Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 제발 | jebal | [ˈt͡ɕe̞(ː)ba̠ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| ~ 주세요 |
In Korean, 'please' is expressed differently based on whether you are making a desperate plea, a polite request for an object or a formal request for a favor. Use 제발 to convey a strong sense of pleading, urgency or an emotional weight similar to 'I beg of you'. If you want to request a specific object or action in a standard, polite way, use the form ~ 주세요.
Which one should you use?
The form 제발 is used for desperate or pleading requests. In contrast, the phrase ~ 주세요 is the standard way to say 'please' when you are requesting an object or an action in a polite, everyday manner.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ~ 주세요 is attached to a noun or a verb stem to form a polite request for something.
How do you pronounce it?
jebal
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 제발 when they actually mean the polite request suffix ~ 주세요. Using 제발 in a standard request can make you sound desperate rather than just polite.
Did you know?
- In a restaurant, if you want to say 'please' to get a server's attention, you would not use 제발 or 주세요, but instead say 저기요, which literally means 'over there'.
- When making a request, Koreans often avoid saying 'please' explicitly and instead use a questioning tone or a softening expression to make the request less burdensome.
- If you are at a restaurant and want to say 'water, please', adding 제발 would make it sound as though you are dying of thirst and pleading for survival.
Examples in context
- 제발 날 죽여 줘.Please kill me.This sentence shows the use of 제발 in a desperate context.Tatoeba #6305074 by Queserasera, translation #6305126 by Queserasera
- 물 좀 주세요, 제발.Some water, please.This sentence demonstrates using 제발 to add emphasis to a request for an object.Tatoeba #6305441 by Queserasera, translation #270848 by CK
- 제발 집중 좀 해 줄래?Can you pay attention, please?This sentence illustrates using 제발 when pleading for someone to do something.Tatoeba #10788998 by svawbodah, translation #3185865 by CK
- 비행기 표를 예약할 수 있을까요? 부탁드립니다.Can you book the airplane ticket? Please.
- 제발 도와주세요!Please help me!
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minjun is begging Subin to stop eating his snacks.
- 민준 Min-jun제발 그것 좀 그만 먹어.jebal geugeot jom geuman meogeo.Please stop eating that.
- 수빈 Su-bin너무 맛있어서 참을 수 없어.neomu masisseoseo cham-eul su eopseo.It's so delicious I can't help it.
- 민준 Min-jun제발 한 입만 남겨 줘.jebal han ip-man namgyeojwo.Please leave just one bite for me.
- 수빈 Su-bin알았어, 민준아. 조금 남겨 줄게.arasseo, Minjun-a. jogeum namgyeojulge.Alright, Minjun. I'll leave you a little bit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please” translations and entries 제발, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
