How to say please in Korean

Korean has no single word for please. Put 주세요 (juseyo), "please give", after the thing you want: 이거 주세요, "this one, please". Put it after an action and it means "please do": 천천히 말씀해 주세요, "please speak slowly".

Pointing at what you want

PoliteFood & Café

이i거geo주ju세se요yo

This one, please

igeo juseyo

Pointing at the menu

How it sounds

Written이거 주세요

Read exactly as written.

이거this
주세요please give

Literally: this please give

3 forms

Who are you asking?

Choose the person.

줘Give mejwoFriends and family onlyCasual
Written줘
Read exactly as written.
이거 주세요This one, pleaseigeo juseyoPointing at what you wantPolite
Pointing at the menu
Written이거 주세요
Read exactly as written.
주십시오Please givejusipsio · said 주십씨오Signs, announcements, very formal requestsFormal
Written주십시오
Said주십씨오
1. 1시 → 씨Tense
  After a ㄱ/ㄷ/ㅂ ending, the next ㄱㄷㅂㅅㅈ is squeezed into tense ㄲㄸㅃㅆㅉ.
  Tense, doubled sounds. After a final ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ sound, the next ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ ㅅ ㅈ becomes tense: ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ. 학교 is said 학꾜 (hak-kkyo).

Quick check

You want the menu. What do you say to the waiter?

Please, in real situations

Tap a phrase to see how it really sounds.

메뉴판 주세요The menu, pleasemenyupan juseyoPolite
Sitting down
Written메뉴판 주세요
Read exactly as written.
물 좀 주세요Some water, pleasemul jom juseyoPolite
Water is usually free and self-serve
Written물 좀 주세요
Read exactly as written.
천천히 말씀해 주세요Please speak slowlycheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyoPolite
Instructions are too fast
Written천천히 말씀해 주세요
Read exactly as written.
여기서 세워 주세요Stop here, pleaseyeogiseo sewo juseyoPolite
Getting out of a taxi
Written여기서 세워 주세요
Read exactly as written.
도와주세요Help me, please!dowajuseyoPolite
Any emergency
Written도와주세요
Read exactly as written.
계산해 주세요The bill, pleasegyesanhae juseyoPolite
Paying at the counter
Written계산해 주세요
Read exactly as written.
Note계 is usually pronounced [게] in everyday speech

Questions

Is there a word for please in Korean?

Not one that works everywhere. 주세요 after a thing, 해 주세요 after an action. 제발 (jebal) exists, but it means begging: "please, I beg you".

How do you call a waiter?

저기요 (jeogiyo), "excuse me, over here". It is the normal way in Korea, not rude.

More phrases

안녕하세요Hello in Korean 감사합니다Thank you in Korean 사랑해I love you in Korean 미안해Sorry in Korean 잘 지냈어How are you in Korean 귀여워Cute in Korean 240All phrases with audio

Ask for anything: 240 phrases with audio

Korean alphabet, 240 phrases and quiz games with Korean audio. Works offline.