도와주세요
The English phrase "please help" is translated into Korean as 도와주세요.
도와주세요 is the standard, polite way to call for assistance in most everyday situations, such as asking for help in a store or on the street.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb 돕다 (to help) and the auxiliary verb 주다 (to give) used in a polite request form.
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal version of the phrase is 도와줘, which is used with close friends or people younger than you.
Did you know?
- In an actual emergency like a fire or crime, Koreans often scream 살려주세요 instead of 도와주세요. While both mean 'help', 살려주세요 literally means 'please save my life'.
- If you are asking for help from a stranger, it is common to start with 저기요 (excuse me) before saying 도와주세요 to avoid sounding too abrupt or demanding.
- In Korean cinema and dramas, characters often shout 도와줘 (the informal version) during intense action scenes even to strangers, as the urgency of the situation overrides social hierarchy.
Examples in context
- 도와주세요!Please help!Tatoeba #8119506 by noget, translation #1627352 by Spamster
- 선생님, 수업 도와주세요.Teacher, please help with the lesson.
- 친구야, 도와줘!Hey friend, please help!
- 짐 옮기는 것 좀 도와주세요.jim om-gi-neun geot jom do-wa-ju-se-yo.Please help me move these things.
- 이 수학 문제 좀 도와주세요.i su-hak mun-je jom do-wa-ju-se-yo.Please help me with this math problem.
Example conversation
Jieun is struggling to carry heavy grocery bags in the hallway.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우 씨, 짐 좀 도와주세요!Hyeon-u ssi, jim jom do-wa-ju-se-yo!Hyunwoo, please help me with these bags!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 제가 도와드릴게요.Ne, je-ga do-wa-deu-ril-ge-yo.Yes, I will help you.
- 지은 Ji-eun정말 고마워요.Jeong-mal go-ma-wo-yo.Thank you so much.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo아니에요, 괜찮아요.A-ni-e-yo, gwaen-chan-a-yo.No problem, it's okay.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
