요청
yocheong
The English phrase 'request' is translated into Korean as 요청 (yocheong).
요청 is used to describe the act of asking someone to do something. You can use the phrase 요청을 하다 to mean 'to make a request' and 요청을 받다 to mean 'to receive a request'.
Meaning: to ask somebody to do something (verb)
Which one should you use?
While 요청 is a neutral way to request something, other words carry different nuances. 요구 implies a stronger sense of 'demanding' or 'claiming' something as a right. For personal favors or requests made between acquaintances, the word 부탁 is more appropriate.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun 요청 can be turned into the verb 'to request' by adding the verb suffix –하다, resulting in 요청하다.
How do you pronounce it?
yocheong
Did you know?
- While 요청 is standard, if you are making a request to someone of much higher social status, you would likely switch to more humble verbs entirely rather than just adding honorifics to 요청.
- To make a request softer and more polite, Koreans often add the word 혹시 ('perhaps') at the start of a sentence, even if it doesn't translate directly.
- The second character in 요청, 청 (請), is the same character used in the word for 'invitation', suggesting that a formal request is conceptually similar to inviting someone to act.
Examples in context
- 부탁드립니다, 저희 집에 오시기 전에 미리 연락해 주시겠어요?Would you please contact us in advance before coming to our house?
- 도움을 요청했어요.doum-eul yocheong-haesseoyo.I requested help.
- 그에게 변경을 요청할까요?geu-ege byeongyeong-eul yocheong-halkkayo?Should I request a change from him?
- 정중하게 요청했습니다.jeongjun-hage yocheong-haesseumnida.I requested it politely.
Example conversation
At the office, Ji-eun asks Do-hyeon about a task.
- 지은 Ji-eun도현 씨, 자료를 요청했나요?Do-hyeon ssi, jaryo-reul yocheong-haet-nayo?Do-hyeon, did you request the materials?
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 방금 요청했어요.Ne, bang-geum yocheong-haesseoyo.Yes, I just requested them.
- 지은 Ji-eun빨리 확인해 주세요.Ppalli hwagin-hae juseyo.Please check them quickly.
- 도현 Do-hyeon알겠습니다, 지은 씨.Al-get-seumnida, Ji-eun ssi.Understood, Ji-eun.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 요청, CC BY-SA 4.0.
