How to Say Please in Korean
Learn how to say please in Korean. '주세요' (juseyo) means 'please give/do' for requests, while '제발' (jebal) is a pleading 'please'. Pronunciation guide and usage tips.
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Quick answer
There are two main ways to say 'please' in Korean. For requests, attach '주세요' (juseyo, JU-seh-yo), meaning 'please give/do', as in '물 주세요' (water, please). For pleading or begging, use '제발' (jebal, JEH-bal). Korean often expresses 'please' through the polite verb ending '-세요' rather than a single standalone word.
주세요
/JU-seh-yo/ — Korean
How to Say Please in Korean
Korean doesn’t have a single word that maps neatly onto English “please”. Instead, politeness is built into verb endings — and the most useful pattern by far is 주세요 for requests.
The Request Phrase
주세요 — pronounced JU-seh-yo
This means “please give (me)” or “please do (it) for me”, and it attaches to almost any request. It’s the word you’ll use constantly when shopping, ordering, or asking for help.
Copy the Phrase
The Korean phrase for “please” (in requests) is 주세요 (JU-seh-yo). The pleading “please!” is 제발 (JEH-bal).
Two Kinds of ‘Please’
| Korean | Romanization | Pronunciation | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 주세요 | juseyo | JU-seh-yo | Polite request — “please give/do” |
| 제발 | jebal | JEH-bal | Pleading/begging — “please!” |
| -세요 | -seyo | -seh-yo | Polite verb ending that softens commands |
| 부탁해요 | butakhaeyo | bu-TAK-heh-yo | ”I’m asking a favor / please” (polite) |
| 부탁드립니다 | butakdeurimnida | bu-tak-deu-RIM-ni-da | Very formal “I humbly request” |
Use 주세요 for normal, everyday politeness. Save 제발 for emotional pleading — saying it in a casual request can sound oddly desperate.
How 주세요 Works
주세요 comes from 주다 (juda, “to give”). You can use it two ways:
- Noun + 주세요 — asking for an object: 물 주세요 (water, please), 이거 주세요 (this one, please).
- Verb stem + -아/어 주세요 — asking someone to do something: 도와주세요 (please help me), 기다려 주세요 (please wait), 천천히 말해 주세요 (please speak slowly).
Useful ‘Please’ Phrases
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 물 주세요 | mul juseyo | Water, please |
| 이거 주세요 | igeo juseyo | This one, please |
| 계산서 주세요 | gyesanseo juseyo | The check, please |
| 도와주세요 | dowajuseyo | Please help me |
| 잠깐만요 | jamkkanmanyo | Just a moment, please |
| 천천히 말해 주세요 | cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo | Please speak slowly |
| 제발 도와주세요 | jebal dowajuseyo | Please (I beg you), help me! |
Pronunciation Tips
- 주세요 (juseyo): “JU-seh-yo” — three light syllables; the ending -요 (yo) marks politeness.
- 제발 (jebal): “JEH-bal”, said with feeling when you really mean it.
- Korean stress is even and flat, so don’t over-stress any single syllable — politeness comes from the ending, not from emphasis.
Cultural Notes
In Korean, the form of your sentence carries the politeness, not a separate “please” word. Ending requests with -세요 or 주세요 already makes you sound courteous, which is why a literal “please” often isn’t needed. To call a server in a restaurant, Koreans say 여기요! (yeogiyo) or 저기요! (jeogiyo) rather than waving — both are polite and standard. Pairing requests with a small nod and 감사합니다 (thank you) afterward rounds out good Korean manners.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say please in Korean?
It depends on context. To request something, add '주세요' (juseyo, JU-seh-yo) — e.g. '이거 주세요' (this one, please). To plead or beg, say '제발' (jebal, JEH-bal). Korean usually builds 'please' into the polite verb ending '-세요' rather than using one fixed word like English.
How do you pronounce 주세요 and 제발?
'주세요' is JU-seh-yo — 'ju' like the start of 'June', then 'seh-yo'. '제발' is JEH-bal, where 'je' sounds like 'jeh' and 'bal' rhymes with 'doll' said softly. Keep the syllables even with light, gentle stress.
What is the difference between 주세요 and 제발?
'주세요' is the polite, everyday 'please' attached to requests, like ordering food or asking for something. '제발' is emotional — a pleading 'please!' used when begging or desperate, as in '제발 도와주세요' (please help me!). Use '주세요' for normal politeness; reserve '제발' for genuine pleading.
What does 주세요 literally mean?
'주세요' comes from the verb '주다' (juda, 'to give'), so it literally means 'please give (me)'. Attached to another verb's stem with '-아/어 주세요', it means 'please do (something) for me' — for example '도와주세요' (please help me) or '기다려 주세요' (please wait).
How do you politely ask for something in a restaurant in Korean?
Use '주세요' after the item: '메뉴 주세요' (menu, please), '물 주세요' (water, please), '이거 주세요' (this one, please), or '계산서 주세요' (the check, please). To get a server's attention, say '여기요!' (yeogiyo, 'here, please!') or '저기요!' (jeogiyo, 'excuse me!').