어야 먹다

must X before you eat

The 어야 ending sets the condition that has to be met first, and most of these lines finish with the ability form: you can only eat if you get there fast, only after an hour of queueing, only if you climb into the ring, only once the earthy smell is dealt with. It is the language of gatekeeping, whether by a queue, a rule or a game penalty. One line uses it about desire instead, saying you only eat it if it tastes good.

Register: casual