주세요
How to say please in Korean A1
There is no single “please”: 주세요, 부탁합니다, 제발, and the 아/어 주세요 pattern that makes any request polite.
Every form, from formal to casual
Korean politeness lives in verb endings, so “please” is usually the ending -(으)세요 or the helper 주세요 (“give me / do for me”).
| Korean | Romanization | Level | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 주세요 | juseyo | Polite | Noun + 주세요: “please give me…” |
| ~아/어 주세요 | -a/eo juseyo | Polite | Verb + 주세요: “please do…” |
| 부탁합니다 | butakhamnida | Formal | A favor / “I ask this of you” |
| 부탁해요 | butakhaeyo | Polite | Please, I’m counting on you |
| 제발 | jebal | Emotional | Begging, pleading |
| 좀 | jom | Softener | Inside a request: 물 좀 주세요 |
Which one do I actually use?
Ordering: 김치찌개 하나 주세요. Asking for an action: 천천히 말해 주세요. Handing over a form or a task: 잘 부탁합니다. 제발 is for drama — “please don’t go” — not for ordering coffee. The softener 좀 makes any 주세요 friendlier.
Pronunciation notes
- 주세요
ju-se-yo; often [주세여] in casual speech.
- 부탁합니다
부탁합 → [부타캄]: ㄱ + ㅎ → ㅋ; 합니다 → [함니다].
Vocabulary set
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Quick drill
Common mistakes
- ✗ 제발 물 주세요 in a restaurant✓ 물 좀 주세요제발 is pleading; ordering uses 좀 + 주세요.
- ✗ 플리즈 as a standalone word✓ ~(아/어) 주세요Korean marks “please” on the verb, not with a separate word.
Example sentences
FAQ
How do you say please in Korean?
Attach 주세요 to what you want: 물 주세요 (“water, please”), 도와 주세요 (“please help”). For favors, 부탁합니다.
What does 제발 mean?
“Please” in the sense of begging or pleading — emotional, not for everyday requests.
What does 잘 부탁합니다 mean?
Literally “I ask you well” — said when starting to work with someone: “I look forward to working with you / please take care of me.”
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