살려줘
sallyeojwo
The Korean phrase for "save me" is 살려줘 (sallyeojwo).
살려줘 is a desperate plea for help used when someone is in a life-threatening situation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a combination of the verb 살리다 (to save/make live) and the auxiliary verb 주다 (to do for someone), literally meaning "save/keep (me) alive".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 살려줘 is informal and is used when speaking to someone of equal or lower status, or in a state of extreme panic where social hierarchy is ignored. For a polite version suitable for addressing strangers or people in authority, you can use 살려주세요.
How does it change in a sentence?
살려줘 is in the imperative form, used to issue a command or a desperate request.
How do you pronounce it?
sallyeojwo
Did you know?
- If a person is calling for help from a distance, they might scream 사람 살려!, which literally means 'Save a person!' rather than 'Save me!'
- Korean has a distinct linguistic category for 'saving' a life that is separate from 'saving' an object or money, which both use the word 아끼다 or 저장하다.
- In modern Korean slang, 살려줘 is often used hyperbolically to express being overwhelmed by work or a difficult exam, similar to saying 'I'm dying' in English.
Examples in context
- 친구야, 구해줘!Friend, save me!
- 제발 살려줘!jebal sallyeojwo!Please, save me!
- 물에 빠졌어, 살려줘!mure ppajyeosseo, sallyeojwo!I fell in the water, save me!
Example conversation
Jihoon is trapped in a burning building and calls out to Jieun.
- 지훈 Ji-hun지은아, 살려줘!Jieun-ah, sallyeojwo!Jieun, save me!
- 지은 Ji-eun지훈아, 어디 있어?Jihoon-ah, eodi isseo?Jihoon, where are you?
- 지훈 Ji-hun불이 너무 커, 살려줘!buri neomu keo, sallyeojwo!The fire is too big, save me!
- 지은 Ji-eun기다려, 지금 갈게!gidaryeo, jigeum galge!Wait, I'm coming now!
