밥 먹었어요?

bap meo-geo-sseo-yo · literally “Did you eat (rice)?”

Situation: A Korean coworker passes you in the hallway around lunchtime and asks '밥 먹었어요?'

✕ What AI tells you

Translates it as 'Did you eat?' and suggests a detailed answer, or explains it as an invitation to eat together.

Why it fails: Most of the time it's a casual check-in, close to 'How's it going?' The speaker usually isn't asking about your menu and isn't necessarily inviting you.

✓ What Koreans actually say

Answer briefly and bounce the question back. Treat it as an invitation only if a time or place follows.

  • 네, 먹었어요. 식사하셨어요?

    ne, meo-geo-sseo-yo. sik-sa-ha-syeo-sseo-yo

    Short answer + the polite version back (식사하다 is the respectful 'eat')

  • 아직요. 이따 먹으려고요.

    a-jik-yo. i-tta meo-geu-ryeo-go-yo

    Haven't eaten yet — still a complete, natural reply

  • 점심 맛있게 드셨어요?

    jeom-sim ma-sit-ge deu-syeo-sseo-yo

    Your own after-lunch greeting to a senior colleague

Cultural nuance, in depth

Asking whether someone has eaten is a way of showing care, and it fits the Korean habit of greeting through situation rather than with a fixed phrase ('Going home?', 'Did you eat?', 'You came early!'). When you ask a superior, switch the verb to 식사하셨어요? or 드셨어요? — 밥 먹었어요? is fine for peers but too plain for elders.