A2 noun #700 most common 2 min read

~아/어 주다

This grammar pattern means to do something as a favor for someone else.

Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use this when you help someone. If you open a door for a friend, you use this. It makes your sentence sound very nice and polite. Just add it to your verb!

Use this to show that you are doing a favor. If you buy coffee for a friend, you say '커피를 사 줬어요'. It shows you are kind and thinking of others.

This is essential for requests. Instead of just saying 'Help!', you say '도와주세요', which is much more polite. It is a fundamental part of social interaction in Korea.

Beyond simple favors, this can express emotional support. Phrases like '들어 주다' (to listen to someone) show that you are providing a service or emotional comfort to the listener.

In advanced usage, it can imply a sense of obligation or social expectation. It is used in professional settings to frame requests as polite services, softening the tone of directives significantly.

Deeply rooted in the cultural concept of 'Jeong' (affection/attachment), this grammar is the linguistic manifestation of caring for others. It is used in literature to highlight characters' altruistic motivations and their interconnectedness.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Used to express doing a favor for someone.
  • Attached to the ~아/어 form of a verb.
  • Cannot be used for actions benefiting oneself.
  • Essential for polite social interaction in Korean.

Hey there! Think of ~아/어 주다 as your kindness helper in Korean. When you want to say you did something 'for' someone, you just add this to the verb.

It’s super common because Korean culture really values being helpful. Whether you are opening a door for a friend or helping your teacher with their bags, you use this to show you are being thoughtful.

Remember, you only use this when the action is beneficial to the other person. If you are doing something for yourself, you wouldn't use this!

The word 주다 literally means 'to give'. In the context of ~아/어 주다, it has evolved to mean 'giving' an action to someone else.

Historically, this reflects the collectivist nature of Korean society, where actions are often viewed as exchanges of goodwill. By 'giving' an action, you are essentially 'giving' your time and effort as a gift to the receiver.

It has been a staple of the Korean language for centuries, evolving from simple 'giving' verbs into a sophisticated grammatical tool for expressing social etiquette and interpersonal relationships.

You attach this to the ~아/어 form of a verb. For example, '하다' (to do) becomes '해 주다'.

It is used in almost every register, from casual '도와줘!' (Help me!) to formal '도와주세요' (Please help me). It is the standard way to offer assistance or make a polite request.

You will often see it paired with verbs like 가르치다 (to teach), 빌려주다 (to lend), and 사주다 (to buy for someone).

말해 주다: To tell someone something (often advice or news). Example: '비밀을 말해 줘.' (Tell me the secret.)

기다려 주다: To wait for someone. Example: '조금만 기다려 줘.' (Please wait for me a little.)

믿어 주다: To believe in someone. Example: '나를 믿어 줘서 고마워.' (Thanks for believing in me.)

참아 주다: To tolerate or endure something for someone. Example: '이번만 참아 줄게.' (I'll let it slide just this once.)

보여 주다: To show something. Example: '사진 좀 보여 줘.' (Show me the photo.)

The structure is Verb stem + 아/어 + 주다. If the verb stem ends in 'ㅏ' or 'ㅗ', use '아 주다'. Otherwise, use '어 주다'.

Pronunciation is usually smooth, blending the two parts together. In rapid speech, '주다' can sometimes sound like '줘' in casual contexts.

It acts as an auxiliary verb, meaning it carries the conjugation (tense, politeness level) while the main verb stays in its connective form.

Fun Fact

It is one of the most frequently used auxiliary verbs in the Korean language.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /a/ə dʒu-da/

Standard Korean pronunciation rules apply.

US /a/ə dʒu-da/

Standard Korean pronunciation rules apply.

Common Errors

  • Mispronouncing the 'eo' sound
  • Failing to link the sounds
  • Incorrect vowel harmony

Rhymes With

주다 두다 부다 수다 무다

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

easy

Writing 2/5

medium

Speaking 2/5

medium

Listening 2/5

medium

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

주다 하다

Learn Next

~아/어 드리다 ~아/어 보다

Advanced

~아/어 놓다 ~아/어 두다

Grammar to Know

Honorifics

드리다

Verb Conjugation

아/어 form

Request Patterns

~아/어 주세요

Examples by Level

1

도와주세요.

Help (do for me).

Polite request

2

문 열어 줘.

Open the door for me.

Casual request

3

이거 사 줘.

Buy this for me.

Casual request

4

사진 찍어 줘.

Take a photo for me.

Casual request

5

노래 불러 줘.

Sing a song for me.

Casual request

6

가르쳐 주세요.

Please teach me.

Polite request

7

기다려 주세요.

Please wait for me.

Polite request

8

읽어 줘.

Read it for me.

Casual request

1

숙제를 도와줬어요.

2

친구에게 선물을 사 줬어요.

3

길을 알려 주세요.

4

커피를 타 줬어요.

5

창문을 닫아 줘.

6

택시를 불러 줬어요.

7

한국어를 가르쳐 줘서 고마워요.

8

짐을 들어 줄까요?

1

고민을 들어 줘서 고마워.

2

어려운 문제를 풀어 줬어요.

3

저를 위해 시간을 내 줬네요.

4

이번에는 제가 참아 줄게요.

5

그 사람이 저를 도와줬어요.

6

설명을 다시 해 주시겠어요?

7

친구를 공항까지 데려다 줬어요.

8

맛있는 음식을 만들어 줬어요.

1

부탁을 들어 주셔서 감사합니다.

2

그는 나에게 희망을 심어 줬다.

3

모두가 나를 믿어 줬다.

4

그녀는 나에게 기회를 줬다.

5

상황을 자세히 설명해 주시겠습니까?

6

우리 가족을 위해 열심히 일해 줬다.

7

그는 나에게 큰 힘이 되어 줬다.

8

어려운 결정을 내려 줬어요.

1

그의 조언이 큰 도움이 되어 줬다.

2

사태를 수습해 준 직원들에게 감사한다.

3

그녀는 나에게 새로운 시각을 제시해 줬다.

4

우리의 노력을 인정해 줘서 기쁘다.

5

그는 나에게 깊은 신뢰를 보여 줬다.

6

그들은 우리에게 따뜻한 환대를 해 줬다.

7

이 프로젝트를 마무리해 줘서 고맙다.

8

그녀는 나에게 용기를 북돋아 줬다.

1

그는 평생을 바쳐 우리를 지켜 줬다.

2

역사는 그에게 많은 것을 가르쳐 줬다.

3

그녀의 침묵은 나에게 많은 것을 말해 줬다.

4

그는 나에게 삶의 의미를 일깨워 줬다.

5

그들의 희생이 우리에게 평화를 가져다 줬다.

6

그는 나에게 무한한 사랑을 베풀어 줬다.

7

그녀는 나에게 고통을 견디는 법을 알려 줬다.

8

그는 나에게 새로운 세계를 열어 줬다.

Common Collocations

도와주다
가르쳐 주다
알려 주다
빌려 주다
사 주다
들어 주다
보여 주다
기다려 주다
믿어 주다
말해 주다

Idioms & Expressions

"눈감아 주다"

to overlook a mistake

이번만 눈감아 줄게.

casual

"기를 살려 주다"

to boost someone's confidence

아이들의 기를 살려 줘야 해.

neutral

"발 벗고 나서 주다"

to actively help someone

그가 발 벗고 나서 줬어.

neutral

"한 수 접어 주다"

to concede or yield

내가 한 수 접어 줄게.

casual

"기대를 저버리지 않다"

to live up to expectations

기대를 저버리지 않아 줬어.

formal

"마음을 열어 주다"

to open up to someone

그가 드디어 마음을 열어 줬어.

neutral

Easily Confused

~아/어 주다 vs 주다

Main verb vs auxiliary

Main verb means 'give', auxiliary means 'favor'.

선물을 주다 vs 도와주다.

~아/어 주다 vs 드리다

Honorific level

드리다 is for elders.

도와주세요 vs 도와드리겠습니다.

~아/어 주다 vs 받다

Opposite direction

받다 is to receive.

도움을 받다.

~아/어 주다 vs 시키다

Causative

시키다 is to make someone do something.

청소를 시키다.

Sentence Patterns

A1

Subject + Object + Verb-아/어 주다

내가 너를 도와줄게.

A2

Please + Verb-아/어 주세요

문 좀 열어 주세요.

B1

Thanks for + Verb-아/어 줘서 고마워

알려 줘서 고마워.

B2

Could you please + Verb-아/어 주시겠어요?

설명해 주시겠어요?

A2

I will + Verb-아/어 줄게요

내가 사 줄게요.

Word Family

Nouns

도움 help

Verbs

주다 to give

Related

드리다 honorific form of 주다

How to Use It

frequency

10

Formality Scale

드리다 (Honorific) 주세요 (Polite) 줘 (Casual) 줘라 (Command)

Common Mistakes

Using it for yourself → Just use the verb
You don't do favors for yourself.
Wrong verb ending → 아/어 주다
Must use the correct vowel harmony.
Omitting the particle → Include ~아/어
It's a compound verb structure.
Using it with negative verbs → Use carefully
Doesn't work with all verbs.
Confusing with '주다' (give) → Check context
One is a main verb, one is auxiliary.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

Visualize a gift whenever you say '주다'.

💡

Native Habit

Use it to soften your requests.

🌍

Cultural Insight

It shows 'Jeong' (affection).

💡

Shortcut

Always check the last vowel.

💡

Say It Right

Link the final vowel.

💡

Don't Do This

Don't use it for yourself.

💡

Did You Know?

It is the most common auxiliary.

💡

Study Smart

Group verbs by '아' or '어'.

💡

Honorifics

Use 드리다 for elders.

💡

Requests

Use ~아/어 주세요 for polite requests.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of '주다' as 'giving' your help to someone else.

Visual Association

Imagine a gift box being handed to someone.

Word Web

Help Favor Service Kindness Politeness

Challenge

Try to use this pattern 5 times today.

Word Origin

Korean

Original meaning: To give

Cultural Context

Always use honorifics (드리다) when speaking to elders.

Similar to 'do me a favor' or 'could you please...'

Used in almost every K-drama interaction

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

at work

  • 도와주셔서 감사합니다
  • 알려 주시겠어요
  • 검토해 주세요

at school

  • 가르쳐 주세요
  • 빌려 줄래
  • 설명해 줘

traveling

  • 사진 찍어 주세요
  • 길을 알려 주세요
  • 추천해 주세요

daily life

  • 문 열어 줘
  • 밥 사 줄게
  • 기다려 줘

Conversation Starters

"누가 너를 가장 많이 도와줬어?"

"친구에게 마지막으로 어떤 부탁을 했어?"

"어떤 상황에서 '도와주세요'라고 말해?"

"누군가에게 무언가를 가르쳐 준 적 있어?"

"친구가 너를 위해 무엇을 해 줬을 때 가장 고마웠어?"

Journal Prompts

Write about a time a stranger helped you.

Describe a favor you did for a friend.

Why is it important to help others?

How does using '주다' change the tone of a request?

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

No, it is for the benefit of others.

드리다.

It adds a sense of favor.

It makes speech much more natural.

Yes, common in emails.

No, also for emotional support.

Conjugate the main verb in ~아/어 form, then add 주다.

Yes, but less common.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

친구를 ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 도와줘

Needs polite casual form.

multiple choice A2

Which means 'Please buy it for me'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 사 주세요

Standard polite form.

true false B1

Can you use this for yourself?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It is for others.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Vocabulary match.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Subject-Object-Verb.

Score: /5

Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

〜てくれる Japanese
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