Korean grammar · Elementary (A2)
Requests and suggestions: -(으)세요, -아/어 주세요, -(으)ㄹ까요?
How to ask people to do things politely, say “don't”, ask for favours, and suggest doing something together in every speech level.
-(으)세요: please do
The polite request is -(으)세요 (-(eu)seyo): -세요 after a vowel ( (gaseyo), please go), -으세요 after a consonant ( (anjeuseyo), please sit down). ㄹ stems drop the ㄹ: (mandeulda) → (mandeuseyo). A few verbs use their honorific form: (deuseyo), please eat or drink; (jumuseyo), sleep well; (gyeseyo), stay.
For “don't”, use -지 마세요 (-ji maseyo) after any stem: (gaji maseyo), don't go; (geokjeonghaji maseyo), don't worry. The same -(으)세요 form is also an honorific statement or question ( (eodi gaseyo?), where are you going?); the situation and your intonation make the meaning clear.
| Verb | Please do | Please don't |
|---|---|---|
| (gada), to go | (gaseyo) | (gaji maseyo) |
| (anda), to sit | (anjeuseyo) | (anji maseyo) |
| (gidarida), to wait | (gidariseyo) | (gidariji maseyo) |
| (mandeulda), to make | (mandeuseyo) | (mandeulji maseyo) |
| (meokda), to eat | (deuseyo) | (deusiji maseyo) |
| (swida), to rest | (swiseyo) | — |
- 여기 앉으세요.Yeogi anjeuseyo.Please sit here.
- 집에서 푹 쉬세요.Jibeseo puk swiseyo.Get plenty of rest at home.
- 걱정하지 마세요.Geokjeonghaji maseyo.Don't worry.
- 여기서 사진을 찍지 마세요.Yeogiseo sajineul jjikji maseyo.Please don't take photos here.
-아/어 주세요: please do it for me
When you ask someone to do something for you, add (juseyo) to the -아/어 form of the verb (the present form without 요): (jjigeo juseyo), please take (a photo) for me; (malhae juseyo), please tell me. (dowajuseyo), please help me, is written as one word.
To be softer, add (jom), a little, or ask a question: -아/어 주시겠어요? (would you …?) or -아/어 주실 수 있어요? (could you …?). When you do something for a person you respect, use (deurida) instead of : (deureo deurilgeyo), let me carry it for you.
- 사진 좀 찍어 주세요.Sajin jom jjigeo juseyo.Could you take a photo for me, please?
- 천천히 말해 주세요.Cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo.Please speak slowly.
- 창문 좀 열어 주시겠어요?Changmun jom yeoreo jusigesseoyo?Would you open the window, please?
- 가방 들어 드릴게요.Gabang deureo deurilgeyo.Let me carry your bag for you.
Requests in the other speech levels
The formal style uses -(으)십시오 (-(eu)sipsio), heard in announcements, signs and from staff: (jamsiman gidaryeo jusipsio), please wait a moment. In casual speech, the plain -아/어 form is enough: (ga), go; (igeo bwa), look at this.
-아/어라 (-a/eora) is a blunt command, used by parents to children and between very close friends. Use it with care. Written instructions use -(으)시오 instead: (goreusio), choose.
| Style | Go | Sit down | Don't go |
|---|---|---|---|
| polite: (haeyoche) | (gaseyo) | (anjeuseyo) | (gaji maseyo) |
| formal: (hamnidache) | (gasipsio) | (anjeusipsio) | (gaji masipsio) |
| casual: (banmal) | (ga) | (anja) | (gaji ma) |
| plain command | (gara) | (anjara) | (gaji mara) |
Let's: suggestions
In the polite style, the ordinary present can mean “let's”: (gachi gayo), let's go together. To ask “shall we?”, use -(으)ㄹ까요? (-(eu)lkkayo?): (gachi galkkayo?). The same ending also offers help, “shall I?”: (changmuneul yeolkkayo?), shall I open the window?
-(으)ㄹ래요? (-(eu)llaeyo?) asks what someone wants to do, a friendly invitation: (keopi masillaeyo?), do you want a coffee? In casual speech, “let's” is -자 ( (gaja)) and “shall we?” is -(으)ㄹ까? ( (galkka?)).
The formal -(으)ㅂ시다 ( (gapsida)) is used to a group or to people at your level or below; to a superior it can sound bossy, so say (gachi gasijyo) instead.
- 점심 같이 먹을까요?Jeomsim gachi meogeulkkayo?Shall we have lunch together?
- 좋아요, 그럼 한 시에 만나요.Joayo, geureom han sie mannayo.Sure, let's meet at one, then.
- 주말에 같이 등산 갈래요?Jumare gachi deungsan gallaeyo?Do you want to go hiking together at the weekend?
- 늦었으니까 택시 타자.Neujeosseunikka taeksi taja.It's late, so let's take a taxi. (casual)
- 자, 모두 출발합시다.Ja, modu chulbalhapsida.Right, let's all set off.