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Giving & Receiving

주다 (juda) - To give

주다 is the basic Korean verb meaning "to give." It's essential for expressing giving, offering, and providing things to others.

Basic Conjugations

Present Tense

Formal (합니다체):

  • 줍니다 (give)

Polite (해요체):

  • 줘요 (give)
  • Note: 주 + 어 → 줘

Casual (반말):

  • 줘 (give)

Past Tense

Formal: 줬습니다 (gave) Polite: 줬어요 (gave) Casual: 줬어 (gave)

Future Tense

Formal: 줄 것입니다 (will give) Polite: 줄 거예요 (will give) Casual: 줄 거야 (will give)

Basic Structure

Pattern: [Giver] + [Receiver]에게 + [Object]을/를 + 주다

Components:

  • Giver: Subject (often omitted if "I")
  • Receiver: Person receiving + 에게/한테
  • Object: What's given + 을/를

Examples:

  • 나는 친구에게 선물을 줘요 (I give a present to my friend)
  • 엄마가 나한테 돈을 줬어요 (Mom gave me money)
  • 선생님이 학생에게 책을 줬어요 (Teacher gave a book to the student)

Particles with 주다

Receiver Particles: 에게/한테/께

에게: Neutral, standard

  • 친구에게 줘요 (give to friend)

한테: Casual, conversational

  • 친구한테 줘요 (give to friend)

께: Honorific receiver

  • 선생님께 줘요 (give to teacher)

Object Particle: 을/를

을: After consonant

  • 책을 줘요 (give a book)

를: After vowel

  • 사과를 줘요 (give an apple)

Common Patterns

Giving Things

물건 주다 (give objects):

  • 선물을 줘요 (give a present)
  • 돈을 줘요 (give money)
  • 책을 줘요 (give a book)
  • 음식을 줘요 (give food)

Giving Information

정보 주다:

  • 전화번호를 줘요 (give phone number)
  • 주소를 줘요 (give address)
  • 이름을 줘요 (give name)
  • 시간을 줘요 (give time)

Giving Abstract Things

추상적인 것:

  • 기회를 줘요 (give opportunity)
  • 시간을 줘요 (give time)
  • 조언을 줘요 (give advice)
  • 도움을 줘요 (give help)

Honorific Form: 드리다

When Receiver is Honored

드리다: Humble form of 주다

Use when giving to:

  • Parents
  • Teachers
  • Bosses
  • Elders
  • Customers

Examples:

  • 선생님께 선물을 드려요 (I give a present to the teacher)
  • 할머니께 돈을 드렸어요 (I gave money to grandma)
  • 부모님께 꽃을 드려요 (I give flowers to my parents)

Conjugation of 드리다

Present: 드려요 (give - honorific) Past: 드렸어요 (gave - honorific) Future: 드릴 거예요 (will give - honorific)

Negative Forms

Not Give

안 주다:

  • 안 줘요 (don't give / am not giving)
  • 안 줬어요 (didn't give)

주지 않다:

  • 주지 않아요 (don't give)
  • 주지 않았어요 (didn't give)

Can't Give

못 주다:

  • 못 줘요 (can't give)
  • 못 줬어요 (couldn't give)

Common Expressions

Daily Requests

  • 물 좀 줘요 (Please give me water)
  • 이거 줘요 (Give me this)
  • 펜 줘요 (Give me a pen)
  • 시간 좀 줘요 (Give me some time)

Asking for Things

  • 주세요 (Please give me)
  • 좀 줘 (Give me some - casual)
  • 하나 줘요 (Give me one)
  • 더 줘요 (Give me more)

Offering

  • 줄까요? (Shall I give you?)
  • 줄게요 (I'll give you)
  • 이거 줄게 (I'll give you this)
  • 하나 줄까? (Shall I give you one?)

With Other Verbs: -아/어 주다

Do Something for Someone

Pattern: Verb stem + -아/어 주다

Meaning: "Do [verb] for someone"

Examples:

  • 도와줘요 (help me - 도와 + 주다)
  • 가르쳐 줘요 (teach me - 가르쳐 + 주다)
  • 기다려 줘요 (wait for me - 기다려 + 주다)
  • 말해 줘요 (tell me - 말해 + 주다)

Note: This pattern is covered in detail in "-아/어 주다" section

Question Forms

Asking if Someone Will Give

Pattern: 줄까요? / 줄 거예요?

Examples:

  • 이거 줄까요? (Shall I give you this?)
  • 누가 줄 거예요? (Who will give it?)
  • 언제 줄 거예요? (When will you give it?)
  • 뭘 줄까요? (What shall I give?)

Perspective Notes

Giver's Perspective vs Receiver's

When I give: 주다

  • 나는 친구에게 책을 줘요 (I give a book to my friend)

When I receive: 받다

  • 나는 친구에게서 책을 받아요 (I receive a book from my friend)

When someone gives to me: Use 주다 from their perspective

  • 친구가 나한테 책을 줘요 (My friend gives me a book)

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: 나는 친구를 책을 줘요

Wrong particle on receiver

✅ Correct: 나는 친구에게 책을 줘요

Use 에게/한테 for receiver

❌ Incorrect: 선생님한테 드려요

Casual particle with honorific verb

✅ Correct: 선생님께 드려요

Use 께 with honorific forms

Example Dialogues

Dialogue 1: Borrowing

A: 펜 좀 줄 수 있어요?
(Can you give me a pen?)

B: 네, 여기 있어요.
(Yes, here you go.)

Dialogue 2: Gift Giving

A: 생일 선물 뭐 줄까?
(What should I give for a birthday present?)

B: 책이나 꽃을 주면 좋을 것 같아요.
(I think a book or flowers would be good.)

Dialogue 3: Helping

A: 도와줄까요?
(Shall I help you?)

B: 네, 도와주세요. 감사합니다.
(Yes, please help me. Thank you.)

Dialogue 4: Honorific

A: 선생님께 뭐 드릴까요?
(What shall we give to the teacher?)

B: 카드를 드리는 게 어때요?
(How about giving a card?)

Things Commonly Given

  • 선물 (gift)
  • 돈 (money)
  • 음식 (food)
  • 꽃 (flowers)
  • 카드 (card)
  • 편지 (letter)
  • 책 (book)
  • 조언 (advice)

Giving Actions

  • 주다 (give)
  • 드리다 (give - honorific)
  • 받다 (receive)
  • 건네다 (hand over)
  • 전하다 (convey, pass on)

Summary Table

FormStandard (주다)Honorific (드리다)
Present Polite줘요드려요
Past Polite줬어요드렸어요
Future Polite줄 거예요드릴 거예요
Command Polite주세요드리세요
Question줄까요?드릴까요?

Key Takeaways

✅ Basic meaning: To give
✅ Receiver particle: 에게/한테 (께 for honorific)
✅ Object particle: 을/를
✅ Honorific form: 드리다 (when giving to respected person)
✅ Combined with verbs: -아/어 주다 (do for someone)
✅ Common contraction: 주 + 어 → 줘

주다 is one of the most fundamental verbs in Korean, essential for expressing giving and for the extremely common -아/어 주다 pattern that expresses doing favors for others.