Korean for Asking Advice: "What Would You Do?" vs. Asking a Favor
Learn elementary Korean phrases to describe a problem and ask for someone's opinion or advice, and see how this differs from asking for a favor.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When you have a problem, Korean has clear ways to ask for someone's opinion without asking them to do something for you. In this lesson you will learn how to explain a situation briefly and ask what the other person would do. You will also learn why asking for advice is not the same as asking for a favor, and which endings and set phrases make that difference clear.
By the end, you can…
- describe a simple problem in Korean.
- ask "What would you do?" or "Any advice?" in Korean.
- tell the difference between asking for advice and asking for a favor.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
요즘 고민이 있어요.
I have a concern these days.
yo-jeum go-min-i i-sseo-yo
A gentle opening when you want to introduce a problem without demanding action.
이런 경우에 어떻게 해요?
What do you do in a situation like this?
i-reon gyeong-u-e eo-tteo-ke hae-yo?
Asks about a general custom or habit, not about the listener doing something for you.
어떻게 하는 게 좋을까요?
What would be good to do?
eo-tteo-ke ha-neun ge jo-eul-kka-yo?
A polite way to ask for an opinion or suggestion. The -ㄹ까요? ending makes it a gentle question.
조언 좀 해 주세요.
Please give me some advice.
jo-eon jom hae ju-se-yo
Directly asks for advice. 좀 softens the request; this is not asking the person to solve the problem.
부탁 하나 해도 돼요?
May I ask you a favor?
bu-tak ha-na hae-do dwae-yo?
Use this when you actually want the person to do something, not just share an opinion.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for advice, use a question ending such as -ㄹ까요? or -으면 좋을까요? after a verb. For example, 어떻게 하는 게 좋을까요? means "What would be good to do?" and 제가 뭘 먼저 할까요? means "What should I do first?" These ask for the listener's judgment. In contrast, -아/어 주세요 asks the listener to perform an action, as in 도와주세요 ("Please help me"). Keeping these two patterns separate helps you avoid sounding like you are giving someone a task when you only want their opinion.
When to use it
Use advice questions when you are unsure and want to hear the other person's view: 이럴 때 어떻게 해요? ("What do you do at times like this?") or 어떻게 하는 게 좋을까요? ("What would be good to do?"). Use a favor request only when you need action: 내일 좀 도와주실 수 있어요? ("Could you help me tomorrow?"). In many everyday situations, Koreans first explain the situation briefly, then ask for an opinion, and only later ask for a favor if it is really needed.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
요즘 고민이 있어요. 친구랑 약속 시간 때문에 자주 싸워요.
I have a concern these days. I often argue with my friend about appointment times.yo-jeum go-min-i i-sseo-yo. chin-gu-rang yak-sok si-gan ttae-mun-e ja-ju ssa-wo-yo.아, 그렇군요. 어떻게 하는 게 좋을까요?
Ah, I see. What would be good to do?a, geu-reo-kun-yo. eo-tteo-ke ha-neun ge jo-eul-kka-yo?제가 먼저 시간을 정확하게 말하는 게 좋을까요?
Would it be good for me to state the time precisely first?je-ga meon-jeo si-gan-eul jeong-hwak-ha-ge mal-ha-neun ge jo-eul-kka-yo?네, 그게 좋을 것 같아요. 그리고 미리 이야기해 보세요.
Yes, that sounds good. And try talking about it in advance.ne, geu-ge jo-eul geot ga-ta-yo. geu-ri-go mi-ri i-ya-gi-hae bo-se-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korean, asking 어떻게 하는 게 좋을까요? invites the other person to share an opinion, while 부탁해도 돼요? signals that you want them to do something. Using the right one matters because a favor request can feel like a burden if the other person only expected to give advice. Politeness also depends on your relationship: -요 forms are safe in everyday polite speech, while -습니다 forms are more formal.
One thing to watch for
Using 도와주세요 ("Please help me") when you only want advice.
Try this instead: If you want an opinion, ask 어떻게 하는 게 좋을까요? or 조언 좀 해 주세요. Use 도와주세요 only when you actually need someone to take action, for example 내일 이사하는 것을 도와주세요 ("Please help me move tomorrow").
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask "What would be good to do?" politely in Korean?
Show a sample answer
어떻게 하는 게 좋을까요?
This uses -는 게 좋을까요? to ask for an opinion. 어떻게 해요? is also possible in casual conversation, but it can sound more like asking about a general habit.
2Which phrase asks for a favor rather than advice?
Show a sample answer
부탁 하나 해도 돼요?
This asks permission to make a request, so it points to action. 조언 좀 해 주세요 asks for advice, and 어떻게 하는 게 좋을까요? asks for an opinion.
3Change 도와주세요 into a request for advice.
Show a sample answer
어떻게 하는 게 좋을까요?
This keeps the polite -요 style but changes the meaning from "help me" to "what would be good to do?" 조언 좀 해 주세요 is another valid advice request.
Explain the situation briefly, then ask 어떻게 하는 게 좋을까요? for advice; use 부탁해도 돼요? only when you truly need someone to do something.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Korean into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr