-mal jal bo-nae-sseo-yo? jeo-neun chin-gu-rang yeong-hwa bo-go ma-sit-neun geo meo-geo-sseo-yo.]

H. Fill in: 주말＿＿＿＿ 등산을 가요. ("Every weekend I go hiking.")

Answer

마다 [ma-da]

I. True or False: It's common in Korea to ask coworkers about weekend plans as friendly small talk.

Answer

True

J. Practice saying this out loud: 주말마다 다른 걸 해보려고 해요. 이번 주에는 새로운 카페에 가 볼 거예요. [ju-mal-ma-da da-reun geol hae-bo-ryeo-go hae-yo. i-beon ju-e-neun sae-ro-un ka-pe-e ga bol geo-ye-yo.]

Answer

"I try to do something different every weekend. This weekend I'll try a new cafe." → A fun, varied lifestyle!

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Everyday Cheat Sheet:

주말에 뭐 해요? = Weekend plans?

-러 가요 / -(으)ㄹ 거예요 = future plans

주말 잘 보내세요! / 주말 잘 보냈어요? = greeting bookends

주말마다 = every weekend

🎉 잘했어요! [jal-haess-eo-yo] You can now chat about weekend plans like a true conversational pro! 🎉✨