-아/어 드리다 is the humble/honorific form of -아/어 주다. It expresses doing an action for someone you respect or honor.
Structure
Verb stem + -아/어 드리다
Breakdown:
- -아/어: Connective ending (vowel harmony)
- 드리다: Humble form of 주다 (to give)
Meaning: "Do [verb] for [respected person]"
When to Use -아/어 드리다
Use with Respected Persons
Appropriate for:
- Parents (부모님)
- Grandparents (조부모님)
- Teachers (선생님)
- Bosses (사장님, 상사)
- Elders (어르신)
- Customers (고객님)
- Anyone deserving respect
NOT used for:
- Friends (use -아/어 주다)
- Younger people (use -아/어 주다)
- Pets (use -아/어 주다)
- Equal status (use -아/어 주다)
Vowel Harmony Rules
Bright Vowels (ㅏ, ㅗ): -아 드리다
Last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ:
- 가다 → 가 드리다 (go for [honorific])
- 오다 → 와 드리다 (come for [honorific])
- 보다 → 봐 드리다 (watch for [honorific])
- 닦다 → 닦아 드리다 (clean for [honorific])
Dark Vowels: -어 드리다
Last vowel is NOT ㅏ or ㅗ:
- 먹다 → 먹어 드리다 (eat for [honorific])
- 듣다 → 들어 드리다 (listen for [honorific])
- 입다 → 입어 드리다 (wear for [honorific])
하다 Verbs: -해 드리다
All 하다 verbs:
- 하다 → 해 드리다 (do for [honorific])
- 도와하다 → 도와드리다 (help - honorific)
- 가르치다 → 가르쳐 드리다 (teach - honorific)
- 설명하다 → 설명해 드리다 (explain - honorific)
Politeness Levels
Formal (합니다체)
- 도와드립니다 (help you - honorific)
- 말씀드립니다 (tell you - honorific)
- 설명해 드립니다 (explain - honorific)
Polite (해요체)
- 도와드려요 (help you - honorific)
- 말씀드려요 (tell you - honorific)
- 설명해 드려요 (explain - honorific)
Casual (반말)
- Generally not used in casual speech
- Honorific forms are formal by nature
Basic Conjugations
Present Tense
Polite: -아/어 드려요
- 도와드려요 (help you)
- 가르쳐 드려요 (teach you)
- 설명해 드려요 (explain to you)
Past Tense
Polite: -아/어 드렸어요
- 도와드렸어요 (helped you)
- 가르쳐 드렸어요 (taught you)
- 설명해 드렸어요 (explained to you)
Future Tense
Polite: -아/어 드릴 거예요
- 도와드릴 거예요 (will help you)
- 가르쳐 드릴 거예요 (will teach you)
- 설명해 드릴 거예요 (will explain to you)
Common Usage Patterns
Offering Help (Polite)
To elders/superiors:
- 도와드릴까요? (Shall I help you?)
- 들어 드릴까요? (Shall I carry it for you?)
- 설명해 드릴까요? (Shall I explain?)
- 가르쳐 드릴까요? (Shall I teach you?)
Customer Service
To customers:
- 안내해 드리겠습니다 (I'll guide you)
- 도와드리겠습니다 (I'll help you)
- 확인해 드릴게요 (I'll check for you)
- 준비해 드릴게요 (I'll prepare it for you)
Making Promises
Committing to help:
- 도와드릴게요 (I'll help you)
- 찾아 드릴게요 (I'll find it for you)
- 가져다 드릴게요 (I'll bring it for you)
- 연락드릴게요 (I'll contact you)
Common Expressions
Professional Settings
- 말씀드리겠습니다 (I will tell you - very formal)
- 설명해 드리겠습니다 (I will explain)
- 안내해 드리겠습니다 (I will guide you)
- 보고 드리겠습니다 (I will report to you)
Customer Service
- 도와드릴까요? (May I help you?)
- 포장해 드릴까요? (Shall I wrap it for you?)
- 바꿔 드릴까요? (Shall I exchange it for you?)
- 확인해 드릴게요 (I'll check for you)
To Elders/Parents
- 해 드릴게요 (I'll do it for you)
- 사 드릴게요 (I'll buy it for you)
- 만들어 드릴게요 (I'll make it for you)
- 찾아 드릴게요 (I'll find it for you)
Special Verb: 말씀드리다
Honorific "Tell"
말하다 → 말씀드리다 (special honorific form):
- 말씀드리겠습니다 (I will tell you - formal)
- 말씀드려도 될까요? (May I tell you?)
- 말씀드릴 게 있습니다 (I have something to tell you)
Note: 말씀 is the honorific form of 말 (word/speech)
Contrast: 주다 vs 드리다
-아/어 주다 (Regular)
Use for friends, equals, younger:
- 도와줄게 (I'll help you - to friend)
- 가르쳐 줄까? (Shall I teach you? - to friend)
-아/어 드리다 (Honorific)
Use for elders, superiors, customers:
- 도와드릴게요 (I'll help you - to elder)
- 가르쳐 드릴까요? (Shall I teach you? - to superior)
Question Forms
Offering Assistance
Shall I...? (polite offer):
- 도와드릴까요? (Shall I help you?)
- 설명해 드릴까요? (Shall I explain?)
- 가져다 드릴까요? (Shall I bring it for you?)
- 연락드릴까요? (Shall I contact you?)
Asking Permission
May I...? (asking to do favor):
- 말씀드려도 될까요? (May I tell you?)
- 여쭤봐도 될까요? (May I ask?)
- 도와드려도 될까요? (May I help you?)
Negative Forms
Not Do for (Honorific)
안 -아/어 드리다:
- 안 도와드려요 (not helping you)
- 안 말씀드려요 (not telling you)
-아/어 드리지 않다:
- 도와드리지 않아요 (not helping)
- 말씀드리지 않아요 (not telling)
Can't Do for (Honorific)
못 -아/어 드리다:
- 못 도와드려요 (can't help you)
- 못 말씀드려요 (can't tell you)
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Store
Staff: 도와드릴까요?
(May I help you?)
Customer: 네, 이 옷 다른 색깔 있나요?
(Yes, do you have this in other colors?)
Staff: 확인해 드릴게요.
(I'll check for you.)
Dialogue 2: Office
Junior: 사장님, 보고서 준비 다 됐습니다.
(Boss, the report is ready.)
Boss: 그래? 어디 봐.
(Really? Let me see.)
Junior: 지금 가져다 드리겠습니다.
(I'll bring it to you now.)
Dialogue 3: Home
Child: 할머니, 제가 도와드릴까요?
(Grandma, shall I help you?)
Grandma: 고맙다. 그 상자 좀 들어 줄래?
(Thank you. Can you carry that box?)
Child: 네, 들어 드릴게요.
(Yes, I'll carry it for you.)
Dialogue 4: Service
Customer: 여기 앉아도 되나요?
(May I sit here?)
Staff: 네, 앉으세요. 메뉴 가져다 드릴게요.
(Yes, please sit. I'll bring you a menu.)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 선생님한테 도와줄게요
Using 주다 for respected person
✅ Correct: 선생님께 도와드릴게요
Use 드리다 for respected persons
❌ Incorrect: 친구한테 도와드릴게
Using 드리다 for friend
✅ Correct: 친구한테 도와줄게
Use 주다 for friends/equals
❌ Incorrect: 말해 드릴게요
Should use special form
✅ Correct: 말씀드릴게요
Use 말씀드리다 for "tell"
When NOT to Use 드리다
Inappropriate Usage
Don't use for:
- Friends of same age
- Younger people
- Pets
- Inanimate objects
- When being too formal is awkward
Use 주다 instead:
- 친구한테 도와줄게 (to friend)
- 동생한테 가르쳐 줄게 (to younger sibling)
Summary Table
| Context | Form | Example | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friends/Equals | -아/어 주다 | 도와줄게 | Casual, friends |
| Elders/Superiors | -아/어 드리다 | 도와드릴게요 | Respect required |
| Customers | -아/어 드리다 | 도와드리겠습니다 | Professional |
| Parents | -아/어 드리다 | 도와드릴게요 | Family respect |
Politeness Comparison
| Situation | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| To friend | 도와줄게 | 도와줄게요 | — |
| To elder | 도와드릴게요 | 도와드리겠습니다 | 도와드리겠사옵니다 |
| In store | 도와드릴까요? | 도와드리겠습니다 | — |
Key Takeaways
✅ Honorific form: Of -아/어 주다
✅ Shows respect: Used for elders, superiors, customers
✅ Same vowel harmony: -아/-어/-해 드리다
✅ Professional essential: Crucial in customer service
✅ Special form: 말씀드리다 (tell - honorific)
✅ NOT for friends: Use -아/어 주다 for equals
-아/어 드리다 is essential for showing respect in Korean when offering help or doing favors for people of higher status or age. It's a crucial pattern for professional settings and respectful family interactions.