The Korean grammar pattern ‘-는 게 어때요?’ is a common way to make polite suggestions or ask for someone’s opinion in Korean conversations. It is used to propose an action or check someone’s preference in a friendly and respectful manner. Learning this pattern will help you speak more confidently and politely in everyday interactions with friends, family, or colleagues.
Contents
1. What is ‘-는 게 어때요?’ in Korean?
‘-는 게 어때요?’ is used to make suggestions or gently recommend an action while checking someone’s opinion. It is attached to verbs and should not be used with nouns or adjectives in natural speech.
English meaning:
- “How about ~?”
- “What do you think about ~?”
Example:
- 주말에 영화 보는 게 어때요?
(How about watching a movie this weekend?)
2. How to Form ‘-는 게 어때요?’
Structure
Verb stem + -는 게 어때요?
- For verbs ending in a vowel or consonant (except ㄹ): just add -는 게 어때요?
- 가다 → 가는 게 어때요? (How about going?)
- 먹다 → 먹는 게 어때요? (How about eating?)
- 쉬다 → 쉬는 게 어때요? (How about taking a rest?)
- For verbs ending in ㄹ: drop ㄹ and add -는 게 어때요?
- 만들다 → 만드는 게 어때요? (How about making it?)
- 달리다 → 달리는 게 어때요? (How about running?)
- 놀다 → 노는 게 어때요? (How about playing?)
📌 Tip: Always attach this grammar pattern to a verb (action), not directly to a noun.
3. Using ‘-는 게 어때요?’ in Daily Conversations
3-1. Making Casual Suggestions
You can use this to suggest something in a friendly, casual way.
- 주말에 영화 보는 게 어때요?
(How about watching a movie this weekend?) - 오늘 저녁에 치킨 먹는 게 어때요?
(How about eating chicken tonight?) - 내일 같이 공부하는 게 어때요?
(How about studying together tomorrow?) - 저 공원에서 산책하는 게 어때요?
(How about walking in that park?) - 주말에 캠핑 가는 게 어때요?
(How about going camping on the weekend?)
3-2. Giving Advice Politely
You can also use it to recommend an action politely without sounding forceful.
- 감기 걸렸으니까 푹 쉬는 게 어때요?
(You caught a cold, how about getting some rest?) - 시험 공부를 미리 시작하는 게 어때요?
(How about starting exam prep early?) - 너무 늦었으니까 택시 타는 게 어때요?
(It’s too late, how about taking a taxi?) - 피곤해 보이는데 잠깐 쉬는 게 어때요?
(You look tired, how about taking a short break?) - 이 책을 읽는 게 어때요?
(How about reading this book?)
3-3. Asking Opinions or Preferences
This pattern is also useful to check someone’s thoughts on an idea or plan.
- 이 카페에서 커피 마시는 게 어때요?
(How about having coffee at this cafe?) - 이번 주말에 같이 영화를 보는 게 어때요?
(How about watching a movie together this weekend?) - 이번 주말에 여행 가는 게 어때요?
(How about going on a trip this weekend?) - 다음 학기에 한국어 수업 듣는 게 어때요?
(How about taking a Korean class next semester?) - 새로운 프로젝트를 시작하는 게 어때요?
(How about starting a new project?)
4. Practice Exercises to Master ‘-는 게 어때요?’
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “-는 게 어때요?” based on the given verb, adjective, or noun.
- 주말에 (등산하다) __________?
(How about hiking on the weekend?) - 저녁으로 파스타 (먹다) __________?
(How about eating pasta for dinner?) - 이번 방학에 한국어 (공부하다) __________?
(How about studying Korean during this vacation?) - 지금 날씨가 좋은데 (산책하다) __________?
(The weather is nice now, how about taking a walk?) - 이 드라마 정말 재미있어요! (보다) __________?
(This drama is really interesting! How about watching it?) - 너무 늦었으니까 내일 아침에 (출발하다) __________?
(It’s too late now, how about leaving tomorrow morning?) - 이 디자인으로 로고를 (만들다) __?
(How about making a logo with this design?) - 집 청소를 (하다) __?
(How about cleaning the house?) - 기운 없어 보여요. 좀 (쉬다) __________?
(You look tired. How about taking some rest?) - 시험이 얼마 안 남았으니까 미리 (공부하다) __________?
(The exam is coming up soon, how about studying in advance?)
Answer Key
- 등산하는 게 어때요?
- 먹는 게 어때요?
- 공부하는 게 어때요?
- 산책하는 게 어때요?
- 보는 게 어때요?
- 출발하는 게 어때요?
- 만드는 게 어때요?
- 하는 게 어때요?
- 쉬는 게 어때요?
- 공부하는 게 어때요?
5. Common Confusions with ‘-는 게 어때요?’
5-1. Misunderstanding 1: Using nouns with ‘-는 게 어때요?’
Why learners get confused
Many learners try to attach this pattern to a noun because in English we can say “How about the student?” This is a direct translation mistake.
Example of the confusion
❌ 그 사람이 학생 는 게 어때요?
Explanation
This structure should be attached to a verb, not directly to a bare noun. Instead, you should suggest an action related to the noun or use a full predicate. For example, you could say that someone is a student, or that they do something as a student.
Correct idea in learner-friendly terms:
This pattern is best learned as attaching to verbs (actions). Nouns alone do not naturally take this pattern in basic usage, so it is safer to always pair it with a verb when you are learning.
Want to see more examples?
Check out our guide on making polite suggestions in everyday Korean.
5-2. Misunderstanding 2: Using past tense directly
Why learners get confused
Some learners try to make a suggestion about a past event directly, assuming it will work. When they translate sentences like “How about going to the restaurant we visited yesterday?” they often end up mixing the past action and the suggestion in an unnatural way.
Example of the confusion
❌ 어제 간 식당에 갔는 게 어때요?
Explanation
When referring to a past event, use a relative clause for the past part, and keep the suggestion itself in the present or future.
✅ 어제 간 식당에 다시 가는 게 어때요?
(How about going again to the restaurant we went to yesterday?)
5-3. Misunderstanding 3: Confusing with -아/어 볼까요?
Why learners get confused
Some learners think that -아/어 볼까요? and -는 게 어때요? are interchangeable because both can be used to make suggestions. However, there is a nuance difference between them.
Example of the confusion
시간이 늦었으니까 택시 타 볼까요?
Explanation
- -는 게 어때요? → Suggests an option or gives advice in a slightly detached, recommending way (“How about taking a taxi?”).
- -아/어 볼까요? → Asks if you should try doing something, focusing on the idea of trying/experiencing an action (“Shall we try taking a taxi?”).
The sentence “시간이 늦었으니까 택시 타 볼까요?” is grammatically natural, but it carries the nuance of “Shall we try taking a taxi since it’s late?” rather than a simple “I recommend taking a taxi.”
If you want to give a straightforward, polite recommendation, -는 게 어때요? is more suitable:
Correct usage for a polite suggestion:
✅ 시간이 늦었으니까 택시 타는 게 어때요?
(How about taking a taxi since it’s late?)
Want to explore -아/어 보다 more in depth?
For a detailed explanation and examples, check out our full guide.
6. Mastering ‘-는 게 어때요?’ in Korean: Summary and Tips
Quick Summary
‘-는 게 어때요?’ is a polite structure used to make suggestions or ask for someone’s opinion.
It is best translated as “How about …?” or “What do you think about …?” in English.
This pattern is suitable for polite everyday conversations (casual to semi-formal), but sounds too conversational for very formal written documents.
Key Usage Tips
- Always use with verbs; attaching it to nouns or adjectives is not natural in basic learner usage.
- Focus on present or future actions, not past events.
- Appropriate for polite but casual conversations with friends, colleagues, or family.
- Avoid using in formal or written contexts where other polite forms may be required.
One-Line Reminder
Even though it makes a suggestion politely, it must be attached to a verb and refers to present or future actions.
Related Korean Grammar Patterns
-자 (Let’s…) – Casual Suggestion
Used to make a suggestion that includes both the speaker and the listener. Suitable for friends, classmates, or family. Politeness is low, so it is not used in formal or hierarchical contexts.
-아/어 보다’ (to try doing something)
Focuses on actually trying an action or experiencing it, not on asking for an opinion like ‘-는 게 어때요?’.
-(으)ㄹ래요? (Would you like to…?)
Used to check someone’s intention or preference politely. Can be confused with ‘-는 게 어때요?’ since both involve asking about choices, but -겠어요/-ㄹ래요 focuses on the listener’s willingness.
-(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다 (It seems/looks like…)
Expresses speculation or judgment about a situation. Helpful when making polite suggestions as context or reasoning for an action.
-(으)니까 / -아서/어서/해서 (Because / Since…)
Used to provide a reason or cause. Often used with polite suggestions to explain the rationale behind a proposal.
-(으)ㄴ/는 게 어때요? (How about…?)
Used to make a polite suggestion about another person’s action. Focuses on present or future actions and always attaches to a verb. Differs from ‘-자’, which always includes the speaker in the proposal.
-(으)ㄹ까요? (Shall we…? / Do you think…?)
Used to make a polite suggestion or ask someone’s opinion, focusing on present or future actions. Differs from -는 게 어때요?, which offers a polite suggestion specifically about another person’s action.