Basic Messages and Asking for Help | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic messages and asking for help..

EN → KO / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic Messages and Asking for Help to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

다시 말해 주세요.

tah-SHEE mahl-HEH joo-SEH-yoh Please say it again.
B

적어 주세요.

juh-GUH joo-SEH-yoh Please write it down.
A

보여 주세요.

boh-YUH joo-SEH-yoh Please show me.
B

도와주세요.

doh-WAH-joo-SEH-yoh Please help me.
A

어떻게 도와드릴까요?

uh-TTUH-keh doh-WAH-duh-REEL-KKAH-yoh How can I help?
B

나중에 전화해 주세요.

nah-JOONG-eh juhn-HWA-heh joo-SEH-yoh Please call me later.

Word by Word

다시 다시 means “again” here, asking the listener to repeat something. It comes before the action in 다시 말해 주세요. Use 다시 with an action when you want it repeated or done another time.
말해 말해 means “say” or “tell” here, in the request 다시 말해 주세요. The form 말해 is followed by 주세요 to make a polite request. A reusable pattern is 다시 말해 주세요 when asking someone to repeat something.
주세요 주세요 makes the preceding action into a polite request meaning “please.” In 다시 말해 주세요, 적어 주세요, and 보여 주세요, it follows the action form. Use an action plus 주세요 when asking someone politely to do something.
적어 적어 means “write it down” here, in 적어 주세요. It is followed by 주세요 to form a polite request. Use 적어 주세요 when asking someone to write information down for you.
보여 보여 means “show” here, in 보여 주세요. It is followed by 주세요 to politely ask the listener to show something. Use 보여 주세요 when you need someone to show you an item or information.
도와주세요 도와주세요 means “Please help me” in this dialogue. It is a direct, polite request for assistance. Use 도와주세요 when you need help from another person.
어떻게 어떻게 means “how” here, in 어떻게 도와드릴까요? It asks about the way help can be provided. Use 어떻게 before an action when asking how something can be done.
도와드릴까요 도와드릴까요 means “shall I help?” or “how may I help?” here. In 어떻게 도와드릴까요?, the speaker politely offers assistance and asks what help is needed. Use 어떻게 도와드릴까요? when offering help to someone who may need it.
나중에 나중에 means “later” here, in 나중에 전화해 주세요. It places the phone call at a later time rather than now. Use 나중에 before an action when saying that it will happen later.
전화해 전화해 means “call by telephone” here, in 나중에 전화해 주세요. It is followed by 주세요 to make a polite request to call. Use 전화해 주세요 when asking someone to call you.

Grammar Points

V-아/어 주세요

다시 말해 주세요.

tah-SHEE mahl-HEH joo-SEH-yoh

Please say it again.

Attach 주세요 to a verb form to make a polite request, such as asking someone to say, write, show, or call.

어떻게 V-(으)ㄹ까요?

어떻게 도와드릴까요?

uh-TTUH-keh doh-WAH-duh-REEL-KKAH-yoh

How can I help?

어떻게 plus -(으)ㄹ까요? politely asks how someone can help or what action is appropriate.

Korean Vocabulary

나중에 adv
nah-JOONG-eh later

나중에 전화해 주세요.

다시 adv
tah-SHEE again

다시 말해 주세요.

도와드릴까요? phrase
doh-WAH-duh-REEL-KKAH-yoh how can I help?

어떻게 도와드릴까요?

도와주세요 phrase
doh-WAH-joo-SEH-yoh please help me

도와주세요.

말해 주세요 phrase
mahl-HEH joo-SEH-yoh please say it

다시 말해 주세요.

보여 주세요 phrase
boh-YUH joo-SEH-yoh please show me

보여 주세요.

어떻게 adv
uh-TTUH-keh how

어떻게 도와드릴까요?

적어 주세요 phrase
juh-GUH joo-SEH-yoh please write it down

적어 주세요.

전화해 주세요 phrase
juhn-HWA-heh joo-SEH-yoh please call me

나중에 전화해 주세요.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Please say it again.

Show Answer다시 말해 주세요.

Please write it down.

Show Answer적어 주세요.

Please show me.

Show Answer보여 주세요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

how can I help?

Show Answer도와드릴까요

please help me

Show Answer도와주세요

again

Show Answer다시

how

Show Answer어떻게