Inviting colleagues to lunch is a common workplace interaction in Korea. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for asking a coworker to join a team lunch tomorrow, covering invitations, confirming details, and understanding responses, along with cultural context for workplace dining.
Table Of Content
Core Invitation Phrase
-
Expression: 내일 팀 점심 같이 하실래요?
Pronunciation: nae-il tim jeom-sim ga-chi ha-sil-lae-yo?
Meaning: Would you like to join the team lunch tomorrow? (Polite)
Basic Invitation Phrases
-
Expression: 내일 점심 같이 드실래요?
Pronunciation: nae-il jeom-sim ga-chi deu-sil-lae-yo?
Meaning: Would you like to have lunch together tomorrow? (Polite) -
Expression: 내일 저희 팀 점심 식사 있는데 같이 가실래요?
Pronunciation: nae-il jeo-hui tim jeom-sim sik-sa it-neun-de ga-chi ga-sil-lae-yo?
Meaning: Our team is having lunch tomorrow, would you like to go together? -
Expression: 혹시 내일 점심 약속 있으세요?
Pronunciation: hok-si nae-il jeom-sim yak-sok i-sseu-se-yo?
Meaning: Do you happen to have plans for lunch tomorrow? -
Expression: 내일 점심 시간 괜찮으세요?
Pronunciation: nae-il jeom-sim si-gan gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo?
Meaning: Are you free during lunchtime tomorrow? -
Expression: 팀 점심인데, 시간 되시면 같이 해요.
Pronunciation: tim jeom-sim-in-de, si-gan doe-si-myeon ga-chi hae-yo.
Meaning: It’s a team lunch, let’s eat together if you have time. (Slightly less formal but still polite) -
Expression: 내일 점심, 팀원들이랑 같이 먹으려고 하는데 오실 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: nae-il jeom-sim, tim-won-deu-ri-rang ga-chi meo-geu-ryeo-go ha-neun-de o-sil su i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: We’re planning to eat lunch together with the team members tomorrow, can you come? -
Expression: 내일 팀 점심 식사에 초대하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: nae-il tim jeom-sim sik-sa-e cho-dae-ha-go si-peo-yo.
Meaning: I’d like to invite you to the team lunch tomorrow. -
Expression: 팀 점심 같이 가요!
Pronunciation: tim jeom-sim ga-chi ga-yo!
Meaning: Let’s go to the team lunch together! (More casual, use with closer colleagues) -
Expression: 내일 점심 같이 하시는 거 어때요?
Pronunciation: nae-il jeom-sim ga-chi ha-si-neun geo eo-ttae-yo?
Meaning: How about having lunch together tomorrow?
Confirming Details
-
Expression: 내일 12시에 로비에서 만날까요?
Pronunciation: nae-il yeol-du-si-e ro-bi-e-seo man-nal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Shall we meet in the lobby at 12 PM tomorrow? -
Expression: 점심 장소는 정해졌어요?
Pronunciation: jeom-sim jang-so-neun jeong-hae-jyeo-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Has the lunch place been decided? -
Expression: 어디로 갈 예정이에요?
Pronunciation: eo-di-ro gal ye-jeong-i-e-yo?
Meaning: Where are we planning to go? -
Expression: 몇 시에 출발할까요?
Pronunciation: myeot si-e chul-bal-hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: What time should we leave? -
Expression: 참석 여부 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: cham-seok yeo-bu al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please let me know if you can attend. -
Expression: 다른 분들도 오시나요?
Pronunciation: da-reun bun-deul-do o-si-na-yo?
Meaning: Are other people coming too? -
Expression: 메뉴는 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: me-nyu-neun mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What’s the menu? / What are we eating? -
Expression: 예약은 했어요?
Pronunciation: ye-ya-geun hae-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Have you made a reservation? -
Expression: 시간이랑 장소 다시 확인해 주세요.
Pronunciation: si-gan-i-rang jang-so da-si hwa-gin-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please confirm the time and place again. -
Expression: 못 먹는 음식 있으세요?
Pronunciation: mot meong-neun eum-sik i-sseu-se-yo?
Meaning: Is there any food you can’t eat? (Asking about dietary restrictions)
Responding to the Invitation
-
Expression: 네, 좋아요! 같이 가요.
Pronunciation: ne, jo-a-yo! ga-chi ga-yo.
Meaning: Yes, sounds good! Let’s go together. (Accepting) -
Expression: 네, 시간 괜찮아요.
Pronunciation: ne, si-gan gwaen-chan-a-yo.
Meaning: Yes, I’m free then. (Accepting) -
Expression: 와, 감사합니다! 저도 갈게요.
Pronunciation: wa, gam-sa-ham-ni-da! jeo-do gal-ge-yo.
Meaning: Wow, thank you! I’ll go too. (Enthusiastic acceptance) -
Expression: 아, 죄송해요. 내일은 점심 약속이 있어요.
Pronunciation: a, joe-song-hae-yo. nae-i-reun jeom-sim yak-so-gi i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Oh, I’m sorry. I have a lunch appointment tomorrow. (Declining politely) -
Expression: 미안해요, 내일은 좀 바빠서 어려울 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: mi-an-hae-yo, nae-i-reun jom ba-ppa-seo eo-ryeo-ul geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I’m sorry, I’m a bit busy tomorrow, so it might be difficult. (Declining politely) -
Expression: 다음에 꼭 같이 해요.
Pronunciation: da-eu-me kkok ga-chi hae-yo.
Meaning: Let’s definitely do it together next time. (Softening a decline) -
Expression: 초대해 주셔서 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: cho-dae-hae ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you for inviting me. (Used when accepting or declining) -
Expression: 혹시 제가 따로 준비할 것이 있을까요?
Pronunciation: hok-si je-ga tta-ro jun-bi-hal geo-si i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Is there anything I need to prepare separately? (Asking if they need to bring anything or contribute) -
Expression: 네, 몇 시에 어디서 만날까요?
Pronunciation: ne, myeot si-e eo-di-seo man-nal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Yes, what time and where should we meet? (Accepting and asking for details) -
Expression: 정말 가고 싶은데, 선약이 있어서 아쉽네요.
Pronunciation: jeong-mal ga-go si-peun-de, seon-ya-gi i-sseo-seo a-swip-ne-yo.
Meaning: I really want to go, but it’s a shame I have a prior engagement. (Polite decline expressing regret)
Korean Culture Notes
Team Lunches (팀 점심 – tim jeom-sim): Eating lunch together is a very common practice in Korean workplaces. It’s seen as an opportunity for team bonding and informal communication. Sometimes these lunches are organized and paid for by the company or team leader, while other times colleagues simply decide to eat together and pay individually.
Hierarchy Matters: While invitations can come from anyone, often a senior member (선배 – seon-bae) or team leader (팀장님 – tim-jang-nim) might initiate the lunch. When invited by a senior, it’s generally considered polite to accept unless you have a very valid reason to decline.
Declining Politely: If you need to decline, it’s important to do so politely and provide a brief reason (like a prior appointment or being busy). Expressing regret (아쉽네요 – a-swip-ne-yo) and suggesting joining next time (다음에 꼭 같이 해요 – da-eu-me kkok ga-chi hae-yo) are good ways to soften the refusal.
Paying for Lunch: Payment customs can vary. Sometimes the most senior person pays, sometimes it’s split (더치페이 – deo-chi-pe-i, from “Dutch pay”), or it might be covered by a corporate card. It’s often best to observe what others do or politely ask, “제가 내도 될까요?” (je-ga nae-do doel-kka-yo? – May I pay?) or be prepared to pay your share.
Conversation Topics: Lunch conversations tend to be lighter than formal meetings. Topics might include weekend plans, hobbies, food, or light work-related chat. Avoid overly sensitive or controversial topics unless you know your colleagues well.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Minjun wants to invite his colleague, Sora, to a team lunch planned for the next day.
Characters:
- A: Minjun (민준)
- B: Sora (소라)
-
Expression: A: 소라 씨, 안녕하세요. 혹시 내일 점심 약속 있으세요?
Pronunciation: so-ra ssi, an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. hok-si nae-il jeom-sim yak-sok i-sseu-se-yo?
Meaning: Sora, hello. Do you happen to have plans for lunch tomorrow? -
Expression: B: 아, 민준 씨. 안녕하세요. 아니요, 내일 점심은 아직 특별한 계획 없어요. 왜요?
Pronunciation: a, min-jun ssi. an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. a-ni-yo, nae-il jeom-si-meun a-jik teuk-byeol-han gye-hoek eop-seo-yo. wae-yo?
Meaning: Oh, Minjun. Hello. No, I don’t have any special plans for lunch tomorrow yet. Why? -
Expression: A: 내일 저희 팀 점심 식사 있는데 같이 가실래요? 팀원들 다 같이 가기로 했어요.
Pronunciation: nae-il jeo-hui tim jeom-sim sik-sa it-neun-de ga-chi ga-sil-lae-yo? tim-won-deul da ga-chi ga-gi-ro hae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Our team is having a lunch tomorrow, would you like to go together? All the team members decided to go together. -
Expression: B: 와, 정말요? 좋아요! 초대해 주셔서 감사합니다. 어디로 가는데요?
Pronunciation: wa, jeong-mal-lyo? jo-a-yo! cho-dae-hae ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da. eo-di-ro ga-neun-de-yo?
Meaning: Wow, really? Sounds good! Thank you for inviting me. Where are you going? -
Expression: A: 회사 근처 새로 생긴 한식집 가보려고요. 12시에 로비에서 모일 거예요. 괜찮으세요?
Pronunciation: hoe-sa geun-cheo sae-ro saeng-gin han-sik-jip ga-bo-ryeo-go-yo. yeol-du-si-e ro-bi-e-seo mo-il geo-ye-yo. gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo?
Meaning: We’re planning to try the new Korean restaurant near the company. We’ll meet in the lobby at 12 PM. Is that okay for you? -
Expression: B: 네, 12시 좋아요. 그럼 내일 로비에서 뵐게요!
Pronunciation: ne, yeol-du-si jo-a-yo. geu-reom nae-il ro-bi-e-seo boel-ge-yo!
Meaning: Yes, 12 PM is good. Then I’ll see you in the lobby tomorrow!
Practice Tips
Practicing these phrases will help you feel more comfortable inviting colleagues to lunch! Try role-playing the conversation example with a study partner or friend~ You can also practice asking about availability first (혹시 내일 점심 약속 있으세요?) before extending the invitation. Remember to use polite language (-실래요? ending) when speaking with colleagues, especially seniors. Good luck, and enjoy your team lunches in Korea!
