Requesting

Category
Basic Grammar
Premium
Keyword #
-아/어/여 주세요
Lesson
11

TL;DR

  • -아/어/여 주세요 is how you politely ask someone to do something for you! 🙏
  • Pick -아 주세요 after vowels ㅏ or ㅗ, -어 주세요 after other vowels, and -여 주세요 after 하다 verbs 💜
  • It literally means "please do [verb] for me" and is super common in everyday Korean conversations! ✨

What does -아/어/여 주세요 mean? 🤔

This grammar pattern is all about making polite requests! 💝
It attaches to verb stems and means "please do [verb] for me" or simply "please [verb]"
Think of it as the Korean equivalent of adding "please" when you ask for a favor! 😊

How to form it 🔨

The basic formula is simple:
Verb stem + -아/어/여 주세요 ✏️

Which ending do you pick? 🎯

It depends on the last vowel of the verb stem:
  • ㅏ or ㅗ → use -아 주세요 🟠
  • Any other vowel → use -어 주세요 🔵
  • 하다 verbs → use -여 주세요 (often contracted to -해 주세요) 💜

Examples 💬

With -아 주세요

→ 가다 (to go) → 가 주세요 (please go)
→ 앉다 (to sit) → 앉아 주세요 (please sit)
→ 보다 (to see/look) → 봐 주세요 (please look/please check)

With -어 주세요

→ 먹다 (to eat) → 먹어 주세요 (please eat)
→ 쓰다 (to write) → 써 주세요 (please write)
→ 읽다 (to read) → 읽어 주세요 (please read)

With -여/해 주세요

→ 설명하다 (to explain) → 설명해 주세요 (please explain)
→ 도와주다 (to help) → 도와 주세요 (please help)
→ 기다리다 (to wait) → 기다려 주세요 (please wait)

Real-life usage 🌟

This pattern is everywhere in daily Korean! 🇰🇷
→ 천천히 말해 주세요. (Please speak slowly.)
→ 문 열어 주세요. (Please open the door.)
→ 사진 찍어 주세요. (Please take a photo [for me].)
→ 한 번 더 설명해 주세요. (Please explain one more time.)

The "for me" nuance 💝

While -아/어/여 주세요 translates to "please do [verb]," it actually carries the meaning of "please do it for me" 🎁
The 주다 part literally means "to give," so you're asking someone to "give you the favor" of doing that action!
This makes it warmer and more personal than just a command 💕

Exceptions ⚠️

하다 verb contraction

-여 주세요 almost always contracts to -해 주세요 in real speech! 🗣️
→ 공부하다 → 공부해 주세요 (not 공부하여 주세요)

Irregular verbs still follow the pattern!

Don't worry—even irregular verbs work the same way once you know their stem changes! 💪
→ 듣다 (to listen) → 들어 주세요 (please listen)
→ 돕다 (to help) → 도와 주세요 (please help)
 
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using -아/어/여 주세요 to make polite requests. 🙏
  • 문 열 ___.
      • Answer
      문을 열어 주세요.
  • 이 책 읽 ___.
      • Answer
      이 책을 읽어 주세요.
  • 천천히 말 .
      • Answer
      천천히 말해 주세요.
  • 물 ___.
      • Answer
      물을 주세요.
  • 사진 찍 ___.
      • Answer
      사진을 찍어 주세요.
  • 다시 한번 설명 .
      • Answer
      다시 한번 설명해 주세요.
  • 창문 닫 ___.
      • Answer
      창문을 닫아 주세요.
  • 여기 앉 ___.
      • Answer
      여기에 앉아 주세요.
  • 이름 쓰 ___.
      • Answer
      이름을 써 주세요.
  • 조용히 .
      • Answer
      조용히 해 주세요.
Vocabulary
문 - door
열다 - to open
책 - book
읽다 - to read
천천히 - slowly
말하다 - to speak
물 - water
주다 - to give
사진 - photo
찍다 - to take (a photo)
다시 - again
한번 - once
설명하다 - to explain
창문 - window
닫다 - to close
여기 - here
앉다 - to sit
이름 - name
쓰다 - to write
조용히 - quietly
하다 - to do
Common mistakes
  • ❌ Forgetting the 주세요 part — just using -아/어/여 alone is not a polite request
  • ⚠️ Using -아 주세요 after a verb ending in 오 (should be -와 주세요) or ㅏ/ㅗ vowels
  • 🔄 Confusing -아 주세요 and -어 주세요 — remember ㅏ/ㅗ vowels take -아, all others take -어
  • 💬 Using 주세요 without a verb stem — 주세요 alone means "please give" but needs a verb to make other requests