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USING THE VERB 주다
When making a request for something in Korean, the verb ‘주다 (to give)’ is used.
For example, the verb ‘해주다 (to do something for someone)’ is a result of combining the verb ‘하다 ( to do)’ and ‘주다’ ( to give).
PATTERN
Verb + 주 + 다
| VERB | VERB FOR MAKING A REQUEST |
|---|---|
| 보다 | 봐주다 |
| 그리다 | 그려주다 |
| 요리하다 | 요리해주다 |
View More Examples
| VERB | VERB FOR MAKING A REQUEST |
|---|---|
| 먹다 | 먹여주다 |
| 준비하다 | 준비해주다 |
| 사다 | 사주다 |
| 운전하다 | 운전해주다 |
To actually make a request in Korean, the conjugations ‘줘 /주세요 / 주십시오’ can be used, depending on whether the context is informal, formal, or very formal.
Check out our Korean Question Word page to learn how to ask questions!
INFORMAL REQUESTS
Let’s start with informal requests.
Making an informal request is quite simple, you just add ‘줘’.
PATTERN
Verb + 줘
| VERB | MEANING | REQUEST FORM | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 봐주다 | To take a look at something for someone. | 봐줘 |
내 숙제좀 봐줘.
Please take a look at my homework. |
| 그려주다 | To draw something for someone. | 그려줘 |
엽서에 붙일 그림을 그려줘.
Please draw me something for this postcard. |
| 요리해주다 | To cook something for someone. | 요리해줘 |
친구와 먹을 수프를 요리해줘.
Please cook me and my friend some soup. |
View More Phrases
| verb | meaning | request form | example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 먹여주다. | To help someone eat something. | 먹여주다 |
팔이 아프니 밥을 먹여줘.
Please help me eat this meal as my arm hurts. |
| 준비해주다. | To prepare something for someone. | 준비해주다 |
내일 소풍 도시락을 준비해줘.
Please prepare a lunch box for tomorrow’s picnic. |
| 사주다 | To buy something for someone. | 사주다 |
학교 수업에 필요한 책을 사줘.
Please buy me the book for school. |
| 운전해주다. | To drive someone somewhere. | 운전해주다 |
버스 정류장까지 운전해줘.
Please drive me to the bus station. |
Phew! That’s quite a lot to process, so if you’re finding the structure a tad confusing have no fear! Check out our sentence structure page for a refresher.
Now that we’ve covered informal requests, let’s see how to make formal requests in Korean.
FORMAL REQUESTS
For more formal requests, we add ‘주세요’, a conjugation of ‘주다’.
PATTERN
Verb + 주세요
| VERB | MEANING | REQUEST FORM | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 봐주다 | To take a look at something for someone. | 봐주세요 |
내 숙제좀 봐주세요.
Please take a look at my homework. |
| 그려주다 | To draw something for someone. | 그려주세요 |
엽서에 붙일 그림을 그려주세요.
Please draw me something for this postcard. |
| 요리해주다 | To cook something for someone. | 요리해주세요 |
친구와 먹을 수프를 요리해주세요.
Please cook me and my friend some soup. |
View More Phrases
| verb | meaning | request form | example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 먹여주다 | To help someone eat something. | 먹여주세요 |
팔이 아프니 밥을 먹여주세요.
Please help me eat this meal as my arm hurts. |
| 준비해주다 | To prepare something for someone. | 준비해주세요 |
내일 소풍 도시락을 준비해주세요.
Please prepare a lunch box for tomorrow’s picnic. |
| 사주다 | To buy something for someone. | 사주세요 |
학교 수업에 필요한 책을 사주세요.
Please buy me the book for school. |
| 운전해주다 | To drive someone somewhere. | 운전해주세요 |
버스 정류장까지 운전해주세요.
Please drive me to the bus station. |
VERY FORMAL REQUESTS
To make an a very formal request, you can add ‘주십시오’.
PATTERN
Verb + 주십시오
| VERB | MEANING | REQUEST FORMAT | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 봐주다 | To take a look at something for someone. | 봐주십시오 |
내 숙제좀 봐주십시오.
Please take a look at my homework. |
| 그려주다 | To draw something for someone. | 그려주십시오 |
엽서에 붙일 그림을 그려주십시오.
Please draw me something for this postcard. |
| 요리해주다 | To cook something for someone. | 요리해주십시오 |
친구와 먹을 수프를 요리해주십시오.
Please cook me and my friend some soup. |
View More Phrases
| verb | meaning | request format | example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 먹여주다 | To help someone eat something. | 먹여주십시오 |
팔이 아프니 밥을 먹여주십시오.
Please help me eat this meal as my arm hurts. |
| 준비해주다 | To prepare something for someone. | 준비해주십시오 |
내일 소풍 도시락을 준비해주십시오.
Please prepare a lunch box for tomorrow’s picnic. |
| 사주다 | To buy something for someone. | 사주십시오 |
학교 수업에 필요한 책을 사주십시오.
Please buy me the book for school. |
| 운전해주다 | To drive someone somewhere. | 운전해주십시오 |
버스 정류장까지 운전해주십시오.
Please drive me to the bus station. |
BONUS || To learn more about the cultural context surrounding saying please in Korean, make sure to check our dedicated blog article here.
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MORE RESOURCES
Want to learn more? Check out these other free resources:
- Learn how to make requests in Japanese
- Learn how to make requests in Vietnamese
FAQs
What verb is used to make requests in Korean?
To make requests in Korean we use the verb ‘주다 (to give)’ .
How many levels of formality in Korean?
In Korean there are the informal, formal and very formal conjugations.
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Learn more about Korean honorifics here.
How do I make an informal request in Korean?
To make an informal request in Korean you simply add ‘줘’.
What do I use for formal requests in Korean?
To make formal requests in Korean add ‘주세요 to the verb.
What structure is used for making very formal requests in Korean?
To make very formal requests in Korean we add ‘주십시오’ to the verb.
Where can I find more free Korean resources?
Our Korean Grammar Bank has some fantastic free resources for you to check out.