무엇을 도와드릴까요?
mueos-eul dowa deurilkkayo?
In Korean, 무엇을 도와드릴까요? (mueos-eul dowa deurilkkayo?) is the phrase for "how can I help you?"
무엇을 도와드릴까요? is a polite offer of assistance. It is most commonly heard when a clerk or receptionist approaches a customer who has just entered a business.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "What (object) help (to give/do) shall I?"
Which one should you use?
While 무엇을 도와드릴까요? is the standard polite version, 무엇을 도와줄까? is a much more casual way to say "What can I help you with?" This casual form would only be used by someone of higher status to someone of lower status or between close friends.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
무엇을 도와드릴까요? is the standard polite and formal way to ask this question in service provider and customer service settings. Another common and polite variation is 어떻게 도와드릴까요?
How do you pronounce it?
mueos-eul dowa deurilkkayo?
Did you know?
- The verb 드리다 used in this phrase is a 'humble' version of 'to give'. It literally lowers the status of the speaker to elevate the customer, a grammatical requirement in Korean service culture.
- In many Korean retail environments, you might hear this phrase accompanied by a slight bow, which is an essential non-verbal part of the service ritual.
- In highly formal settings like luxury hotels, staff may use an even more extreme honorific form than 무엇을 도와드릴까요?, changing the sentence ending to sound even more deferential.
Examples in context
- 무엇을 도와드릴까요?mueoseul dowadeurilkkayo?How can I help you?
Example conversation
A clerk approaches a woman in a clothing store.
- 지훈 Ji-hun어서 오세요. 무엇을 도와드릴까요?eoseo oseyo. mueoseul dowadeurilkkayo?Welcome. How can I help you?
- 수빈 Su-bin이 원피스 사이즈가 있나요?i wonpiseu saijeuga innayo?Do you have this dress in my size?
- 지훈 Ji-hun잠시만 기다려 주세요, 바로 확인해 볼게요.jamsiman gidaryeo juseyo, baro hwaginhae bolgeyo.Please wait a moment, I will check it right away.
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 감사합니다.ne, gamsahamnida.Yes, thank you.
