도와주세요
dowajuseyo
In Korean, "help me, please" is said as 도와주세요 (dowajuseyo).
This phrase is commonly used both for requesting small favors and for calling out for assistance in an emergency.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a combination of 도와주다 (to help) and –세요 (a polite imperative ending).
Which one should you use?
도와줘 and 도와줄래? are informal ways to ask for help.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
도와주세요 is a formal way to say Please help me. For a casual, non-polite version used with close friends or people younger than you, use 도와줘. If you are in an official setting or addressing someone of much higher status, the highly formal version 도와주십시오 is appropriate.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Korean, the object 'me' (저를) is often omitted from this phrase when the context makes it clear who needs help.
How do you pronounce it?
dowajuseyo
Did you know?
- If you are in a life-threatening emergency, shouting 살려주세요 (save me) is often more effective than 도와주세요 (help me). While both are used, 살려주세요 specifically signals that your life is in danger.
- The verb 도와주다 (to help) actually contains the word 주다, which means 'to give'. Literally, you are asking someone to 'give' you the act of helping, which reflects the Korean linguistic habit of framing many requests as receiving a favor.
- If you are asking for help with a task, you might hear the word 손 meaning 'hand'. The phrase 손 좀 빌려주세요 literally asks someone to 'lend a hand', mirroring the English idiom.
Examples in context
- 회의실을 찾을 수 없어요. 도와주세요.I can't find the conference room. Please help me.
- 캐리어를 들어주실 수 있나요? 도움을 청하고 싶습니다.Could you help me with my suitcase? I would like to request assistance.
- 짐 옮기는 것 좀 도와주세요.jim om-gi-neun geot jom do-wa-ju-se-yo.Please help me move these things.
- 이것 좀 도와주세요.i-geot jom do-wa-ju-se-yo.Please help me with this.
Example conversation
Minji is struggling with a heavy box in the hallway.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨, 이것 좀 도와주세요.Ji-hun ssi, i-geot jom do-wa-ju-se-yo.Ji-hun, please help me with this.
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 제가 도와드릴게요.Ne, je-ga do-wa-deu-ril-ge-yo.Yes, I will help you.
- 민지 Min-ji정말 감사합니다.Jeong-mal gam-sa-ham-ni-da.Thank you so much.
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니에요, 괜찮아요.A-ni-e-yo, gwaen-chan-ah-yo.No problem, it's fine.
