Dictionary — Entry No. 0338
먹자
meokja · expression
먹자
meokja
[muk-JA]
expressionbeginner
Meaning
먹자 (meokja) means ‘let’s eat!’ It is the informal propositive form of 먹다 (meokda, to eat), created by adding the suffix -자 to the verb stem. The -자 ending is the casual Korean equivalent of ‘let’s —’ and immediately signals a close, comfortable relationship between the speakers.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Food is at the heart of Korean social culture, and 먹자 is the phrase that kicks off countless bonding moments in K-Dramas and idol variety content. Stray Kids’ ‘God’s Menu’ uses food as a central metaphor for irresistible appeal, mirroring the cultural importance of a shared meal. In Let’s Eat, the entire drama is built around the ritual of sitting down together — 먹자 is practically its thesis statement, a simple two-syllable invitation that carries warmth, intimacy, and community.
Example Sentences
배고파, 빨리 먹자!
Baegopa, ppalli meokja!
I’m hungry, let’s eat fast! — an energetic call to the table among friends, with the urgency of real hunger
오늘 치킨 먹자.
Oneul chikin meokja.
Let’s eat chicken today. — a classic proposal; Korean fried chicken is such a cultural staple this phrase feels iconic
다 같이 먹자!
Da gachi meokja!
Let’s all eat together! — an inclusive invitation that emphasizes the communal spirit central to Korean meal culture
⚠️ Don’t use meokja when…
The -자 ending is strictly informal — never use 먹자 with elders, teachers, or anyone you address formally; use 먹어요 (meogeyo) or the honorific 드세요 (deuseyo) instead. Also, don’t confuse 먹자 (let’s eat, a suggestion) with 먹어 (meogeo, eat it!, a command) — the endings -자 and -어 flip the meaning from warm invitation to blunt imperative.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Let’s Eat — the whole drama revolves around solo diner Goo Dae-young’s passionate relationship with food, and 먹자 captures the show’s central argument that eating together transforms strangers into something more.
- K-Pop: Stray Kids — God’s Menu
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.