Grammar Advanced TOPIK II · Level 5–6 Advanced Korean 2 · expression

-자면2

-자면②: How About… / Let’s Say… — Suggesting a Course

Expression: how about… / let's say… — suggesting a course.

Before this, make sure you know: -자면1 , -아요 / -어요

How to form it

When	Form	Example
Suggesting an act	-자면	가자면 / 하자면 / 먹자면
With 어때 / suggestion sequel	-자면 어때요?	지금 가자면 어때요? / 이거 사자면?

-자면② suggests a course — how about…?

Not intention-as-if -자면①. Suggestion colour.

Why this is hard

Same -자면 letters. ① says if that’s the plan…. ② says how about we…? Keep them apart.

What it does

지금 가자면 어때요?
이거 사자면?
내일 하자면 어때요?
커피 마시자면?

The hinge proposes; sequels like 어때요 are common.

Forms

Action stem + -자면, often with suggestion sequels.

가다 → 가자면
사다 → 사자면
하다 → 하자면

When not to use it

Do not use it as intention-as-if — -자면①.

Do not use it as bare let’s alone — propositive -자.

Do not use it as broad soft if — -(으)면.

Neighbours — and why they differ

Form	Why it is not this slot
-자면①	Intention as the if.
Propositive -자	Bare let’s ending.
-(으)면	Broad if.

Ask: am I suggesting a course? If yes, -자면②. If intention-as-if, -자면①.

If English wants how about we…?, you are here.

Do not confuse it with

-자면1

if you mean to… — taking that intention as the starting point

-으면

if, when — the all-purpose conditional

-자

let's — the casual version of 읍시다

Taught alongside this

On the jabi learning path, this appears in 표현 (expression) — Advanced Korean 2, Unit 4, on the theme of expression. These come with it:

-기 일쑤이다 always ends up… — what commonly / habitually happens (-기(가) 일쑤이다) -기 짝이 없다 extremely… — so much there is no comparison 는 마당에 in a situation where… — given this awkward context -는 한이 있어도 even if it kills me… — willing to pay any cost -을 바에 given you are (doing) that — the situation of that act (often with a better alternative) -으려도 even if one tries to… — attempt that still fails or contrasts -으리라는 the idea that one will… — naming a future claim 를 막론하고 regardless of — without picking and choosing among that set -어 치우다 get it done fast — finishing off, often roughly -는다는 the… that says / that will — framing a quoted claim as a noun 이라고는 as for… (only) — singled out under emphasis, usually before scarce/negative (이라고는) -는다던가1 is that the order…? — checking what you were told to do -으래서야 how can you only now…? — challenging the late order or claim -으리라고 that one will… — quoting a future claim

Words used above

Tap the speaker to hear it read aloud by your browser.

-자면-jamyeonhow about… / let’s say…

제안jeeansuggestion

어때eottaehow about

의도uidointention — other -자면 slot

청유cheong-yulet’s — related family

Quick check

No sign-up, no score saved — just see if it stuck.

1. You are suggesting leaving now, and you want their reaction. Not 'if we mean to go, leave now'. Which line?

2. You are proposing this purchase, not stating what the plan requires. Which line?

3. Tomorrow's work is a proposal, not a condition you already accepted. Which line?

Common questions

Job?

Suggest a course — how about / let’s say we…

Vs ①?

-자면① takes intention as if. ② suggests.

Vs -자?

Propositive -자 is a bare let’s ending. -자면② keeps going into 어때/sequel.

Register?

Planning, soft proposals.