Explanation at your level:
You use this to ask for things. If you want water, you say '물 주세요' (Please give me water). If you want someone to sit, you say '앉아 주세요' (Please sit). It is your best friend for being polite!
At this level, you start using it with more complex verbs. You can ask people to 'open the door' (문 열어 주세요) or 'turn on the light' (불 켜 주세요). It makes your requests sound natural and kind.
You can now use it in professional settings. Instead of just asking for items, you ask for actions like 'please check this document' (이 서류를 확인해 주세요). It shows you have moved beyond basic survival Korean.
You understand the nuance of benefactive verbs. You can distinguish between 'do it' (하세요) and 'do it for me' (해 주세요). This distinction is vital for sounding like a native speaker who understands social dynamics.
Advanced learners use this to navigate complex social requests. You might use it in a slightly demanding way ('빨리 해 주세요' - please do it quickly) or a very soft way, depending on the verb and context. It is about controlling the 'social distance' of your request.
At the mastery level, you recognize how this structure functions in formal writing and public announcements. It is the standard for service-oriented language, appearing in almost every public sign or instructional manual in Korea, reflecting the high value placed on polite service.
Mot en 30 secondes
- It is a polite request ending.
- Derived from 'to give'.
- Essential for daily Korean.
- Use '아 주세요' or '어 주세요'.
Welcome to the world of Korean politeness! The construction 아/어 주세요 is one of the first and most important tools you will learn. It is the go-to way to ask for help or request an action.
Think of it as the Korean version of saying 'please do this for me.' By adding this to the end of a verb, you are softening your request and showing respect to the person you are talking to. It is incredibly versatile and used in almost every daily situation, from ordering coffee to asking a friend for a pen.
The structure comes from the verb 주다, which means 'to give.' In Korean, when you want to express that someone is doing something for your benefit, you use the 'give' verb as an auxiliary.
Historically, this reflects the collectivist nature of Korean culture, where actions are often viewed as 'gifts' or services provided between people. Over centuries, this evolved from a literal 'do this and give it to me' into the standard grammatical marker for polite requests we use today.
You use 아/어 주세요 whenever you need someone to perform an action. If the verb stem ends in 'ㅏ' or 'ㅗ', you use 아 주세요. For other vowels, you use 어 주세요.
It is perfect for polite, standard register interactions. If you are talking to a close friend, you might drop the '요' and just say '아/어 줘', but in 90% of your interactions, '주세요' is the safest and most natural choice.
While not an idiom itself, it is part of many set phrases. 1. 도와주세요 (Help me please). 2. 알려주세요 (Please let me know). 3. 기다려주세요 (Please wait for me). 4. 보여주세요 (Please show me). 5. 말해주세요 (Please tell me).
Grammatically, it attaches to the connective form of the verb. It is not pluralized, as it is a verb ending. Pronunciation-wise, it is usually pronounced as 'a-eo-ju-se-yo'.
Watch out for contraction: verbs ending in '하다' become '해 주세요'. For example, '공부하다' (to study) becomes '공부해 주세요'. It is a very consistent rule that makes Korean grammar quite logical once you practice the vowel shifts!
Fun Fact
It is the foundation of polite service culture in Korea.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear articulation of vowels.
Soft 'j' sound.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing 'eo'
- Dropping the 'yo'
- Incorrect vowel harmony
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to read.
Requires vowel harmony.
Very common.
Recognizable.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avancé
Grammar to Know
Vowel Harmony
가+아=가, 먹+어=먹어
Honorifics
주다 -> 주시다
Polite Speech
해요체
Examples by Level
물 주세요.
Water please.
Noun + 주세요
앉아 주세요.
Please sit down.
Verb + 주세요
봐 주세요.
Please look.
Verb + 주세요
먹어 주세요.
Please eat.
Verb + 주세요
가 주세요.
Please go.
Verb + 주세요
와 주세요.
Please come.
Verb + 주세요
해 주세요.
Please do it.
Verb + 주세요
읽어 주세요.
Please read.
Verb + 주세요
문 열어 주세요.
창문 닫아 주세요.
천천히 말해 주세요.
다시 말해 주세요.
사진 찍어 주세요.
이거 사 주세요.
도와 주세요.
기다려 주세요.
이메일 보내 주세요.
예약 확인해 주세요.
회의 준비해 주세요.
자료 출력해 주세요.
길 좀 알려 주세요.
메뉴 추천해 주세요.
환불해 주세요.
설명해 주세요.
검토해 주시면 감사하겠습니다.
제안서를 작성해 주세요.
비밀을 지켜 주세요.
행사에 참석해 주세요.
의견을 나눠 주세요.
배려해 주세요.
양해해 주세요.
연락해 주세요.
무례하게 굴지 말아 주세요.
철저히 조사해 주세요.
공정하게 처리해 주세요.
지속적으로 지원해 주세요.
결정을 재고해 주세요.
적극 협조해 주세요.
주의 깊게 살펴 주세요.
기꺼이 도와 주세요.
본 건에 대해 조속히 조치해 주시기 바랍니다.
귀하의 고견을 들려 주세요.
심사숙고해 주시길 부탁드립니다.
관례에 따라 처리해 주세요.
변함없는 성원을 보내 주세요.
각별히 유의해 주세요.
명확히 명시해 주세요.
적절히 대응해 주세요.
Collocations courantes
Idioms & Expressions
"잘 부탁드립니다"
Please take care of me/this.
이번 프로젝트 잘 부탁드립니다.
formal"한 번만 봐 주세요"
Please let it slide this once.
이번만 한 번만 봐 주세요.
casual"귀담아 들어 주세요"
Please listen carefully.
제 조언을 귀담아 들어 주세요.
neutral"눈감아 주세요"
Please turn a blind eye.
이번 실수는 눈감아 주세요.
neutral"손을 빌려 주세요"
Please lend a hand.
이삿짐 옮기는 것 좀 손을 빌려 주세요.
neutral"마음을 열어 주세요"
Please open your heart.
저에게 마음을 열어 주세요.
casualEasily Confused
Both are requests.
주십시오 is much more formal.
Please do it -> 해주세요 vs 해주십시오.
Both are verb forms.
해라 is plain/command.
Do it -> 해라 vs 해주세요.
The root verb.
주다 is just 'to give'.
Give -> 주다 vs 해주세요.
Humble form.
드리다 is for superiors.
Give -> 드리다 vs 주세요.
Sentence Patterns
Noun + 주세요
커피 주세요.
Verb + 아/어 주세요
도와 주세요.
Adverb + Verb + 주세요
천천히 말해 주세요.
Object + Verb + 주세요
책을 읽어 주세요.
Subject + Object + Verb + 주세요
친구가 저를 도와 주세요.
Famille de mots
Nouns
Verbs
Apparenté
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Erreurs courantes
Redundant, just use 주세요.
Need the politeness marker.
Double honorifics are incorrect.
Technically two words, though often written together.
Context mismatch; use -십시오 for very formal.
Tips
Memory Palace
Place a 'please' sign on your door.
Native Usage
Use it for all requests.
Cultural Insight
It shows respect.
Grammar Shortcut
Vowel harmony rule.
Say It Right
Clear 'yo' at the end.
Don't Make This Mistake
Avoid double honorifics.
Did You Know?
It means 'give'!
Study Smart
Practice with 5 verbs daily.
Verb Ending
Always attached to stem.
Politeness
Essential for survival.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Ju (Give) + Se (Service) + Yo (Polite marker)
Visual Association
Someone handing a gift to another person.
Word Web
Défi
Use it 5 times today.
Origine du mot
Korean
Original meaning: To give (a service)
Contexte culturel
Crucial for avoiding sounding rude.
Equivalent to 'Please' + [verb].
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Restaurant
- 메뉴판 주세요
- 물 주세요
- 계산해 주세요
Office
- 확인해 주세요
- 메일 보내 주세요
- 회의 준비해 주세요
Travel
- 길 알려 주세요
- 사진 찍어 주세요
- 예약해 주세요
School
- 설명해 주세요
- 다시 말해 주세요
- 도와 주세요
Conversation Starters
"오늘 저를 도와 주실 수 있나요?"
"이거 어떻게 하는지 알려 주세요."
"잠시만 기다려 주세요."
"커피 한 잔 사 주세요!"
"다시 한 번 말해 주세요."
Journal Prompts
What did you ask someone to do today?
Write 5 requests you make daily.
How does using '주세요' change your interactions?
List 3 things you want someone to do for you.
Questions fréquentes
8 questionsYes, in standard situations.
It is better to use '줘' for friends.
It becomes '해 주세요'.
No, it is a verb ending.
Usually for others.
Use '주십시오'.
Yes, '주셨어요'.
No, it is very consistent.
Teste-toi
물 ___.
Water please.
Which means 'Please help'?
도와 주세요 is correct.
Is '주세요' formal?
Yes, it is polite.
Word
Signification
Matches verb with ending.
Subject-Object-Verb order.
Score : /5
Summary
Adding '주세요' turns any verb into a polite request, making it the most useful phrase in your Korean toolkit.
- It is a polite request ending.
- Derived from 'to give'.
- Essential for daily Korean.
- Use '아 주세요' or '어 주세요'.
Memory Palace
Place a 'please' sign on your door.
Native Usage
Use it for all requests.
Cultural Insight
It shows respect.
Grammar Shortcut
Vowel harmony rule.
Related Content
Plus de mots sur food
~정도
A1Suffix meaning "about" or "approximately."
추가
A2Addition, extra (e.g., extra order).
몇 개
A2How many items?
~은/는 후에
A2After ~ing; indicates an action that occurs subsequent to another.
중에서
A2Among, out of (selection).
식욕
A2Appetite.
에피타이저
A2An appetizer.
전채
A2Appetizer.
먹음직스럽다
B2To look appetizing, delicious.
사과
A1apple
