How do you say “please” in Korean?
The answer depends on what you are asking for.
Unlike English, Korean does not have one word that you can simply add to any sentence to make it polite. Instead, politeness is built into verb endings and expressions.
That may sound complicated, but beginners only need a few useful patterns to handle most everyday situations.
주세요 (Juseyo) — “Please Give Me…”
If you are asking for an object, food, or drink, 주세요 is one of the most useful expressions to know.
It comes from 주다, meaning “to give.”
For example:
물 주세요.
Mul juseyo.
Water, please.
김치찌개 하나 주세요.
Gimchijjigae hana juseyo.
One kimchi stew, please.
메뉴 주세요.
Menyu juseyo.
The menu, please.
This pattern is especially useful in restaurants, cafés, shops, and other everyday situations.
-아/어 주세요 — “Please Do…”
When you want someone to perform an action, attach -아/어 주세요 to the verb.
For example:
기다려 주세요.
Gidaryeo juseyo.
Please wait.
도와주세요.
Dowajuseyo.
Please help me.
문을 닫아 주세요.
Muneul dada juseyo.
Please close the door.
서울역으로 가 주세요.
Seoullyeogeuro ga juseyo.
Please go to Seoul Station.
This is one of the most practical request patterns for Korean learners.
A simple way to remember the difference is:
Noun + 주세요 → Please give me something.
Verb + -아/어 주세요 → Please do something.
좀 (Jom) — Making a Request Sound Softer
You will often hear 좀 in Korean requests.
Its basic meaning is “a little,” but in conversation it can make a request sound less abrupt.
Compare:
도와주세요.
Please help me.
좀 도와주세요.
Could you please help me?
Another example:
사진 좀 찍어 주세요.
Sajin jom jjigeo juseyo.
Could you please take a photo?
You do not have to add 좀 every time, but learning to recognize it will help you understand natural Korean requests.
주시겠어요? (Jusigesseoyo?) — “Could You Please…?”
If you want to make a request sound more considerate, you can use -아/어 주시겠어요?
It is similar to asking “Could you please…?” in English.
창문 좀 열어 주시겠어요?
Changmun jom yeoreo jusigesseoyo?
Could you please open the window?
이것 좀 봐 주시겠어요?
Igeot jom bwa jusigesseoyo?
Could you please take a look at this?
This form is useful when speaking to someone you do not know well or when you want to make a request sound less direct.
줘 (Jwo) — Casual “Please”
With close friends or family members, 주세요 can become 줘.
For example:
물 좀 줘.
Mul jom jwo.
Give me some water, please.
도와줘.
Dowajwo.
Help me, please.
사진 보내 줘.
Sajin bonae jwo.
Send me the photo, please.
Because 줘 is informal, it should not be your default with strangers, teachers, customers, or people who require polite speech.
When in doubt, use 주세요 instead.
제발 (Jebal) — “Please!” When You Really Mean It
제발 is often translated as “please,” but it is very different from 주세요.
It expresses urgency, frustration, desperation, or pleading.
For example:
제발 그만해.
Jebal geumanhae.
Please stop.
제발 가지 마.
Jebal gaji ma.
Please don’t go.
제발 늦지 마세요.
Jebal neutji maseyo.
Please don’t be late.
You would not normally use 제발 when casually ordering coffee or asking someone to pass the salt. It is closer to “please, I’m begging you” or an emotional “please!”
That is why you hear it frequently in dramatic scenes.
What About Very Formal Requests?
In announcements, instructions, and official situations, you may see forms such as:
기다려 주십시오.
Gidaryeo jusipsio.
Please wait.
Or:
안전선 뒤로 물러나 주시기 바랍니다.
Anjeonseon dwiro mulleona jusigi baramnida.
Please step back behind the safety line.
These forms are useful to recognize, but beginners do not need to use them often in everyday conversation.
For most situations, 주세요 and -아/어 주세요 are much more useful.
Which Korean “Please” Should You Learn First?
Start with these four:
- 주세요 — Please give me…
- -아/어 주세요 — Please do…
- 좀 — Makes a request softer
- 제발 — Please! / I’m begging you
Then add 주시겠어요? when you want to make your requests more polite and flexible.
Final Thoughts
There is no single Korean word that matches every use of English “please.”
If you are ordering something, 주세요 is usually enough. If you want someone to do something, use -아/어 주세요. Add 좀 to soften many everyday requests, and save 제발 for situations with real emotion or urgency.
Once you stop looking for a one-word translation of “please,” Korean requests become much easier to understand — and much more natural to use.
