사모님, 들어가도 될까요?
samonim, deureogado doelkkayo?
The English phrase "may I come in, madam?" is translated into Korean as 사모님, 들어가도 될까요? (samonim, deureogado doelkkayo?)
This phrase is a polite request for permission to enter a room. It is specifically addressed to a married woman of social standing. You would use this when a person of lower or equal social standing is requesting permission to enter a space occupied by a respected woman.
How does it change in a sentence?
The grammatical structure -아/어도 될까요? is the standard way to politely ask for permission to perform an action.
How do you pronounce it?
samonim, deureogado doelkkayo?
Did you know?
- The phrase 들어가도 될까요? uses the verb 들어가다, which literally means 'to go in', rather than 'to come in', because the speaker is moving away from their current position toward the listener.
- While it literally means 'teacher's mother', in modern Korean, it is a high-honorific way to address the wife of a teacher, a professor, or a person of high status.
- In modern Korean cities, shopkeepers or service workers often call female customers 사모님 to flatter them and imply they have a high social class.
Examples in context
- 선생님, 죄송합니다. 들어와도 될까요, 김 선생님?Teacher, I'm sorry. May I come in, Teacher Kim?
- 사모님, 들어가도 될까요?samonim, deureogado doelkkayo?May I come in, madam?
- 사모님, 들어가도 될까요? 지금 바쁘신가요?samonim, deureogado doelkkayo? jigeum bappeusingayo?May I come in, madam? Are you busy now?
- 실례합니다, 사모님, 들어가도 될까요?sillyehamnida, samonim, deureogado doelkkayo?Excuse me, madam, may I come in?
Example conversation
A tutor arrives at a student's home and speaks to the mother.
- 지은 Ji-eun안녕하세요, 사모님, 들어가도 될까요?Annyeonghaseyo, samonim, deureogado doelkkayo?Hello, madam, may I come in?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 들어오세요.Ne, deureooseyo.Yes, please come in.
- 지은 Ji-eun감사합니다.Gamsahamnida.Thank you.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo현우는 방에 있어요.Hyeon-u-neun bang-e isseoyo.Hyun-woo is in his room.
