Deciding what to eat for dinner can sometimes lead to friendly (or not-so-friendly) debates, especially when ordering takeout. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and expressions for discussing food preferences, disagreeing, negotiating, and ultimately choosing what to order when you and your partner can’t seem to agree.
Table Of Content
Core Phrases for Deciding Dinner
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Expression: 오늘 저녁 뭐 먹을까?
Pronunciation: o-neul jeo-nyeok mwo meo-geul-kka?
Meaning: What should we eat for dinner tonight? (Casual) -
Expression: 배달 시켜 먹자.
Pronunciation: bae-dal si-kyeo meok-ja.
Meaning: Let’s order delivery. -
Expression: 뭐 먹고 싶어?
Pronunciation: mwo meok-go si-peo?
Meaning: What do you want to eat? (Casual)
Expressing Your Food Preferences
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Expression: 나는 피자 먹고 싶어.
Pronunciation: na-neun pi-ja meok-go si-peo.
Meaning: I want to eat pizza. -
Expression: 치킨 땡기는데.
Pronunciation: chi-kin ttaeng-gi-neun-de.
Meaning: I’m craving chicken. (Slangy/Casual) -
Expression: 떡볶이 어때?
Pronunciation: tteok-bok-ki eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about Tteokbokki? -
Expression: 오늘은 중식 먹자.
Pronunciation: o-neu-reun jung-sik meok-ja.
Meaning: Let’s eat Chinese food today. -
Expression: 매콤한 거 먹고 싶다.
Pronunciation: mae-kom-han geo meok-go sip-da.
Meaning: I want to eat something spicy. -
Expression: 난 아무거나 괜찮아.
Pronunciation: nan a-mu-geo-na gwaen-chan-a.
Meaning: Anything is fine with me. -
Expression: 너 먹고 싶은 거 시켜.
Pronunciation: neo meok-go si-peun geo si-kyeo.
Meaning: Order what you want to eat. -
Expression: 난 느끼한 거 별로야.
Pronunciation: nan neu-kki-han geo byeol-lo-ya.
Meaning: I don’t really like greasy food. -
Expression: 그냥 간단하게 먹자.
Pronunciation: geu-nyang gan-dan-ha-ge meok-ja.
Meaning: Let’s just eat something simple.
Disagreeing and Complaining
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Expression: 그거 저번에 먹었잖아.
Pronunciation: geu-geo jeo-beon-e meo-geot-ja-na.
Meaning: We ate that last time. -
Expression: 또 치킨이야?
Pronunciation: tto chi-kin-i-ya?
Meaning: Chicken again? -
Expression: 나 그거 안 땡겨.
Pronunciation: na geu-geo an ttaeng-gyeo.
Meaning: I’m not craving that. / I don’t feel like eating that. -
Expression: 다른 거 먹으면 안 돼?
Pronunciation: da-reun geo meo-geu-myeon an dwae?
Meaning: Can’t we eat something else? -
Expression: 맨날 너 먹고 싶은 것만 먹잖아.
Pronunciation: maen-nal neo meok-go si-peun geon-man meok-ja-na.
Meaning: We always eat only what you want to eat. -
Expression: 그 집 맛 없어졌어.
Pronunciation: geu jip mat eop-seo-jyeot-seo.
Meaning: That place doesn’t taste good anymore. -
Expression: 좀 질렸어.
Pronunciation: jom jil-lyeot-seo.
Meaning: I’m a bit sick of it. -
Expression: 왜 맨날 나만 양보해야 돼?
Pronunciation: wae maen-nal na-man yang-bo-hae-ya dwae?
Meaning: Why do I always have to be the one to give in? -
Expression: 그건 너무 비싸.
Pronunciation: geu-geon neo-mu bi-ssa.
Meaning: That’s too expensive. -
Expression: 어제도 비슷한 거 먹었어.
Pronunciation: eo-je-do bi-seut-han geo meo-geot-seo.
Meaning: We ate something similar yesterday too.
Negotiating and Making a Decision
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Expression: 그럼 이번엔 내가 고를게.
Pronunciation: geu-reom i-beon-en nae-ga go-reul-ge.
Meaning: Then I’ll choose this time. -
Expression: 다음엔 네가 먹고 싶은 거 먹자.
Pronunciation: da-eum-en ne-ga meok-go si-peun geo meok-ja.
Meaning: Next time, let’s eat what you want. -
Expression: 가위바위보로 정할까?
Pronunciation: ga-wi-ba-wi-bo-ro jeong-hal-kka?
Meaning: Shall we decide with rock-paper-scissors? -
Expression: 그럼 중간 지점에서 타협하자.
Pronunciation: geu-reom jung-gan ji-jeom-e-seo ta-hyeop-ha-ja.
Meaning: Then let’s compromise somewhere in the middle. -
Expression: 네가 이기면 피자, 내가 이기면 치킨. 어때?
Pronunciation: ne-ga i-gi-myeon pi-ja, nae-ga i-gi-myeon chi-kin. eo-ttae?
Meaning: If you win, pizza; if I win, chicken. How about that? -
Expression: 알았어, 그럼 그걸로 시키자.
Pronunciation: ar-at-seo, geu-reom geu-geol-lo si-ki-ja.
Meaning: Okay, then let’s order that. -
Expression: 좋아, 네 말대로 하자.
Pronunciation: jo-a, ne mal-dae-ro ha-ja.
Meaning: Okay, let’s do as you say. -
Expression: 빨리 정하자. 배고파.
Pronunciation: ppal-li jeong-ha-ja. bae-go-pa.
Meaning: Let’s decide quickly. I’m hungry. -
Expression: 그럼 내가 양보할게.
Pronunciation: geu-reom nae-ga yang-bo-hal-ge.
Meaning: Then I’ll give in. -
Expression: 진짜 마지막이야. 다음엔 무조건 내 차례야.
Pronunciation: jin-jja ma-ji-mak-i-ya. da-eum-en mu-jo-kkeon nae cha-rye-ya.
Meaning: This is really the last time. Next time, it’s definitely my turn.
Korean Culture Notes
Understanding Korean food culture can add context to these conversations. Korea has a vibrant delivery food culture (배달 문화 – bae-dal mun-hwa), with an incredible variety of options available quickly, making takeout debates common.
Sharing food is integral to Korean dining. Often, couples or groups order several dishes to share rather than individual meals, which can sometimes complicate decision-making if preferences differ widely.
While playful arguments are common, resolving disagreements amicably is generally preferred. Using methods like rock-paper-scissors (가위바위보 – ga-wi-ba-wi-bo) is a very common and lighthearted way to settle minor disputes like choosing food.
Expressing cravings using terms like “땡기다” (ttaeng-gi-da) is very common in casual conversation among close friends or partners when talking about food.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A couple, Minjun and Sora, are at home trying to decide what to order for dinner delivery.
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Expression: A (Minjun): 아, 배고프다. 오늘 저녁 뭐 시켜 먹을까?
Pronunciation: a, bae-go-peu-da. o-neul jeo-nyeok mwo si-kyeo meo-geul-kka?
Meaning: Ah, I’m hungry. What should we order for dinner tonight? -
Expression: B (Sora): 음… 나는 떡볶이 먹고 싶은데. 매콤한 걸로.
Pronunciation: eum… na-neun tteok-bok-ki meok-go si-peun-de. mae-kom-han geol-lo.
Meaning: Hmm… I want to eat Tteokbokki. A spicy one. -
Expression: A (Minjun): 떡볶이? 우리 저번 주에도 먹었잖아. 다른 거 먹자.
Pronunciation: tteok-bok-ki? u-ri jeo-beon ju-e-do meo-geot-ja-na. da-reun geo meok-ja.
Meaning: Tteokbokki? We ate that last week too. Let’s eat something else. -
Expression: B (Sora): 그럼 뭐? 난 오늘 진짜 떡볶이 땡긴단 말이야.
Pronunciation: geu-reom mwo? nan o-neul jin-jja tteok-bok-ki ttaeng-gin-dan mal-i-ya.
Meaning: Then what? I’m really craving Tteokbokki today. -
Expression: A (Minjun): 나는 치킨 먹고 싶은데… 그럼 가위바위보 할까?
Pronunciation: na-neun chi-kin meok-go si-peun-de… geu-reom ga-wi-ba-wi-bo hal-kka?
Meaning: I want to eat chicken… Then shall we play rock-paper-scissors? -
Expression: B (Sora): 또 가위바위보야? 맨날 내가 지잖아!
Pronunciation: tto ga-wi-ba-wi-bo-ya? maen-nal nae-ga ji-ja-na!
Meaning: Rock-paper-scissors again? I always lose! -
Expression: A (Minjun): 그럼 이번엔 내가 양보할게. 대신 다음엔 무조건 치킨이야!
Pronunciation: geu-reom i-beon-en nae-ga yang-bo-hal-ge. dae-sin da-eum-en mu-jo-kkeon chi-kin-i-ya!
Meaning: Then I’ll give in this time. But next time, it’s definitely chicken! -
Expression: B (Sora): 알았어, 알았어! 그럼 빨리 떡볶이 시키자. 제일 매운 맛으로!
Pronunciation: ar-at-seo, ar-at-seo! geu-reom ppal-li tteok-bok-ki si-ki-ja. je-il mae-un mat-eu-ro!
Meaning: Okay, okay! Then let’s order Tteokbokki quickly. The spiciest level!
Practice Tips
Practice these phrases next time you’re deciding on food with a friend or partner! Try substituting different food names like 족발 (jok-bal – pig’s trotters), 보쌈 (bo-ssam – boiled pork wraps), 회 (hoe – raw fish), or 파스타 (pa-seu-ta – pasta).
Role-playing this kind of common, everyday argument is a great way to make the vocabulary stick. You can even practice the negotiation tactics like suggesting rock-paper-scissors or promising to let the other person choose next time. Have fun ordering your next meal in Korean!~
