How to Ask for Help in Korean: 'Could You Do Me a Favor?' and 'Can I Borrow Your Notes?'
Learn polite Korean requests for help and borrowing, using -아/어 주다, -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요, and -(으)ㄹ게요 with honorific titles and clear reasons.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Korean requests for help are built differently from invitations. Instead of asking whether someone wants to join you, you ask whether they are able to do something for you, or you offer to do something in return. This lesson teaches beginner-friendly patterns for asking a favor, borrowing notes, and responding politely. You will learn the core verb 주다 ('to give') in its request form, the ability question -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요?, and the polite title 씨. Keep in mind that Korean does not use articles like 'a' or 'the', and verbs change form based on politeness level, not gender.
By the end, you can…
- ask a friend or classmate for a small favor in polite Korean.
- ask to borrow someone's notes and specify when I will return them.
- respond positively or apologetically to a request for help.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
도와줄 수 있어요?
Can you help me?
do-wa-jul su i-sseo-yo?
Friendly polite request to a peer or someone younger. Literally 'Are you able to help me?' Use when you need assistance with a task. The polite -요 ending keeps it appropriate for most everyday situations.
부탁 하나 들어줄 수 있어요?
Could you do me a favor?
bu-tak ha-na deu-reo-jul su i-sseo-yo?
Very common polite favor request. 부탁 means 'request/favor'; 들어주다 means 'to grant/listen to a request.' Use with acquaintances, classmates, or coworkers.
노트 좀 빌릴 수 있을까요?
Could I borrow your notes?
no-teu jom bil-lil su i-sseul-kka-yo?
Polite borrowing request. 좀 softens the request; 빌리다 means 'to borrow.' Use with a classmate or senior you do not know well. The form -(으)ㄹ 수 있을까요? is softer than -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요?
내일까지 꼭 돌려줄게요.
I will definitely return it by tomorrow.
nae-il-kka-ji kkok dol-lyeo-jul-ge-yo.
A promise that makes the request easier to accept. -(으)ㄹ게요 expresses your intention or promise. Use after someone agrees to lend you something. Note that 돌려주다 means 'to return (something to someone).'
미안하지만 이번에는 어려울 것 같아요.
I'm sorry, but it will be difficult this time.
mi-an-ha-ji-man i-beon-e-neun eo-ryeo-ul geot ga-ta-yo.
A polite refusal. This softens 'no' without giving a direct rejection. Use when you cannot help or lend something.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The most useful request pattern is verb stem + -아/어 줄 수 있어요? This means 'Can you [verb] for me?' The verb 주다 means 'to give,' and in this pattern it means doing something as a favor for the speaker. For example, 도와주다 becomes 도와줄 수 있어요? ('Can you help me?'), and 빌려주다 becomes 빌려줄 수 있어요? ('Can you lend it to me?'). To make it more polite, replace 있어요? with 있을까요? — 도와줄 수 있을까요? This is softer and works well with strangers, teachers, or older people. Note that the stem-final consonant ㄹ drops before the ending -ㄹ in both 주다 → 줄 and 빌리다 → 빌릴.
When to use it
Use these requests when you need actual assistance, not when you are inviting someone to an event. An invitation asks 'Do you want to come?' (같이 갈래요?), while a request asks 'Are you able to do this for me?' (해 줄 수 있어요?). If you are asking a close friend, you can drop the polite ending and say 도와줄 수 있어? or 노트 빌릴 수 있어? But with a classmate you do not know well, a senior, or a teacher, keep the full polite form and add the person's title, such as 선배님, 노트 좀 빌릴 수 있을까요? ('Senior, could I borrow your notes?').
Adding a reason and a promise
Korean listeners often expect a short reason and a clear promise when you ask a favor. A request like 노트 좀 빌릴 수 있을까요? becomes much more natural when followed by 왜냐하면 수업을 못 들었어요 ('because I couldn't attend class') and 내일까지 꼭 돌려줄게요 ('I will definitely return it by tomorrow'). The ending -(으)ㄹ게요 signals your intention or promise, so it reassures the listener that you will follow through. This combination — polite question, brief reason, promise — is the standard shape of a successful Korean favor request.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
민수 씨, 부탁 하나 들어줄 수 있어요?
Minsu, could you do me a favor?min-su ssi, bu-tak ha-na deu-reo-jul su i-sseo-yo?네, 무슨 일이에요?
Sure, what's going on?ne, mu-seun i-ri-e-yo?어제 수업에 못 갔어요. 노트 좀 빌릴 수 있을까요? 내일까지 꼭 돌려줄게요.
I couldn't go to class yesterday. Could I borrow your notes? I will definitely return them by tomorrow.eo-je su-eo-be mot ga-sseo-yo. no-teu jom bil-lil su i-sseul-kka-yo? nae-il-kka-ji kkok dol-lyeo-jul-ge-yo.그럼요, 여기 있어요. 내일까지 주세요.
Of course, here they are. Please give them back by tomorrow.geu-reom-yo, yeo-gi i-sseo-yo. nae-il-kka-ji ju-se-yo.A little context goes a long way
Korean politeness is not only about words; it is also about the relationship. Using 씨 after a first name is common among peers, but it can sound rude to a senior or someone much older. With teachers, bosses, or strangers, use their title plus 님, such as 선생님 or 사장님, and use the softer question form -(으)ㄹ까요? instead of 있어요? Also, a brief reason and a promise to return or repay the favor make a request feel considerate rather than demanding.
One thing to watch for
Using an invitation pattern for a favor, such as 같이 할래요? ('Do you want to do it together?') when you actually need help.
Try this instead: Use a request pattern with 주다: 도와줄 수 있어요? ('Can you help me?') or 부탁 하나 들어줄 수 있어요? ('Could you do me a favor?'). The invitation pattern asks about the other person's desire, while the request pattern asks about their ability or willingness to do something for you.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you politely ask a classmate to lend you their notes?
Show a sample answer
노트 좀 빌릴 수 있을까요?
This uses 빌리다 ('to borrow') with the polite ability question -(으)ㄹ 수 있을까요? 좀 softens the request. A valid alternative is 노트 좀 빌려줄 수 있어요? which focuses on the other person lending to you.
2What should you add after a favor request to make it more considerate?
Show a sample answer
A short reason and a promise, such as 어제 수업에 못 갔어요. 내일까지 꼭 돌려줄게요.
Korean listeners appreciate context and reassurance. The reason explains why you need help, and -(으)ㄹ게요 signals your intention to return or repay. Other reasons and promises are also fine as long as they are specific.
3How do you politely refuse a request without saying a blunt 'no'?
Show a sample answer
미안하지만 이번에는 어려울 것 같아요.
This softens the refusal with 미안하지만 ('I'm sorry, but') and 어려울 것 같아요 ('it seems difficult'). It avoids a direct no and leaves room for future help. Another polite option is 이번에는 도와주기 어려워요.
For Korean favors, use verb stem + -아/어 줄 수 있어요? or the softer -(으)ㄹ 수 있을까요?, add a brief reason, and promise to return or repay. Keep invitations and requests separate: invitations ask about desire, requests ask about ability and willingness.
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