A1 Expression Formal

물 주세요.

Mul juseyo.

Please give me water.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

This is the essential phrase to ask for water in any restaurant or home in Korea.

  • Means: A polite request for water.
  • Used in: Restaurants, cafes, or when visiting a friend's home.
  • Don't confuse: '물 주세요' (polite) with '물 줘' (very rude/intimate).
Thirst + Polite Gesture + '물 주세요' = Refreshment

Explanation at your level:

This is a basic phrase to ask for water. You use it in restaurants to get a drink.
This expression uses the polite imperative form. It is the standard way to request an item in a service environment, showing basic social competence.
This phrase demonstrates the use of the -세요 honorific suffix. It is a functional request that balances directness with the necessary social deference required in Korean culture.
The phrase reflects the pragmatic necessity of honorifics in Korean. By using '주세요', the speaker acknowledges the social hierarchy, effectively softening the imperative nature of the request.
Linguistically, '물 주세요' functions as a polite directive. The omission of the subject highlights the focus on the object, while the honorific suffix mitigates the imposition of the request, a hallmark of Korean pragmatics.
This phrase encapsulates the intersection of syntax and social hierarchy. The use of the polite imperative '주세요' functions as a face-saving strategy, essential for maintaining 'kibun' (social comfort) in service encounters, illustrating the deep-seated cultural preference for indirectness.

Significado

A request for water.

🌍

Contexto cultural

Water is often provided free of charge in restaurants. Asking for water is a common way to signal you are ready to order.

💡

Add '좀'

Adding '좀' makes you sound like a local.

Significado

A request for water.

💡

Add '좀'

Adding '좀' makes you sound like a local.

Ponte a prueba

Which is the polite way to ask for water?

How do you ask for water?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: 물 주세요

주세요 is the polite form.

🎉 Puntuación: /1

Ayudas visuales

Preguntas frecuentes

1 preguntas

Yes, water is free in Korean restaurants.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

여기요

builds on

Excuse me

Dónde usarla

🍽️

Restaurant

You: 물 주세요.

Server: 네, 여기 있습니다.

neutral
🏠

Asking a friend's parent

You: 죄송하지만 물 좀 주세요.

Host: 아, 네 여기 있어요.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'Mule' (Mul) asking for a drink. 'Mule, juseyo!'

Visual Association

A thirsty person in a desert holding an empty cup, asking a waiter for water.

Rhyme

Water is blue, say 'Mul Juseyo' to you.

Story

You walk into a busy Seoul restaurant. You are parched. You catch the server's eye, smile, and say 'Mul juseyo!' They bring you a cold glass of water immediately.

Word Web

물주다식당한 잔시원하다여기요

Desafío

Say 'Mul juseyo' every time you drink water today.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Agua, por favor

Korean includes the verb 'give' (주세요) while Spanish often omits it.

French moderate

De l'eau, s'il vous plaît

French uses 'if it pleases you' as the politeness marker.

German moderate

Ein Glas Wasser, bitte

German specifies the container (glass) more often.

Japanese high

O-mizu kudasai

Japanese uses 'kudasai' while Korean uses 'juseyo'.

Arabic low

Ma'an, min fadlak

Arabic politeness is based on 'grace', Korean on 'giving'.

Easily Confused

물 주세요. vs 물 줘

Learners think it's just a shorter version.

It is rude; never use it with strangers.

Preguntas frecuentes (1)

Yes, water is free in Korean restaurants.

¿Te ha servido?

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