Polite Expressions
By the end of this lesson you can:
- Make polite requests with the 주세요 pattern: noun + 주세요 and verb stem + 아/어 주세요
- Use 15 polite expressions to buy time, ask for help, admit confusion, and signal understanding
- Navigate a real café order in Korean, including asking someone to repeat or slow down
TOPIK 1 skills: Polite expressions & everyday requests
15 essential phrases for navigating everyday Korean conversations with confidence: buying time, asking for help, showing you understand.
잠깐만요 · 주세요 · 모르겠어요 · 알겠어요 · 어디예요?
RECALL: Building on Lessons 11 and 12: you can greet people and introduce yourself. But real conversations require more: asking for help, showing you’re following, admitting confusion, making requests. Today’s expressions are the social lubricant that makes everything else work. Without them, conversations stall. With them, you sound genuinely competent even at beginner level.
Part 1 · The Most Useful Request Pattern
주세요: please give me / please do
Before the vocabulary, one pattern deserves its own introduction. 주세요 is the workhorse of polite requests in Korean. It attaches to nouns (give me ___) and verbs (please do ___). Mastering it unlocks hundreds of real-world requests from day one.
Noun + 주세요: “Please give me ___” / “I’d like ___”
- 물 주세요. → Water, please.
- 영수증 주세요. → Receipt, please.
Verb stem + 아/어 주세요: “Please do ___” (action request)
- 천천히 말해 주세요. → Please speak slowly.
- 다시 말해 주세요. → Please say it again.
TIP: 주세요 is gentle, not commanding. English “give me” can sound demanding. 주세요 never does. It’s the standard polite request form. You use it in restaurants, shops, taxis, and with friends. It’s closer to “could I have…?” or “would you please…?” in tone.
Part 2 · 단어: Today’s 15 Expressions
Grouped by situation. Together they cover nearly every awkward moment a beginner faces in conversation.
🙏 Making Requests
| # | Korean | Romanization | Meaning | Notes | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 주세요 | ju-se-yo | Please give me / Please do (polite request) | From 주다 (to give) + -(으)세요 (honorific imperative). Attaches to nouns directly, or to a verb stem via 아/어. The foundation of polite requests in Korean. You will use this every single day. Example: 커피 주세요. (Coffee, please.) | m1-l13-v01 |
| 02 | 천천히 말해 주세요 | cheon-cheon-hi ma-rae ju-se-yo | Please speak slowly | 천천히 = slowly · 말하다 = to speak · 주세요 = please. One of the most important phrases for a learner. Koreans respond well: they genuinely appreciate the effort to communicate. Example: 천천히 말해 주세요. 한국어를 배우고 있어요. (Please speak slowly. I’m learning Korean.) | m1-l13-v02 |
| 03 | 다시 말해 주세요 | da-si ma-rae ju-se-yo | Please say that again | 다시 = again. Your go-to when you missed something. Add 한번 to soften: 다시 한번 말해 주세요 (please say it one more time). Example: 죄송한데, 다시 말해 주세요. (Sorry, could you say that again?) | m1-l13-v03 |
| 04 | 써 주세요 | sseo ju-se-yo | Please write it (down) | From 쓰다 (to write) + 주세요. Incredibly useful when you can read Korean but struggle to catch spoken words: asking someone to write it bridges the gap perfectly. Example: 써 주세요. 이름이 어떻게 돼요? (Please write it. How do you spell your name?) | m1-l13-v04 |
🧠 Signalling Understanding
| # | Korean | Romanization | Meaning | Notes | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05 | 알겠어요 | al-get-sseo-yo | I understand / I see / Got it | From 알다 (to know) + -겠- + -어요. Slightly more active than 알아요: signals “I’ve now understood this.” Used constantly in daily conversation and customer service. Example: 네, 알겠어요. 감사합니다. (Yes, I understand. Thank you.) | m1-l13-v05 |
| 06 | 모르겠어요 | mo-reu-get-sseo-yo | I don’t know / I’m not sure | From 모르다 (to not know) + -겠어요. The honest, polite way to admit uncertainty. Koreans find it respectful: it shows awareness of your limits rather than bluffing. Example: 죄송해요, 모르겠어요. (Sorry, I’m not sure.) | m1-l13-v06 |
| 07 | 이해했어요 | i-hae-haet-sseo-yo | I understood (past tense) | From 이해하다 (to comprehend) in the past tense. More deliberate than 알겠어요: used when something genuinely clicked after explanation. 이해 is a Sino-Korean word meaning comprehension. Example: 설명 감사해요! 이해했어요. (Thank you for the explanation! I understood.) | m1-l13-v07 |
| 08 | 한국어를 못 해요 | han-gu-geo-reul mot hae-yo | I can’t speak Korean (well) | 못 = cannot · 하다 = to do/speak. A humble disclaimer. Also say 한국어를 조금 해요 (I speak a little Korean). 조금 means “a little”. Example: 죄송해요, 한국어를 잘 못 해요. (Sorry, I can’t speak Korean well.) | m1-l13-v08 |
⏳ Buying Time & Navigating
| # | Korean | Romanization | Meaning | Notes | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09 | 잠깐만요 | jam-kkan-man-yo | Just a moment / One second, please | 잠깐 = a brief moment · 만 = only · 요 = polite ending. Standard way to ask someone to wait briefly. Heard constantly in shops, phone calls, and conversations. Casual: 잠깐만 (drop 요). Example: 잠깐만요, 확인해 볼게요. (Just a moment, I’ll check.) | m1-l13-v09 |
| 10 | 저기요 | jeo-gi-yo | Excuse me (to get someone’s attention) | Used to flag down a waiter, ask a stranger for directions, or get a shopkeeper’s attention. Not an apology: purely an attention-getter. More formal option: 실례합니다. Example: 저기요! 물 주세요. (Excuse me! Water, please.) | m1-l13-v10 |
| 11 | 실례합니다 | sil-lye-ham-ni-da | Excuse me (formal) | From 실례 (rudeness/imposition) + 하다. More formal than 저기요. Used when interrupting someone busy or in professional settings. Literally “I am being rude by interrupting” (a very courteous framing). Example: 실례합니다, 길을 물어봐도 될까요? (Excuse me, may I ask for directions?) | m1-l13-v11 |
| 12 | 어디예요? | eo-di-ye-yo | Where is it? | 어디 = where · 예요 = is. Attaches to a noun: 화장실 어디예요? (Where is the bathroom?). One of the most used question patterns for any traveller in Korea. Example: 화장실 어디예요? (Where is the bathroom?) | m1-l13-v12 |
💬 Confirming & Clarifying
| # | Korean | Romanization | Meaning | Notes | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 맞아요? | ma-ja-yo | Is that right? / Am I correct? | From 맞다 (to be correct). As a statement (맞아요!) it means “That’s right!” Same word, intonation changes the meaning. Very versatile in both question and affirmation contexts. Example: 이거 3,000원이에요. 맞아요? (This is 3,000 won. Is that right?) | m1-l13-v13 |
| 14 | 그래요? | geu-rae-yo | Oh really? / Is that so? | 그래요? (rising) = “Really?” · 그래요. (flat) = “I see.” · 그래요! (enthusiastic) = “Yes! That’s right!” One word, three moods depending on intonation. Example: 한국어를 공부해요? 그래요? (You study Korean? Really?) | m1-l13-v14 |
| 15 | 잘 부탁드립니다 | jal bu-tak-deu-rim-ni-da | I look forward to working with you | 잘 = well · 부탁 = request/favour · 드리다 = honorific “to give”. No clean English equivalent. Signals goodwill and mutual commitment at the start of any new relationship. Example: 처음 뵙겠습니다. 잘 부탁드립니다! (How do you do. I look forward to working with you!) | m1-l13-v15 |
MILESTONE: 45 words in your active deck. Three vocabulary lessons complete. You now have enough language to greet, introduce yourself, make requests, and navigate confusion. That’s a functional beginner toolkit.
Part 3 · Quick Reference
The right phrase for the right moment
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 저기요 | jeo-gi-yo | Excuse me | Flagging down a waiter, stranger, shopkeeper |
| 잠깐만요 | jam-kkan-man-yo | Just a moment | Buying time, asking someone to wait briefly |
| 천천히 말해 주세요 | cheon-cheon-hi ma-rae ju-se-yo | Please speak slowly | When someone speaks too fast |
| 다시 말해 주세요 | da-si ma-rae ju-se-yo | Please say that again | When you missed something |
| 써 주세요 | sseo ju-se-yo | Please write it down | When you can read but can’t catch spoken words |
| 알겠어요 | al-get-sseo-yo | I understand / Got it | Confirming you’ve understood something |
| 모르겠어요 | mo-reu-get-sseo-yo | I don’t know | Admitting uncertainty honestly |
| 맞아요? | ma-ja-yo | Is that right? | Checking your understanding |
| 그래요? | geu-rae-yo | Oh really? | Reacting to new information |
Part 4 · 대화: Dialogue in Context
A learner navigating a real café conversation. This dialogue uses words from all three vocabulary lessons so far. Read each line aloud and try to understand before looking at the English.
At a café: a learner orders and navigates
A (Cami): 저기요! 아메리카노 주세요. jeo-gi-yo! a-me-ri-ka-no ju-se-yo. Excuse me! An Americano, please.
B (Barista): 네! 아이스로 드릴까요, 따뜻하게 드릴까요? ne! a-i-seu-ro deu-ril-kka-yo, tta-tteut-ha-ge deu-ril-kka-yo? Sure! Iced or hot?
A (Cami): 죄송해요, 잘 못 알아들었어요. 다시 말해 주세요. joe-song-hae-yo, jal mot a-ra-deu-reot-sseo-yo. da-si ma-rae ju-se-yo. Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that. Please say it again.
B (Barista): 아이스요? 아니면 따뜻한 거요? a-i-seu-yo? a-ni-myeon tta-tteut-han geo-yo? Iced? Or hot?
A (Cami): 아, 알겠어요! 아이스로 주세요. 감사합니다! a, al-get-sseo-yo! a-i-seu-ro ju-se-yo. gam-sa-ham-ni-da! Oh, I see! Iced, please. Thank you!
B (Barista): 잠깐만요, 이름이 어떻게 되세요? jam-kkan-man-yo, i-reum-i eo-tteo-ke doe-se-yo? One moment, what’s your name?
A (Cami): 카미예요. ka-mi-ye-yo. It’s Cami.
TIP: Notice the three expressions A uses: 저기요 to flag B down · 다시 말해 주세요 when she didn’t catch it · 알겠어요 when she understood. Each has its exact moment, and using the right one sounds confident, not confused.
Part 5 · 상황 연습: Situation Practice
What would you say? Each prompt describes a situation. Think of the best phrase from today’s lesson, say it aloud, then check the Answer Key at the end of the lesson.
- The waiter is walking past. You need to order.
- Someone gave you complicated directions in fast Korean. You need them to slow down.
- You’re in a shop. A staff member asks you something but you didn’t catch it.
- Your Korean friend explained something and you genuinely understood. You want to confirm.
- Someone asks you something in Korean you genuinely don’t know.
- You need to find the bathroom in a restaurant.
- The Korean speaker couldn’t understand your pronunciation. Ask them to write the word.
- You just met your new Korean language partner for the first time. End your introduction warmly.
Part 6 · 쓰기 연습: Writing Practice
Write these 5 essential expressions. Copy each one syllable by syllable, then write the full expression at least three times.
| Expression | Romanization | Meaning | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| 잠깐만요 | jam-kkan-man-yo | just a moment | 잠 · 깐 · 만 · 요 |
| 알겠어요 | al-get-sseo-yo | I understand | 알 · 겠 · 어 · 요 |
| 모르겠어요 | mo-reu-get-sseo-yo | I don’t know | 모 · 르 · 겠 · 어 · 요 |
| 저기요 | jeo-gi-yo | excuse me | 저 · 기 · 요 |
| 맞아요 | ma-ja-yo | that’s right | 맞 · 아 · 요 |
CULTURE: 잘 부탁드립니다: a phrase with no translation. 잘 부탁드립니다 is one of those expressions that reveals something deep about Korean culture. It has no real English equivalent because the concept it expresses doesn’t translate neatly. It means something like: “I am placing myself in your care. Please look after me / treat me well.” It’s said at the start of new relationships: between colleagues, classmates, business partners, language exchange pairs.
The cultural logic is this: in a Confucian-influenced society, relationships come with obligations. When someone says 잘 부탁드립니다, they’re not just being polite: they’re acknowledging they’re entering a relationship where each person will be expected to support the other. Saying it correctly, at the right moment, signals genuine cultural awareness.
Homework
Before Lesson 14…
- Write all 15 expressions in your notebook. For the longer phrases (천천히 말해 주세요, 다시 말해 주세요, 잘 부탁드립니다), write them syllable by syllable first, then as one fluid phrase.
- Add all 15 to your flashcard deck. Prioritise: 잠깐만요, 알겠어요, 모르겠어요, 저기요, 주세요, 천천히 말해 주세요. These six will come up within your first hour in Korea.
- Run through the 8 situation prompts in Part 5 from memory: cover the answers and say the phrase aloud for each scenario. Repeat until all 8 feel automatic.
- Do a full deck review of all 45 words from Lessons 11–13. This is your last review before numbers: make sure greetings, introduction vocab, and polite expressions are solid before adding a new category.
- Lesson 14 preview: Sino-Korean numbers 1–100, the system used for dates, money, and phone numbers. Start with: 일 이 삼 사 오 육 칠 팔 구 십 (1–10). Try reading those before the lesson.
Answer Key
Part 5 · Situation Practice
- 저기요! (jeo-gi-yo): Excuse me! (attention-getter · not an apology)
- 천천히 말해 주세요. (cheon-cheon-hi ma-rae ju-se-yo): Please speak slowly. (천천히 = slowly)
- 다시 말해 주세요. (da-si ma-rae ju-se-yo): Please say that again. (다시 = again)
- 알겠어요! / 이해했어요! (al-get-sseo-yo / i-hae-haet-sseo-yo): I got it! / I understood! (이해했어요 is slightly more deliberate)
- 모르겠어요. (mo-reu-get-sseo-yo): I don’t know / I’m not sure. (honest · polite · never sounds rude)
- 화장실 어디예요? (hwa-jang-sil eo-di-ye-yo): Where is the bathroom? (화장실 = bathroom)
- 써 주세요. (sseo ju-se-yo): Please write it down. (쓰다 = to write)
- 잘 부탁드립니다! (jal bu-tak-deu-rim-ni-da): I look forward to working with you! (ends any first meeting warmly · no direct English equivalent)