< Shall we? / I wonder -(으)ㄹ까요 >

Verb stems ending with a consonant + 을까요

Verb stems ending with a vowel + ㄹ까요

"I wonder what is in the bag"

"Will he be alright?"

"Will it be hot tomorrow?"

“Why did this happen? What do you think, everyone?”

“What do you think life is?”

“What shall we do now?”

“Shall we go to the movies?”

By using ㄹ까요? or 을까요? it is showing curiosity or uncertainty. For example, in usage #1, when asking yourself a question and showing doubt about something (you do not know what is in that bag), say “저 가방 안에 뭐가 있을까요?” (“I wonder what is in that bag”) rather than “뭐가 있어요?” (“What is in the bag?”) because you are not directly asking someone. You are simply just showing your curiosity.

Even when suggesting to do something together with someone, use the (으)ㄹ까요? ending if you are not sure. For example, you are not sure if you want to see a movie with your friend, so you ask him/her “영화 볼까요?” In this way, you are expressing your curiosity about what your friend wants to do and your own uncertainty, and at the same time, suggesting or inviting your friend to the movies in case he/she wants to go.

This is the most fundamental usage of (으)ㄹ까요? There are three basic levels of usage: to ask someone a question, to ask yourself a question, and to make a declarative sentence expressing wonder, curiosity, or uncertainty.