9 ways to invite a friend to hang out in Korean
Inviting a Korean friend out is mostly a two-step move: first you check whether they are free, then you name a low-stakes activity. Food is the default, coffee is the lighter option, and a drink is the one that says you want to really talk. Nobody says "let's hang out" in the abstract; there is always a verb attached.
Because these are for friends, all nine are in casual speech (반말), the level you use with a friend who is your age or younger and with whom you have already dropped the formalities. For a friend you are still polite with, add 요 to the end of each one (시간 있어요?, 같이 밥 먹어요) and the invitations work the same way.
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시간 있어?
sigan isseo?
Are you free?
Literally: Is there time?
Casual speech (반말), to a friend you already speak informally with. Usually followed by when: 오늘 저녁에 시간 있어? (free this evening?). With 요 on the end it works for anyone.
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주말에 뭐 해?
jumare mwo hae?
What are you doing this weekend?
Literally: On the weekend, what do?
Casual. Korean uses the present tense for near-future plans, so there is no 'will' here. It is a real question and an opening at the same time; the friend knows an invitation is coming.
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언제 시간 돼?
eonje sigan dwae?
When are you free?
Literally: When does time work?
Casual. Use it when you want to meet but have no date in mind, and be ready for 아무 때나 (any time), which means you have to pick.
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같이 밥 먹자.
gachi bap meokja.
Let's get a meal.
Literally: Together rice eat-let's.
Casual; -자 is the plain 'let's'. The most common invitation in Korean, and a non-committal one: friends say it as a way of saying 'let's catch up', so follow up with a day or it stays a sentiment.
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커피 한잔할래?
keopi hanjanhallae?
Want to grab a coffee?
Literally: Coffee, one cup do-want?
Casual. -ㄹ래? asks what the other person wants, which is softer than -자. 한잔하다 (to have a cup) is written as one word and used for coffee, tea and, especially, drinks.
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영화 보러 갈래?
yeonghwa boreo gallae?
Want to go see a movie?
Literally: Movie, in order to see, go-want?
Casual. The -(으)러 가다 pattern (go in order to) takes any activity: 밥 먹으러, 쇼핑하러, 놀러. Between two people who are not yet dating this one is a known test.
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술 한잔하자.
sul hanjanhaja.
Let's go for a drink.
Literally: Alcohol, one cup do-let's.
Casual. 한잔 (one glass) is understood by everyone to mean several. Said on a Friday afternoon it needs no further explanation; said on a Tuesday it means something happened.
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우리 집에 올래?
uri jibe ollae?
Want to come over?
Literally: To our house, come-want?
Casual. 우리 집 (our house) is how Koreans say 'my house' even when they live alone. Home invitations are rarer in Korea than in many countries, so this is a sign of real closeness.
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이번 주에 한번 보자.
ibeon jue hanbeon boja.
Let's meet up sometime this week.
Literally: This week, once, see-let's.
Casual. 한번 (once) softens it to 'at some point'; 보다 (see) is the everyday verb for meeting friends. The step up from this to a real plan is 금요일 어때? (how about Friday?).
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Two endings do most of the work here. -자 (먹자, 보자, 하자) is "let's" and assumes a yes; -ㄹ래? (할래?, 갈래?, 올래?) asks what the other person feels like and leaves room for a no. Korean friends use both, but if you are unsure how close you are, -ㄹ래? is the safer one.