How to Politely Ask for Help in Korean
To politely ask for help in Korean, say 도와주세요 (dowajuseyo), "please help me." It is polite 해요체 (haeyoche) and works with any stranger. Follow it with the exact problem — a lost wallet, an address on your phone — so they know what to do.
- Open with 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida), "Excuse me," before interrupting someone.
- Say 도움이 필요해요 (doumi piryohaeyo), "I need help," when you have no time to explain.
- If the reply is too fast, say 천천히 말씀해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyo), "Please speak slowly."
- For real danger: 경찰을 불러 주세요 (gyeongchareul bulleo juseyo), "Please call the police."
How do you ask a stranger for directions?
Show the place on your phone. Do not try to pronounce a long address from memory.
You: 실례합니다. 이 주소가 어디예요? — sillyehamnida. i jusoga eodiyeyo? — "Excuse me. Where is this address?"
Them: 여기서 오른쪽으로 가세요. — yeogiseo oreunjjogeuro gaseyo. — "Go right from here."
You: 감사합니다. — gamsahamnida. — "Thank you."
Practice this out loud with SULSUL — the app says it, you repeat it →
What do you say when you can't follow the answer?
You: 죄송하지만 잘 모르겠어요. — joesonghajiman jal moreugesseoyo. — "I'm sorry, but I don't understand."
Them: 영어 할 줄 아세요? — yeongeo hal jul aseyo? — "Do you know English?"
You: 아니요, 다시 한번 말씀해 주세요. — aniyo, dasi hanbeon malsseumhae juseyo. — "No, please say that once more."
잘 모르겠어요 (jal moreugesseoyo) is honest. 다시 한번 말씀해 주세요 (dasi hanbeon malsseumhae juseyo) asks for one repeat — not a blank stare.
What if you lost something?
Name the item first.
| Need | Say this |
|---|---|
| Get attention | 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida) |
| Lost wallet | 지갑을 잃어버렸어요 (jigabeul ireobeoryeosseoyo) |
| Lost-and-found | 분실물 센터가 어디예요? (bunsilmul senteoga eodiyeyo?) |
| Speak slowly | 천천히 말씀해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyo) |
| Call police | 경찰을 불러 주세요 (gyeongchareul bulleo juseyo) |
A common mistake: using casual 도와줘 (dowajwo) with a stranger. Drop the polite ending and it sounds rude. Stick to 도와주세요.
Steps when you need help
- Say 실례합니다.
- Say 도와주세요 and name the problem.
- Show a phone screen if it is about a place or an item.
- If you miss the reply, ask them to say it again slowly.
- Thank them with 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida).
Say it out loud, not just in your head
Reading 도와주세요 (dowajuseyo) here is not the same as saying it while someone is already waiting for your sentence.
SULSUL is a speaking gym for exactly that moment: pick a survival pattern, say it out loud, get an instant fix from the AI pronunciation coach, then run the real situation as a mission. The 100-pattern PDF workbook comes along as a bonus.
