손 잡아줘
son jab-ajwo
The phrase 'hold my hand' in Korean is 손 잡아줘 (son jab-ajwo).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 손 (hand), 잡다 (to hold/grab) and the auxiliary verb -아/어 주다 (to do something for someone).
Which one should you use?
While 잡아줘 (hold for me) implies a request for an action to be performed for the speaker's benefit, 잡아 (hold) would be a simple command to grab something.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the suffix -요 to the end makes the request polite and suitable for someone you are not extremely close to or someone older than you, creating 손 잡아줘요. Using the -세요 ending makes the phrase a more formal and respectful request in the form 손 잡아주세요.
How do you pronounce it?
son jab-ajwo
Did you know?
- In some contexts, 손 can refer to a 'guest' or a 'visitor', making the word a homonym for both a body part and a person visiting your home.
- In Korean culture, holding hands in public is common for couples of all ages, but it is much more common for female friends to hold hands as a sign of affection than for male friends.
- The verb 잡다 used in 손 잡아줘 is the same verb used by the police to mean 'to arrest' or 'to catch' a criminal.
Examples in context
- 저와 손을 잡아주세요.Please hold my hand.
- 손을 잡아 줄래?Would you hold my hand?
- 무서우니까 손 잡아줘.museou-nikka son jaba-jwo.I'm scared, so hold my hand.
- 길 건널 때 손 잡아줘.gil geon-neol ttae son jaba-jwo.Hold my hand when we cross the street.
- 그냥 손 잡아줘.geunyang son jaba-jwo.Just hold my hand.
Example conversation
Subin and Dohyun are walking through a crowded market.
- 수빈 Su-bin사람이 너무 많아. 손 잡아줘.sarami neomu mana. son jaba-jwo.There are too many people. Hold my hand.
- 도현 Do-hyeon응, 여기 잡으면 돼?eung, yeogi jabeumyeon dwae?Okay, should I hold it here?
- 수빈 Su-bin응, 도현아 꼭 잡아줘.eung, Dohyun-a kkok jaba-jwo.Yes, Dohyun, hold it tight.
- 도현 Do-hyeon알았어, 놓지 않을게.arasseo, nochi aneulge.Alright, I won't let go.
