물 줘
mul jwo
The English phrase "give me water" is expressed in Korean as 물 줘 (mul jwo).
This phrase is used to make a direct request for someone to provide water.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the noun 물 (water) and the informal verb 줘 (give).
Which one should you use?
While 물 줘 is a direct and short way to ask for water, you can use the variation 물 좀 줘 to be more colloquial among close friends. For a more polite request, you can use 물을 주세요 or the even more polite question 물 좀 주실래요? which translates to "Could you please give me some water?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For strangers or elders, use the polite form 물을 주세요 or 물 주세요. Adding 주세요 instead of 줘 makes the request polite and suitable for use with strangers or elders.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 좀 to your request, such as in 물 좀 주세요, makes the request sound more natural and less demanding in polite Korean.
How do you pronounce it?
mul jwo
Did you know?
- While mul means water, it is also used in Korean to describe the 'flow' or 'vibe' of a situation or a person's skill level.
- In ancient northern Korea, the word for 'water' was me rather than mul. This ancient root only survives today in a few specific words, such as minari for water celery.
- In Korean culture, providing water to a guest is a fundamental sign of hospitality and is often the first thing offered upon entering a home.
Examples in context
- 물을 주세요Please give me water.
- 물 좀 줄래?Can you give me some water?
- 물 줘.mul jwo.Give me water.
Example conversation
At home, Jieun is thirsty while studying.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우야, 물 줘.hyeon-u-ya, mul jwo.Hyeonu, give me water.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo여기 있어, 지은아.yeogi isseo, ji-eun-a.Here it is, Jieun.
- 지은 Ji-eun고마워.gomawo.Thanks.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo천천히 마셔.cheoncheonhi masyeo.Drink slowly.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 물, CC BY-SA 4.0.
