jeonyeogeneun chikineul sikyeoseo gati meokja.

Let’s order chicken in the evening and eat together.

Breakdown of jeonyeogeneun chikineul sikyeoseo gati meokja.

• ~을: object particle
• 먹다: to eat
• ~는: topic particle
• ~에: time particle
• 저녁: evening
• 같이: together
• ~서: and then
• 시키다: to order
• 치킨: chicken

Questions & Answers about jeonyeogeneun chikineul sikyeoseo gati meokja.

What does the particle in 저녁에는 do? Why not just 저녁에?

• 에 marks time/place (“in/at the evening”).
• Adding 는 makes that time the topic or adds contrast: “As for dinner/evening…”
• Both are natural; 저녁에는 sounds a bit more contrastive/emphatic than 저녁에.

Does 저녁 mean “dinner” or “evening”?

• It can mean either, depending on context.
• With eating verbs, it’s usually understood as “dinner/this evening.”
• For late night, use 밤.

Why is it 치킨을? Can I drop 을?

• 을/를 marks the direct object; after a final consonant (like 치킨), use 을.
• In casual speech, dropping it is common: 치킨 시켜서 같이 먹자 is fine when clear from context.

Is 치킨 the same as 닭 or 닭고기?

• 치킨 in Korea usually means fried chicken (the dish).
• 닭 = the animal; 닭고기 = chicken meat.
• For this sentence, 치킨 is the natural word.

What exactly does 시키다 mean here? How is it different from 주문하다?

• 시키다: to order food; also “to make someone do.” Very common in casual speech.
• 주문하다: to place an order; neutral/formal.
• Both work: 치킨을 시켜서/주문해서. 시키다 feels more colloquial.

What does the -서 in 시켜서 do? Could I use -고 or something else?

• -아서/어서 links actions (often “and then/so”): order and then eat.
• 시키다 + -어서 contracts to 시켜서.
• -고 is also fine: 시키고 (neutral linking).
• Very natural set phrase: 치킨 시켜 먹자 (“order-and-eat” as a unit).

Does 같이 have to be there? How is it different from 함께?

• 같이 = together. With 먹자 (“let’s”), togetherness is implied, but 같이 emphasizes it.
• 함께 is more formal/literary; 같이 is everyday.
• Omitting it is okay: 치킨을 시켜서 먹자.

What is the politeness level of 먹자? When should I use it?

• -자 is casual “let’s,” used with friends, younger people, close family.
• Politer options:
  • 먹을까요? (Shall we eat?)
  • 먹죠. (Let’s eat, right?)
  • Formal: 먹읍시다. With honorific verb: 같이 드시죠 / 드실래요?

Can I say 먹어요 to make a suggestion?

• 먹어요 (polite present) can sound suggestive with the right intonation but is weaker/less clear.
• Prefer 먹을까요?, 먹죠, or 먹읍시다 for a clear polite suggestion.

Where can I put 같이? Is 같이 치킨을 시켜서 먹자 okay?

• 같이 generally sits before the verb it modifies.
• 치킨을 시켜서 같이 먹자 = eat together (default reading).
• 같이 치킨을 시켜서 먹자 = order together and then eat; natural if that’s the intent.
• Fixed pattern: 같이 치킨 시켜 먹자 is very natural.

Who is the subject? I don’t see “we” anywhere.

• Subjects are often omitted in Korean.
• 먹자 inherently means “let’s (we) eat,” so 우리 is understood.
• You can add it: 우리 저녁에는 치킨을 시켜서 같이 먹자 (for emphasis).

How is this pronounced naturally?

• 저녁에는 → [저녀게는]
• 치킨을 → [치키늘]
• 시켜서 → [시켜서]
• 같이 → [가치] (palatalization)
• 먹자 → [먹짜] (tensification) Rough romanization: jeonyeogeneun chikin-eul sikyeoseo gachi meok-ja.

Is there a difference between 저녁에, 저녁에는, and 저녁엔?

• 저녁에: plain time marker.
• 저녁에는: topical/contrastive “as for the evening/dinner.”
• 저녁엔: colloquial contraction of 저녁에는; very common.

How would I make this more formal or written?

• 저녁에는 치킨을 주문해서 함께 먹읍시다.
• To elders/superiors: 저녁에는 치킨을 주문해서 함께 드시죠.

How do I include quantity or time?

• Whole chickens take the counter 마리:
  • 치킨 한 마리(두 마리) 시켜서 같이 먹자.
• Add time with 에:
  • 저녁 7시에 치킨을 시켜서 같이 먹자.

Could I say 저녁으로 치킨 먹자?

• Yes. -으로 marks the choice/role (“as/for dinner”).
• Variants: 저녁으로 치킨을 시켜 먹자, 저녁으로 치킨 먹을까?

Does -서 mean “because” here?

• Here it’s sequential (“and then”). The same ending can mean “because” in other contexts (e.g., 비가 와서 못 갔어요).

How do I say “Shall we…?” or make it negative?

• “Shall we…?”: 저녁에는 치킨을 시켜서 같이 먹을까?
• Negative suggestion: 저녁에는 치킨을 시켜서 같이 먹지 말자. More natural alternative: 치킨 말고 다른 거 먹자.

I’ve seen 먹쟈 online. Is that correct?

• Standard spelling is 먹자. 먹쟈 is a playful/incorrect internet spelling—avoid it in proper writing.

Does this imply delivery?

• Often, yes. 치킨 (을) 시키다/시켜 먹다 tends to suggest ordering for delivery or takeout at home.
• To be explicit: 치킨을 배달시켜서 같이 먹자 or 치킨 배달 시켜 먹자.