-아/어 주세요 is the most common way to make polite requests in Korean. It means "please do [verb]" or "please [verb] for me."
Structure
Verb stem + -아/어 주세요
Breakdown:
- -아/어: Connective ending (vowel harmony)
- 주세요: Please give (polite command of 주다)
Literal meaning: "Please give me the action of [verb]"
Vowel Harmony Rules
Bright Vowels (ㅏ, ㅗ): -아 주세요
Last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ:
- 가다 → 가 주세요 (please go)
- 오다 → 와 주세요 (please come)
- 보다 → 봐 주세요 (please look/watch)
- 앉다 → 앉아 주세요 (please sit)
Dark Vowels: -어 주세요
Last vowel is NOT ㅏ or ㅗ:
- 먹다 → 먹어 주세요 (please eat)
- 듣다 → 들어 주세요 (please listen)
- 읽다 → 읽어 주세요 (please read)
- 쉬다 → 쉬어 주세요 (please rest)
하다 Verbs: -해 주세요
All 하다 verbs:
- 하다 → 해 주세요 (please do)
- 도와하다 → 도와주세요 (please help)
- 가르치다 → 가르쳐 주세요 (please teach)
- 설명하다 → 설명해 주세요 (please explain)
Politeness Levels
Very Polite: -아/어 주세요
Standard polite request:
- 도와주세요 (please help)
- 기다려 주세요 (please wait)
- 말해 주세요 (please tell me)
Extra Polite: -아/어 주시겠어요?
More deferential:
- 도와주시겠어요? (Would you please help?)
- 기다려 주시겠어요? (Would you please wait?)
Casual: -아/어 줘
To friends:
- 도와줘 (help me - casual)
- 기다려 줘 (wait - casual)
- 말해 줘 (tell me - casual)
More Casual: -아/어 줘요
Polite but friendly:
- 도와줘요 (please help - friendly)
- 기다려 줘요 (please wait - friendly)
Common Daily Requests
Communication
- 말해 주세요 (please tell me)
- 설명해 주세요 (please explain)
- 가르쳐 주세요 (please teach me)
- 알려 주세요 (please let me know)
- 보여 주세요 (please show me)
Help and Support
- 도와주세요 (please help)
- 기다려 주세요 (please wait)
- 찾아 주세요 (please find it)
- 확인해 주세요 (please check)
- 준비해 주세요 (please prepare)
Actions
- 주세요 (please give me)
- 보내 주세요 (please send)
- 열어 주세요 (please open)
- 닫아 주세요 (please close)
- 켜 주세요 (please turn on)
- 꺼 주세요 (please turn off)
Movement
- 오세요 → 와 주세요 (please come)
- 가세요 → 가 주세요 (please go)
- 들어오세요 → 들어와 주세요 (please come in)
- 나가세요 → 나가 주세요 (please go out)
At Restaurant/Cafe
Ordering
- 물 주세요 (water, please)
- 메뉴 주세요 (menu, please)
- 이거 주세요 (this one, please)
- 하나 더 주세요 (one more, please)
Requests
- 포장해 주세요 (please pack it to go)
- 따로 주세요 (please give separately)
- 영수증 주세요 (receipt, please)
- 계산서 주세요 (bill, please)
Common Polite Requests
At Work/School
- 도와주세요 (please help me)
- 확인해 주세요 (please check)
- 검토해 주세요 (please review)
- 보내 주세요 (please send)
- 연락 주세요 (please contact me)
At Home
- 문 열어 주세요 (please open the door)
- 창문 닫아 주세요 (please close the window)
- 불 켜 주세요 (please turn on the light)
- 소리 줄여 주세요 (please turn down the volume)
Shopping
- 이거 보여 주세요 (please show me this)
- 입어봐도 돼요? (may I try it on?)
- 포장해 주세요 (please wrap it)
- 영수증 주세요 (receipt, please)
Making Requests Softer
Adding 좀 (A Little/Please)
Makes request gentler:
- 도와좀 주세요 (please help me a bit)
- 기다려좀 주세요 (please wait a moment)
- 말해좀 주세요 (please tell me)
좀 = 조금 (a little), but used to soften requests
Adding 잠시만 (Just a Moment)
For waiting requests:
- 잠시만 기다려 주세요 (please wait just a moment)
- 잠깐만 기다려 주세요 (please wait briefly)
Combining with Other Patterns
Can You Please: -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요?
Asking ability + request:
- 도와줄 수 있어요? (can you please help?)
- 기다려 줄 수 있어요? (can you please wait?)
Would You Please: -아/어 주시겠어요?
Extra polite:
- 도와주시겠어요? (would you please help?)
- 설명해 주시겠어요? (would you please explain?)
Please Don't: -지 말아 주세요
Negative request:
- 가지 말아 주세요 (please don't go)
- 말하지 말아 주세요 (please don't tell)
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Asking for Help
A: 실례합니다. 도와주실 수 있어요?
(Excuse me. Can you help me?)
B: 네, 무엇을 도와드릴까요?
(Yes, what can I help you with?)
A: 이 길 좀 찾아 주세요.
(Please help me find this street.)
Dialogue 2: At Restaurant
A: 주문하시겠어요?
(Are you ready to order?)
B: 네, 이거 주세요.
(Yes, please give me this.)
A: 음료는요?
(And drinks?)
B: 물 주세요.
(Water, please.)
Dialogue 3: At Office
A: 이 서류 좀 확인해 주시겠어요?
(Could you please check this document?)
B: 네, 지금 볼게요.
(Yes, I'll look at it now.)
A: 감사합니다. 내일까지 확인해 주세요.
(Thank you. Please check it by tomorrow.)
Dialogue 4: Between Friends
A: 야, 좀 도와줘.
(Hey, help me a bit.)
B: 뭐?
(What?)
A: 이거 좀 들어 줘.
(Help me carry this.)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 도와 주세요
Space between verb and 주세요
✅ Correct: 도와주세요
Written as one word
❌ Incorrect: 가르치 주세요
Wrong vowel harmony
✅ Correct: 가르쳐 주세요
Use proper -아/어 form
❌ Incorrect: 하세요 주세요
Double honorific ending
✅ Correct: 해 주세요
Just use -아/어 주세요
Honorific Alternative: -아/어 주십시오
Very Formal Written/Announcement
More formal than 주세요:
- 도와주십시오 (please help - very formal)
- 기다려 주십시오 (please wait - formal announcement)
- 확인해 주십시오 (please check - written request)
Usage: Formal writing, signs, official requests
Summary of Politeness Levels
| Level | Form | Example | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very Formal | -아/어 주십시오 | 도와주십시오 | Signs, formal writing |
| Polite | -아/어 주세요 | 도와주세요 | Standard polite request |
| Polite + Can | -아/어 줄 수 있어요? | 도와줄 수 있어요? | Asking ability |
| Extra Polite | -아/어 주시겠어요? | 도와주시겠어요? | Very deferential |
| Friendly | -아/어 줘요 | 도와줘요 | Polite but casual |
| Casual | -아/어 줘 | 도와줘 | Friends only |
Quick Reference: Common Requests
| Korean | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 주세요 | Please give | General giving |
| 도와주세요 | Please help | Asking help |
| 기다려 주세요 | Please wait | Asking to wait |
| 말해 주세요 | Please tell me | Asking information |
| 가르쳐 주세요 | Please teach | Asking instruction |
| 보여 주세요 | Please show | Asking demonstration |
| 확인해 주세요 | Please check | Asking verification |
| 죄송합니다 | Sorry | Apology before request |
Key Takeaways
✅ Most common polite request: Essential daily pattern
✅ Vowel harmony: -아/-어/-해 주세요
✅ Shows consideration: Emphasizes doing favor
✅ Add 좀: Makes request softer
✅ Written together: No space between verb and 주세요
✅ Very versatile: Works with almost any verb
-아/어 주세요 is one of the most important patterns in Korean for daily communication. Mastering this form allows you to make polite requests naturally and appropriately in almost any situation.