Please in Korean: 주세요 (Juseyo) and 부탁합니다

"Please" Doesn't Exist in Korean (And That's a Good Thing)

Here's a piece of information that always surprises my French friends when they visit me in Seoul: there's no direct translation of "please" in Korean. Not a single word you can tack onto the end of a sentence to make it polite, the way we do in English.

So how do Koreans stay polite? That's the genius of the Korean language: politeness is built directly into verb conjugation. Rather than adding a magic word, you change the form of the verb itself.

After 12 years here, I find this system much more elegant than ours. But I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a source of monumental confusion at the beginning.

주세요 (juseyo) — "Give Me, Please"

This is probably the first expression you need to learn. 주세요 (juseyo) comes from the verb 주다 (juda — to give), conjugated at the polite level. It's your universal "please" when asking for something concrete.

At Restaurants

— 물 주세요. (mul juseyo.) — Water, please. — 메뉴 주세요. (menyu juseyo.) — The menu, please. — 계산서 주세요. (gyesanseo juseyo.) — The bill, please. — 소주 한 병 주세요. (soju han byeong juseyo.) — A bottle of soju, please.

In Stores

— 이거 주세요. (igeo juseyo.) — This one, please. — 봉투 주세요. (bongtu juseyo.) — A bag, please. — 영수증 주세요. (yeongsujeung juseyo.) — The receipt, please.

At Cafés

— 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요. (amerikano han jan juseyo.) — One americano, please. — 아이스로 주세요. (aiseuro juseyo.) — Iced, please.

My survival tip: When I first arrived in Seoul and my Korean was practically non-existent, I would point at things and say 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo — "this one, please"). It works in 90% of commercial situations. It's the ultimate survival phrase.

부탁합니다 (butakhamnida) — "I Humbly Request" / "Please" (Formal)

While 주세요 is for requesting objects, 부탁합니다 (butakhamnida) is used for more abstract or formal requests. It comes from the verb 부탁하다 (butakhada — to ask a favor, to entrust).

Examples

— 잘 부탁합니다. (jal butakhamnida.) — I'm counting on you. / Thank you in advance. — 확인 부탁합니다. (hwagin butakhamnida.) — Please verify. — 조용히 해 주시기 부탁합니다. (joyonghi hae jusigi butakhamnida.) — Silence, please.

잘 부탁합니다 is an expression you'll hear constantly at work in Korea. Literally "I entrust this to you and trust you." It's said when starting a new project, meeting new colleagues, or even in professional emails.

When I started working at a Korean startup, my boss said 잘 부탁합니다 on the first day. It took me three months to understand it wasn't just a polite formula but a genuine expression of mutual trust.

Difference from 주세요

실례합니다 (sillyehamnida) — "Excuse Me" / "Pardon Me"

Before making a request, it's often polite to start with 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida), which means "excuse me" in the sense of "forgive my intrusion."

Examples

— 실례합니다, 화장실이 어디에요? (sillyehamnida, hwajangsiri eodieyo?) — Excuse me, where are the restrooms? — 실례합니다, 질문이 있습니다. (sillyehamnida, jilmuni itseumnida.) — Excuse me, I have a question.

This is more formal than 저기요 (jeogiyo), which you'd use on the street to get someone's attention.

여기요 (yeogyo) — "Excuse Me!" (At Restaurants)

At restaurants, to get the server's attention, Koreans use 여기요 (yeogyo), which literally means "here!" And yes, you raise your hand and call out — that's perfectly normal here.

— 여기요! 주문할게요. (yeogyo! jumunhalgeyo.) — Excuse me! I'd like to order. — 여기요! 물 좀 주세요. (yeogyo! mul jom juseyo.) — Excuse me! Some water, please.

Cultural note: Westerners often find this rude at first — calling out to the waiter like that feels strange. But in Korea, it's the norm. The server won't spontaneously come to your table like in France or the US. You MUST call them. I waited 45 minutes during my first meal in Korea before figuring out this system.

Some restaurants also have a call button (벨 — bel) on the table. Press it and the server comes. It's the future, and I love it.

좀 (jom) — The Little Word That Softens Everything

좀 (jom) is a request softener. Add it before the verb and your sentence instantly becomes more polite and less direct.

Comparison

— 물 주세요. (mul juseyo.) — Water, please. (direct) — 물 좀 주세요. (mul jom juseyo.) — Could I have some water, please? (softer)

— 도와주세요. (dowajuseyo.) — Help me. (direct) — 좀 도와주세요. (jom dowajuseyo.) — Could you help me? (softer)

좀 is the equivalent of adding "a little" or "if possible" in English. It's subtle, but Koreans hear it immediately and appreciate the effort.

-아/어 주세요 (-a/eo juseyo) — "Please Do [Action] for Me"

To ask someone to DO something (rather than GIVE you something), you attach -아/어 주세요 to the verb stem.

Examples

— 사진 찍어 주세요. (sajin jjigeo juseyo.) — Please take a photo. — 천천히 말해 주세요. (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo.) — Please speak slowly. — 다시 한번 말해 주세요. (dasi hanbeon malhae juseyo.) — Please say it again. — 여기에 써 주세요. (yeogie sseo juseyo.) — Please write it here. — 문 좀 열어 주세요. (mun jom yeoreo juseyo.) — Could you open the door, please?

This structure is ESSENTIAL. It's what truly replaces "please" in action requests.

Quick Reference Chart

My Advice After 12 Years

Korean politeness isn't about a single magic word — it's a complete system that encompasses the speech level, tone of voice, body language (the bow!), and even the way you hold your glass when clinking drinks.

My advice: start by mastering 주세요 and 좀. These two elements will help you navigate 80% of daily situations. The rest will come naturally with practice.

And if someone tells you speaking polite Korean is complicated? Simply respond: 괜찮아요, 천천히 배울 수 있어요 (gwaenchanhayo, cheoncheonhi baeul su isseoyo) — "No worries, we can learn slowly."

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