What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 돕다 (to help), the humble auxiliary 드리다 (to give/offer to a superior) and the interrogative ending -ㄹ까요? (shall I/may I). Literally, it means "Shall I give you the favor of helping?"
Which one should you use?
While 도와드릴까요? is polite and used for strangers or superiors, the casual form 도와줄까? is used with close friends or younger people. If you want to be even more formal and straightforward when asking if someone needs help, you can use 도움이 필요하십니까?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
도와드릴까요? is a polite and respectful way to say 'Shall I help you?', making it suitable for service environments or speaking to strangers. In contrast, 도와줄까? is a casual phrase used amongst friends to offer help.
How does it change in a sentence?
The use of the -ㄹ까요? ending makes this a polite suggestion or offer rather than a direct question.
How do you pronounce it?
dowadeurilkkayo?
Did you know?
- When offering help to an elderly person, a Korean speaker might omit the word 'you' entirely, as mentioning the second person directly can actually be seen as impolite.
- The concept of 'helping' in Korean can overlap with 정 (jeong), an untranslatable feeling of social attachment, making the offer feel more like a communal duty than a professional service.
- The word 드리다 used in this phrase is a 'humble' verb, meaning the speaker intentionally lowers their own status to elevate the person they are helping.
Examples in context
- 무거운 짐을 들어 도와드릴까요?mugeoun jim-eul deureo dowa-deulilkayo?May I help you by carrying your heavy luggage?
- 길을 찾는 걸 도와드릴까요?gil-eul chatneun geol dowa-deulilkayo?May I help you find your way?
- 무엇을 도와드릴까요?mueoseul dowa-deulilkayo?How may I help you?
Example conversation
Ji-eun sees Ji-hoon looking lost in a shopping mall.
- 지은 Ji-eun저기, 길 찾는 걸 도와드릴까요?jeogi, gil chatneun geol dowa-deulilkayo?Excuse me, may I help you find your way?
- 지훈 Ji-hun아, 네. 화장실이 어디에 있나요?a, ne. hwajangsil-i eodi-e innayo?Oh, yes. Where is the restroom?
- 지은 Ji-eun이쪽으로 가시면 돼요.ijjok-euro gasimyeon dwaeyo.You can go this way.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말 감사합니다.jeongmal gamsahamnida.Thank you very much.
