Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 제발 | jebal | [ˈt͡ɕe̞(ː)ba̠ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| ~ 주세요 |
In Korean, the way you say "please" depends on whether you are begging for something desperately or making a standard polite request. 제발 is an interjection used for desperate pleading, begging or expressing intense emotion, similar to saying "I beg of you" in English.
Which one should you use?
The word 제발 is used for desperate pleading or begging. In contrast, ~ 주세요 is the standard, polite way to say "please" when you are requesting an object or an action from someone. For expressing a strongly heartfelt request, you can also use 부디.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ~ 주세요 is attached to a noun to request that noun, or to a verb stem to request an action.
How do you pronounce it?
jebal
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 제발 when ordering food in a restaurant. Instead of using 제발 in a service setting, you should use ~ 주세요.
Did you know?
- If you use 제발 while ordering coffee, you might sound like a character in a melodrama begging for your life rather than a customer making a request.
- Korean lacks a single, universal word for 'please' because the language prioritizes the social relationship between the speaker and the listener over a general marker of politeness.
- Because 제발 carries a sense of desperation, it is often found in the lyrics of K-pop songs to express intense heartbreak or longing.
Examples in context
- 제발 날 죽여 줘.Please kill me.This example shows the use of 제발 in a desperate plea.Tatoeba #6305074 by Queserasera, translation #6305126 by Queserasera
- 물 좀 주세요, 제발.Some water, please.This example demonstrates requesting an object with 제발.Tatoeba #6305441 by Queserasera, translation #270848 by CK
- 제발 집중 좀 해 줄래?Can you pay attention, please?This example shows a request for an action using 제발.Tatoeba #10788998 by svawbodah, translation #3185865 by CK
- 한 잔 더 주셔도 되겠습니까?May I have one more glass, please?
- 나 좀 도와줄래?Can you please help me?
- 더 주세요Please give me more
- 부디 도와주세요Please help me
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dohyun is begging Seoyeon to help him with a difficult task.
- 도현 Do-hyeon서연아, 제발 한 번만 도와줘.Seoyeon-a, jebal han beonman dowajwo.Seoyeon, please help me just this once.
- 서연 Seo-yeon나도 지금 너무 바빠.Nado jigeum neomu bappa.I am also very busy right now.
- 도현 Do-hyeon제발, 이번이 마지막이야.Jebal, ibeoni majimak-iya.Please, this is the last time.
- 서연 Seo-yeon알았어, 이번만 도와줄게.Arasseo, ibeonman dowajulge.Okay, I will help you just this once.
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.
