Learn Hardcore Korean: da-eum jue chingureul mannayo.

While English uses a special future tense, Korean often uses the present tense (here the polite -요 form) for scheduled or planned future events. The timing (“next week”) makes it clear you’re talking about the future.

What does 다음 주에 mean, and what function does the particle -에 serve here?

다음 주 means “next week.” The particle -에 is the time/location marker, so 다음 주에 literally means “at/in next week,” which we naturally translate as “next week.”

Why does 친구 take the particle -를?

The particle -를 (or -을 after a consonant) is the direct object marker. It shows that 친구 (friend) is the thing being met: 친구를 만나요 = “(I) meet a friend.”

I don’t see any subject in this sentence. Where is the “I”?

Korean frequently omits the subject when it’s understood from context. Here, the implied subject is 저 (I). You could say 저는 다음 주에 친구를 만나요, but dropping 저는 is more natural when it’s clear who you’re talking about.

What level of politeness is used in 만나요, and how could I change it?

만나요 is polite informal (존댓말) because of the -요 ending. You can adjust the speech level: • 만나 – casual (반말)
• 만납니다 – formal polite (격식체)
• 만나세요 – polite honorific (showing respect to the person you’re meeting)

Can I say 친구하고 만나요 instead of 친구를 만나요?

Yes. -하고 means “with.”
• 친구를 만나요 = “I meet a friend.”
• 친구하고 만나요 = “I hang out with a friend.”
Both are common; -하고 simply emphasizes doing it together.

If I’m meeting more than one friend, how do I express that?

You can pluralize 친구 with -들 and keep the object marker:
다음 주에 친구들을 만나요 = “I’ll meet friends next week.”
Often Koreans omit -들 if the plurality is obvious from context.

Why not say 다음에 친구를 만나요?

다음에 means “next time,” not “next week.”
• 다음 주에 친구를 만나요 = “I’ll meet a friend next week.”
• 다음에 친구를 만나요 = “I’ll meet a friend next time.”