How to Offer Help in Korean: "Need a hand?" and "I can help with that"
Learn beginner Korean phrases to offer help, such as 도와드릴까요? and 제가 도와드릴게요, and how to accept or decline an offer politely.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Offering help is different from asking for a favor. When you ask for a favor, you are the person who needs something. When you offer help, you are the person giving support. Korean often marks this difference with the verb 드리다, a humble form of 주다 ("to give"). This lesson teaches beginner-friendly ways to say "Need a hand?" and "I can help with that," plus simple responses when someone offers help to you.
By the end, you can…
- offer help to someone in Korean using 도와드릴까요? and similar expressions.
- accept or politely decline an offer of help in Korean.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
도와드릴까요?
Would you like some help? / Need a hand?
do-wa-deu-ril-kka-yo
A polite, common offer of help. Use it when you are ready to assist someone.
제가 도와드릴게요.
I can help with that. / I'll help you.
je-ga do-wa-deu-ril-ge-yo
Said when you are volunteering to help, often after seeing someone struggling.
뭐 도와드릴 거 있어요?
Is there anything I can help with?
mwo do-wa-deu-ril geo i-sseo-yo
A friendly, open-ended offer. Useful at work, school, or with friends.
도와주셔서 감사합니다.
Thank you for your help.
do-wa-ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da
Use this after someone helps you. It thanks the helper politely.
괜찮아요, 혼자 할 수 있어요.
It's okay, I can do it alone.
gwaen-chan-a-yo, hon-ja hal su i-sseo-yo
A polite way to decline help without sounding rude.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The key pattern is 도와드릴까요? This comes from 돕다 ("to help") plus 드릴까요, a polite question form of 드리다. Use it when you offer help: 짐을 도와드릴까요? means "Shall I help you with your luggage?" For a softer, more general offer, say 뭐 도와드릴 거 있어요? ("Is there anything I can help with?"). To volunteer directly, use 제가 도와드릴게요 ("I'll help you"). The subject marker 제가 emphasizes that you are the one helping.
When to use it
Use 도와드릴까요? when the other person may need help but has not asked. It is polite and safe with strangers, coworkers, and older people. Use 제가 도와드릴게요 when you have already decided to help, for example after seeing someone carry heavy boxes. With close friends, you can also say 도와줄까? (do-wa-jul-kka?) or 내가 도와줄게 (nae-ga do-wa-jul-ge). These are casual and should not be used with people you have just met.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
짐이 많네요. 도와드릴까요?
You have a lot of luggage. Need a hand?ji-mi man-ne-yo. do-wa-deu-ril-kka-yo네, 감사합니다. 하나만 들어 주세요.
Yes, thank you. Please carry just one.ne, gam-sa-ham-ni-da. ha-na-man deu-reo ju-se-yo네, 제가 이 가방을 들게요.
Okay, I'll carry this bag.ne, je-ga i ga-bang-eul deul-ge-yo정말 고맙습니다. 덕분에 편해요.
Thank you so much. It's easier thanks to you.jeong-mal go-map-seum-ni-da. deok-bu-ne pyeon-hae-yoA little context goes a long way
Korean politeness often depends on age and relationship. 드리다 is a humble verb, so 도와드릴까요? sounds respectful. With close friends, 도와줄까? is fine, but with someone older or unfamiliar, use the 드릴까요 form. Accepting help with 네, 감사합니다 is normal and does not make you weak; declining with 괜찮아요 is also polite.
One thing to watch for
Using 도와줄까요? with a boss or an older stranger because it looks polite.
Try this instead: 도와줄까요? is not the humble form. With a boss or older stranger, say 도와드릴까요? The 드리다 form shows respect. Example: 사장님, 도와드릴까요? ("Boss, would you like some help?")
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you politely offer help to an older coworker?
Show a sample answer
도와드릴까요?
This uses the humble 드리다 form, which is appropriate for an older coworker. 제가 도와드릴게요 is also possible if you are volunteering directly.
2Someone offers help, but you want to decline politely. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
괜찮아요, 혼자 할 수 있어요.
This means "It's okay, I can do it alone." It declines the offer without sounding rude. 괜찮아요, 감사합니다 is another polite option.
3What is the casual friend version of "I'll help you"?
Show a sample answer
내가 도와줄게.
This is the casual form used with close friends. With someone older or unfamiliar, use 제가 도와드릴게요 instead.
Use 도와드릴까요? to offer help politely, 제가 도와드릴게요 to volunteer, and 괜찮아요 to decline. Save 도와줄까? for close friends.
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