Korean Grammar 주세요

주세요 meaning

주다 is the root form (Base form) of 주세요 which means ‘to give’ or ‘do it for me’. ‘주세요’ is used with Korean nouns. ‘N 주세요’ is used when you request something politely. For example, “물 주세요 means Please give me water. When you ask for water, which is a noun, you can use ‘주세요’ after the noun.

Another example is, Please give me a cup of coffee. 커피 한잔 주세요. When you ask for a cup of coffee, which is a noun, you can use ‘주세요’ after the noun. “Please give me a cup of coffee.”

Whether the preceding noun has the final consonant, like ‘물 (water)’ or the preceding noun does not have the final consonant, like ‘커피 (=coffee),’ you can use ‘주세요.’

주다 conjugation


줘 is used when you asked something with someone who is very close to you or who is younger than you. It is an informal low form used in the present tense. 줬어 is a past form of 줘. The future tense of 줘 is 줄 거야. interrogative form is 줬어?

줘요
It has the same meaning as 줘 has, 요 is attached at the last to make it more respectful than 줘. 줘요 It is an informal high form used in the present tense. 줬어요 is the past form of 줘요 and future tense form of 줘요 is 줄 거예요. interrogative form is 줬어요?

줍니다
It is a formal high form of 주다 verb used in the present tense. 줬어요 is informal high past tense form and 줬습니다 is formal high past tense form. 줄 겁니다/ 주겠습니다 is the future tense form. interrogative form is 줘?

주세요 practice

Suppose you want to eat ‘김밥 ( 김밥을 먹고 싶어요/ 김밥을 먹고 싶습니다) and you want to drink cider. 사이다를 마시고 싶어요.
‘김밥’ has the final consonant: ㅂ and ‘사이다’ does not have the final consonant. In both cases, we can use ‘주세요.’
Please give me a kimbap and cider. 김밥과 사이다 주세요
Please give me a cider. 사이다 주세요.

‘콜라’ and ‘라면
I want to drink coke. 콜라를 마시고 싶어요.
I want to eat ramyun. 라면을 먹고 싶어요
콜라 does not have the final consonant and 라면 has the final consonant.
In both cases, we can use ‘주세요.’
“Please give me a coke.” 콜라 주세요.
“Please give me ramyeon.” 라면 주세요.

Please give me a desk. 책상 주세요.
Please give an eraser. 지우개 주세요.
Please give me a book. 책 주세요.
Please give me a bag. 가방 주세요.
Please give me coffee. 커피 주세요.
Please give me green tea. 녹차 주세요.
please give me strawberries. 딸기 주세요.
Please give me watermelons. 수박 주세요.
Please give me apples. 사과 주세요.
Please give me a coffee.”커피 주세요.

주세요 grammar

‘콜라’ and ‘라면

주다 / 주세요 Conclusion

Now let’s summarise.  ‘N 주세요’ is used when you request something politely. Whether the preceding noun has the final consonant or not, ‘주세요’ is used. Learn more about 주다 grammar.