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In Korean, a courteous request depends on the ending, the relationship, and the tone. A single word does not perform every function of English “please.” These five points explain useful requests, ways to give thanks, and natural replies.
1. Choose a request form that fits the situation
제발 (jebal) expresses a plea or an urgent appeal. It can sound insistent, so it is not the usual addition to an ordinary restaurant order. Polite endings such as -(으)세요 and expressions with 주세요 are often more suitable.
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and setting |
|---|---|---|
| 들어오세요. | deureooseyo | Please come in. A host inviting someone inside. |
| 어서 오세요. | eoseo oseyo | Welcome. A conventional greeting to someone arriving, for example in a shop. |
| 수고하세요. | sugohaseyo | A conventional farewell to someone continuing to work. It is not a general-purpose “please”; see the relationship note below. |
| 말씀하세요. | malsseumhaseyo | Please go ahead and speak. It does not by itself mean “How can I help you?” |
| 계속하세요. | gyesokaseyo | Please continue. Said to someone who has stopped speaking or doing an activity. |
| 여기 계세요. | yeogi gyeseyo | Please stay here. A respectful request to remain at a location. |
수고하세요 is commonly heard in work or service interactions, but it can be inappropriate toward a superior or an elder. Do not treat it as a universally polite goodbye. The relationship and the situation matter as well as the ending.
With a noun, 주세요 asks someone to give something. With a verb in the -아/어 form followed by 주세요, it requests an action for someone’s benefit. The recipient is often understood from context. 좀, literally “a little,” can soften a request; a considerate tone still matters.
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and setting |
|---|---|---|
| 물 좀 주세요. | mul jom juseyo | Please give me some water. A customer making a polite request. |
| 김치 좀 더 주세요. | gimchi jom deo juseyo | Please give me some more kimchi. A customer asking for more. |
| 불고기 1인분 주세요. | bulgogi il inbun juseyo | One serving of bulgogi, please. Read 1인분 as 일 인분. |
| 알려 주세요. | allyeo juseyo | Please let me know / tell me. State what information you need in the surrounding conversation. |
| 말해 주세요. | malhae juseyo | Please tell me / say it. The information or words are understood from context. |
| 책을 읽어 주세요. | chaegeul ilgeo juseyo | Please read the book to me. A request to read aloud, for example from a child to an adult. |
| 사랑해 주세요. | saranghae juseyo | Please love me. An emotional plea, not an ordinary service request. |
Casual requests can also be courteous between people who normally use casual speech together. With unfamiliar adults, polite speech is a useful starting point; age alone does not give permission to use casual endings.
2. Learn two formal polite ways to say thank you
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and setting |
|---|---|---|
| 감사합니다. | gamsahamnida | Thank you. Formal polite; useful with unfamiliar adults or in service interactions. |
| 고맙습니다. | gomapseumnida | Thank you. Also formal polite; overlaps with 감사합니다 in many situations. |
Both forms express thanks. Their use is not governed by a strict rule that one must be used with friends and the other with strangers. The speaker may choose according to personal preference and context.
3. Match speech and gestures to the relationship
A small bow or nod often accompanies thanks, especially in a formal interaction. It is not required every time, and there is no universal table of bow angles for friends, bosses, and public officials. A gesture’s meaning depends on the occasion and relationship.
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and setting |
|---|---|---|
| 고마워. | gomawo | Thanks. Casual, with someone with whom casual speech is appropriate. |
| 고마워요. | gomawoyo | Thank you. Informal polite; familiar in everyday interactions. |
A smile or nod may be enough in a relaxed exchange. Avoid assuming that every Korean person expects the same gesture or reacts the same way to a learner’s mistake. Listen to how the other person addresses you and respond considerately.
4. Respond naturally when someone thanks you
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and setting |
|---|---|---|
| 천만에요. | cheonmaneyo | You’re welcome. A textbook response that is less common in many everyday exchanges. |
| 별말씀을요. | byeolmalsseumeullyo | Don’t mention it. A polite, modest response to thanks or praise. |
| 아니에요. | anieyo | Not at all / no need to thank me. A common polite response. |
| 아닙니다. | animnida | Not at all. A formal polite response. |
별말씀을요 is an expression; the 별 in it is not the noun meaning “star.” Learn it as a complete response. The tone should match the exchange rather than sounding like a rejection of the other person’s gratitude.
5. 네 can acknowledge thanks; 아니에요 can modestly deflect it
네 (ne) can acknowledge someone’s thanks. 아니에요 can say that thanks are unnecessary. Do not mechanically answer with an English-style “yes” or “no”: use the expression that fits the conversation.
Here is a short exchange after a shop transaction. The customer leaves and the clerk stays:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and setting |
|---|---|---|
| 손님: 감사합니다. | sonnim: gamsahamnida | Customer: Thank you. |
| 직원: 네, 안녕히 가세요. | jigwon: ne, annyeonghi gaseyo | Clerk: You’re welcome / acknowledged. Goodbye. The farewell is said to the person leaving. |
| 손님: 안녕히 계세요. | sonnim: annyeonghi gyeseyo | Customer: Goodbye. The farewell is said to the person staying. |
The customer can choose 안녕히 계세요 without using the more relationship-dependent 수고하세요. A slight nod is optional in this exchange.
Practise one complete interaction
Choose a setting: ordering water, asking for information, or thanking someone for help. Decide who is speaking, who is listening, and which speech level fits. Then practise the request and reply together. For more examples, see Basic Korean Phrases for Travelers and Beginners. Latin spellings here follow Revised Romanization; listening remains essential.
