【-아/어 주다】Let’s practice not only asking, but also various patterns of sentence.

“I’ll have this.”
“Samgyeopsal for three, please.”

The most common expression used to place such an order is -아/어 주다.

It is so common that it appears in travel guidebooks and other publications, and is something that all students of the Korean language are familiar with.

Although the grammar for asking for a favor in Korean.

It’s not just used to ask for favors.

-아/어 주다 gives the impression of being used to make a request or a favor.

Since there are two meanings “give” and “receive”, depending on who is the subject of the sentence, it is necessary to judge the nuance according to the situation.

Tell them what you want them to do.

Let’s put the verb in the -아/어 form and add 주다 to it.

The sentence construction can be thought of in the same way as -아요/어요.

얼른 창문을 닫아 주세요.
Quickly close the window.
(닫다)

일정이 바뀌면 바로 알려 주세요.
Let me know as soon as the dates change.
(알리다)

조금 더 쉽게 이야기해 주세요.
Could you speak a little more simply?
(이야기하다)

A sentence asking for a favor would be easy to understand.

Express what you would do for the other person.

Doing things for the person you are talking to is also expressed with -아/어 주다.

내가 육개장이라도 만들어 줄까요?
I can make yukgaejang for you.
(만들다)

오늘은 내가 술 한잔 사 줄까?
Can I buy you a drink today?
(사다)

배터리는 무상으로 교환해 드릴게요.
Battery will be replaced free of charge.
(교환하다)

It is more practical to practice it in combination with -ㄹ까, which means suggestion.

Also, learn that when you use honorifics, it becomes -아/어 드리다.

Notes on the use of “-아/어 주다”.

Let’s add a “space”.

A common mistake with -아/어 주다 is splitting.

이거만 다른 걸로 바꿔 주세요.
Please change this one to something else. (ㅇ)

이것을 다른 것으로 바꿔줘요.
Change this to something else. (×)

We tend to write it with 주다, but it is precisely “바꿔 줘다”.

There is no problem if you exchange messages with your friends, but try to write consciously during exams.

“Look at this” in Korean?

How do you say “Look at this” in Korean?

좀 이거를 보세요.
Take a look at this.

“Please look at it” is fine with 봐요 or 보세요.

Because 봐 주다 has another meaning.

제발 한 번만 봐 줘요.
Please, allow me just once.

부디 예쁘게 봐 주세요.
Please look over me with kind eyes.

We should also understand that 봐 주다 means “to overlook, forgive, or tolerate.”

When a third party is the subject.

The following case statement is also available.

이건 여자친구가 사 줬어요.
My girlfriend bought this for me.

민경씨가 이 책을 찾아 줬어요.
Mr. Mingyong helped me find this book.

예수님이 병을 고쳐 주셨습니다.
Jesus cured me of my illness.

빌려 주신 책은 다음 주말까지 돌려 드릴게요.
I will return the borrowed book by the end of next week.

In this case, it expresses what someone does for me.

To make it respectful, add -시 to 주다.

-아/어 주다 sentences are diverse, so let’s practice different patterns.