-(으)ㄹ까요? (Asking Conjecture)
Used to ask for someone else's guess or opinion about a third-party situation, or to express doubt/curiosity to oneself.
Summary
Equivalent
Do you think...? / I wonder if...
Also: -(으)ㄹ 것 같아요? (Do you think it seems like...?)
Example
Do you think tomorrow's exam will be difficult?
내일 시험이 어려울까요?
Grammar rules
- The subject is usually third person (e.g., the weather, another person, an object).
- If the subject is 'I/We', the meaning changes to 'Shall I/we?' (Suggestion).
- When asking with '-(으)ㄹ까요?', the typical answer structure is '-(으)ㄹ 거예요' (I think it will be) or '-(으)ㄹ 것 같아요' (It seems like).
이 옷이 저한테 맞을까요? -> 네, 맞을 거예요. (Do you think these clothes will fit me? -> Yes, they probably will fit.)
Patterns
Verbs/Adjectives (Consonant)
Present/Future Guess · Stem + 을까요?
Verbs/Adjectives (Vowel/ㄹ)
Present/Future Guess · Stem (drop ㄹ) + ㄹ까요?
Example sentences
Do you think tomorrow's exam will be difficult?
내일 시험이 어려울까요?
Do you think the teacher is in the office now?
선생님이 지금 사무실에 계실까요?
Do you think Sumi will like it if I give her this gift?
이 선물을 주면 수미 씨가 좋아할까요?
Conversation
A: Do you think the weather will be good tomorrow?
내일 날씨가 좋을까요?
B: Yes, it probably will be good.
네, 좋을 거예요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct form to ask for a guess.
Price.
Eating.