What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb 쓰다 (to write) in its connective form 써 and the auxiliary verb 주세요 (please give/do for me).
Which one should you use?
While 써 주세요 is a standard polite way to ask, 써 주십시오 is a highly formal version used in professional settings or public announcements. For casual situations with friends, you might use 좀 써 줄래? or 잠깐 써 줄래? to ask someone to write something for you.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
써 주세요 is a polite form suitable for use with strangers, colleagues or people older than you. For highly formal settings like business instructions, use 써 주십시오. In informal settings, you can use 써 줘 with close friends or people younger than you or the casual questions 좀 써 줄래? and 잠깐 써 줄래?
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the -어 주세요 construction, which turns a verb into a polite request for someone to perform an action for the speaker's benefit.
How do you pronounce it?
sseo juseyo
Did you know?
- The verb 쓰다 is a linguistic chameleon, meaning 'to write', 'to use', 'to wear' a hat or glasses, and 'to be bitter'.
- In many contexts, adding the word 좀 before 써 주세요 makes the request feel much more natural and less demanding to a Korean ear.
- In the 15th-century text Worin seokbo, the word was written as ᄡᅥ, featuring a complex consonant cluster that modern speakers no longer pronounce.
Examples in context
- 메모를 부탁드립니다.Please write a memo.
- 핸드폰 번호 좀 잠깐 써 줄래?Can you quickly write down your phone number?
- 영화 제목을 좀 써 줄래?Can you write down the movie title for me?
- 이름을 써 주세요.ireumeul sseo juseyo.Please write your name.
- 주소를 여기 써 주세요.jusoreul yeogi sseo juseyo.Please write the address here.
Example conversation
Subin is asking Minjun for his phone number.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준 씨, 전화번호 좀 알려 주세요.Minjun ssi, jeonhwabeonho jom allyeo juseyo.Minjun, please give me your phone number.
- 민준 Min-jun제 번호는 010-1234-5678이에요.je beonhoneun gong-il-gong-il-i-sam-sa-o-yuk-chil-pal-ieyo.My number is 010-1234-5678.
- 수빈 Su-bin잊어버릴 것 같으니 여기 써 주세요.ijeobeoril geot gateuni yeogi sseo juseyo.I think I might forget, so please write it here.
- 민준 Min-jun네, 여기 적어 드릴게요.ne, yeogi jeogeo deurilgeyo.Okay, I will write it down here.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 써, CC BY-SA 4.0.
