A foreign student asked me something. "A woman I met in the hallway said, 'Have you eaten?' Does that mean she wants to eat together?" No. That phrase is almost a greeting. Let's walk together, starting from the entrance of the apartment building. ## At the entrance and in front of the elevator When you open the door and step inside, the security office is on your left. The security guard asks, "Have you eaten?" He asks. A neighbor you meet in front of the elevator says something similar. This time, it's enough to smile and say, "Yes, I've eaten." They aren't asking because they really want to know. ## Why rice, of all things? In the old days in Korea, there were many times when food was scarce. If you had eaten a meal, it meant you were getting by without any trouble. That's how "Have you eaten?" came to mean "How are you?" Now there is plenty to eat, but the phrase has stayed the same. ## In the office hallway When you step out of the elevator and walk toward your office, a coworker passes by and says, "Let's grab a meal sometime." This, too, is usually not a promise but a greeting meaning "It's nice to see you." If it's a real invitation, a date comes with it. Like, "How about lunch on Thursday?" There are phrases you can use right away. When someone asks if you've eaten, say, "Yes, I have. Have you eaten?" and ask them back. If you really want to eat together, just start by naming a date.