Core Grammar Rule: ~아/어 주세요
This pattern is used to politely ask or request someone to perform an action for you. It attaches to a verb stem.
Meaning & Usage
Meaning: It translates to "Please do (verb) for me." The structure combines the verb with 주다 (to give), implying that the action is a favor given to the speaker.
When to use: Use it when asking for help, ordering something, or giving instructions to someone you're not close with, or to someone older. It's the standard polite way to make a request in Korean.
Conjugation Rules
Rule: The conjugation depends on the last vowel of the verb stem.
Stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ: Add ~아 주세요. (e.g. 가다 → 가 + 아 주세요 → 가 주세요 / 보다 → 보 + 아 주세요 → 봐 주세요)
Stems ending in other vowels (ㅓ ㅜ ㅣ ㅡ etc.): Add ~어 주세요. (e.g. 먹다 → 먹 + 어 주세요 → 먹어 주세요 / 만들다 → 만들 + 어 주세요 → 만들어 주세요)
Verbs ending in 하다: They change to 해 주세요. (e.g. 공부하다 → 공부해요 → 공부해 주세요)
Vowel ㅏ/ㅗ: ~아 주세요 / Other Vowels: ~어 주세요 / 하다 Verbs: ~해 주세요
Common Combinations
To make your requests sound more natural and polite, Koreans often add the word '좀'.
Softening with '좀'
Context: '좀' literally means "a little," but when used in a request, it functions as a softener, similar to adding "please" or "just" in English. It makes the request sound less like a direct command and more like a gentle favor. It's extremely common in everyday speech.
Example: 문 좀 열어 주세요. (Please open the door.) This sounds much more natural than just 문 열어 주세요.
Combining with '같이'
Context: When you want to ask someone to do an activity with you, you can use '같이' (together) before the verb. This turns the request into an invitation.
Example: 같이 가 주세요. (Please go with me.)
[Korean] + 좀 + [~아/어 주세요] = [A softer request]
Making Requests Even More Polite
While ~아/어 주세요 is the standard polite request form, you can sound even more considerate by using more indirect expressions. This is especially useful when asking strangers for a favor.