도와줘
dowajwo
In Korean, help me is 도와줘 (dowajwo).
This phrase is used to request assistance when you need help with a task or are in trouble. In an emergency or a life-threatening situation, shouting 도와줘! is the standard way to call for help.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a combination of the verb 돕다 (to help) and the auxiliary verb 주다 (to give/do for someone).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 도와줘 is casual and non-honorific, used with friends, younger people or those you are close to. For a standard polite way to ask a stranger or someone older for help, use 도와주세요. In professional settings, news broadcasts or military contexts, use the highly formal version 도와주십시오.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can create the common polite form 도와줘요 by adding the polite suffix –요 to the informal form 도와줘.
How do you pronounce it?
dowajwo
Did you know?
- While 도와줘 means 'help me', adding the word 좀 ('a little') to create 좀 도와줘 actually makes the request sound more polite and less demanding to a native speaker.
- The verb 주다 ('to give') used in 도와줘 treats the act of helping as a gift or a favor being bestowed upon the speaker.
- In an emergency, Koreans may scream 살려줘! ('save me') instead of 도와줘 ('help me'). While 도와줘 is a general request for assistance, 살려줘 specifically implies that the speaker's life is in danger.
Examples in context
- 집 칠하는 것을 도와줘!Help me paint the house!This sentence shows how to use 도와줘 to request help with a specific task like painting.Tatoeba #4717729 by rainbow4us, translation #1224044 by Ketutar
- 잡초 좀 뽑는 거 도와줘.Help me pull weeds.This sentence shows how to use 도와줘 to request help with a task like pulling weeds.Tatoeba #13755103 by qlTmalffk, translation #10553445 by CK
- 도와줘!Help me!This sentence shows how to use 도와줘 to call for help in an emergency.Tatoeba #8355885 by Eunhee, translation #1126684 by CK
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Subin is trying to assemble a piece of furniture in the living room.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우야, 이것 좀 도와줘.hyeon-u-ya, i-geot jom do-wa-jwo.Hyeonu, help me with this.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo무슨 일이야, 수빈아?mu-seun il-i-ya, su-bin-a?What's the matter, Subin?
- 수빈 Su-bin가구가 너무 무거워.ga-gu-ga neo-mu mu-geo-wo.The furniture is too heavy.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo내가 같이 들어줄게.nae-ga gat-i deu-reo-jul-ge.I will help you lift it.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
