Korean for Gift Giving: How to Say 'I Brought You Flowers or Wine'
Learn to present a gift in Korean using '가져왔어요' and '드릴게요'. Practice polite phrases for giving flowers or wine to friends, hosts, or elders.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you arrive at someone's home in Korea, bringing a small gift is a thoughtful gesture. But how do you actually present it? This lesson focuses on the moment of giving: saying 'I brought you flowers' or 'I brought wine.' You'll learn the key verb 가져오다 (gajyeooda, to bring) and the polite giving verb 드리다 (deurida, to give to someone older or higher status). By the end, you'll be able to hand over a gift with the right words and a smile.
By the end, you can…
- say 'I brought you flowers' in polite Korean.
- say 'I brought wine' and offer it to someone.
- use the verb 드리다 when giving to an elder or superior.
- respond appropriately when receiving a gift.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
꽃을 가져왔어요.
I brought flowers.
kkocheul gajyeowasseoyo
Use when you arrive with flowers. 꽃을 is the object, 가져왔어요 is the polite past tense of 가져오다.
와인을 가져왔어요.
I brought wine.
waineul gajyeowasseoyo
Same pattern as above, just replace 꽃 with 와인. Works for any object you bring.
이거 받으세요.
Please take this.
igeo badeuseyo
A gentle way to offer a gift. 받으세요 is the polite imperative of 받다 (to receive).
선물이에요.
It's a gift.
seonmurieyo
Use when handing over the item, especially if the recipient looks surprised.
작은 성의예요.
It's a small token of my appreciation.
jageun seonguiyeyo
A humble phrase to downplay the gift. Common when giving to hosts or elders.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern for 'I brought you [item]' is [item]을/를 가져왔어요. Use 을 after a consonant and 를 after a vowel. For example, 꽃을 가져왔어요 (I brought flowers) and 와인을 가져왔어요 (I brought wine). To be more polite when giving to someone older, you can also say [item]을/를 드릴게요, which means 'I will give you [item].' For instance, 꽃을 드릴게요 (I'll give you flowers). Note that 드리다 is the humble form of 주다 (to give) and is used when the receiver is higher in status.
When to use it
Use 가져왔어요 when you simply state that you brought something. It's neutral and polite, suitable for friends, colleagues, or hosts. Use 드릴게요 when you are actually handing over the gift to an elder, teacher, or someone you respect. For example, when visiting a professor's home, say 선물을 드릴게요 (I'll give you a gift). If you're with close friends, 주다 is fine: 선물을 줄게 (I'll give you a gift). Also, when someone gives you a gift, respond with 감사합니다 (thank you) or 잘 받을게요 (I'll receive it well).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
안녕하세요, 집에 초대해 주셔서 감사합니다. 꽃을 가져왔어요.
Hello, thank you for inviting me to your home. I brought flowers.annyeonghaseyo, jibe chodaehae jusyeoseo gamsahamnida. kkocheul gajyeowasseoyo.어머나, 꽃을 다 가져오시고... 정말 감사합니다.
Oh my, you even brought flowers... Thank you so much.eomeona, kkocheul da gajyeoosigo... jeongmal gamsahamnida.별말씀을요. 작은 성의예요. 그리고 이 와인도 드릴게요.
Don't mention it. It's a small token. And I'll give you this wine too.byeolmalsseumeulyo. jageun seonguiyeyo. geurigo i waindo deurilgeyo.와인까지... 정말 센스 있으시네요. 잘 마실게요.
Even wine... You're so thoughtful. I'll enjoy it.wainkkaji... jeongmal senseu isseusineyo. jal masilgeyo.A little context goes a long way
In Korea, gifts are often given with both hands as a sign of respect. When receiving a gift, it's polite to initially decline once or twice before accepting. Also, the phrase 작은 성의예요 (it's a small token) is a humble way to downplay your gift, showing modesty. Avoid praising your own gift too much; instead, focus on the recipient's pleasure.
One thing to watch for
Using 주다 (juda) when giving to an elder, as in 할머니, 이거 주세요 (Grandma, give this).
Try this instead: When giving to someone older or higher status, use 드리다 (deurida) instead of 주다. For example, 할머니, 이거 드릴게요 (Grandma, I'll give you this). 주다 is fine for friends or those younger than you.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'I brought wine' in polite Korean?
Show a sample answer
와인을 가져왔어요.
This uses the object marker 을 after 와인 and the polite past tense 가져왔어요. You could also say 와인을 가져왔습니다 for more formal situations.
2You are giving a gift to your teacher. Which verb should you use: 주다 or 드리다?
Show a sample answer
드리다
드리다 is the humble form used when the receiver is higher in status, like a teacher. 주다 would be inappropriate here.
3What is a polite way to offer a gift when you arrive at someone's house?
Show a sample answer
이거 받으세요.
This means 'Please take this.' It's a gentle and polite way to offer a gift. You could also say 선물이에요 (It's a gift) while handing it over.
When giving a gift in Korean, use 가져왔어요 to say what you brought, and 드릴게요 when handing it to an elder. Remember to give with both hands and downplay the gift with 작은 성의예요.
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