Make polite and casual requests in Korean
Learn how the same Korean request shifts between casual banmal and polite jondaenmal, with six useful phrases, a dialogue, and practice for choosing the right register.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In Korean, the same request can sound warm, neutral, or distant depending on the relationship and setting. This lesson focuses on one everyday request: asking someone to wait a moment. You will compare casual speech (banmal, 반말) with polite speech (jondaenmal, 존댓말), learn how verb endings and pronouns change, and practice choosing a form that fits the person you are talking to. The goal is not to label any form as rude, but to notice how context, age, familiarity, and setting shape what sounds natural.
By the end, you can…
- identify the difference between banmal and jondaenmal in a simple request.
- change a casual request into a polite request using the right verb ending.
- choose an appropriate speech style for a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger in a service setting.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
잠깐만 기다려.
Wait a moment.
jam-kkan-man gi-da-ryeo
Casual banmal to a close friend or someone clearly younger with whom you use casual speech.
잠깐만 기다려 줘.
Wait a moment for me, please.
jam-kkan-man gi-da-ryeo jwo
Casual but softer; the verb 줘 adds a request-for-favor nuance among friends.
잠깐만 기다려 주세요.
Please wait a moment.
jam-kkan-man gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo
Polite standard form for acquaintances, coworkers, or strangers in most everyday situations.
잠시만 기다려 주시겠어요?
Could you please wait a moment?
jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo ju-si-ge-sseo-yo
More polite and softer; useful with customers, elders, or when you want to show extra consideration.
잠시만 기다려 주시겠습니까?
Would you please wait a moment?
jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo ju-si-get-seum-ni-kka
Formal polite style common in announcements, formal service, or very formal settings.
기다려 줄 수 있어?
Can you wait for me?
gi-da-ryeo jul su i-sseo
Casual question form; friendly and direct, used with close friends or people you address in banmal.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core verb is 기다리다 (gi-da-ri-da, to wait). In banmal, the plain request is 기다려 (gi-da-ryeo). Adding 줘 (jwo) makes it 기다려 줘 (gi-da-ryeo jwo), which sounds like asking a favor. In polite speech, the same verb becomes 기다려 주세요 (gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo). For extra politeness, use the question form 기다려 주시겠어요? (gi-da-ryeo ju-si-ge-sseo-yo). The time word also shifts: 잠깐만 (jam-kkan-man) is casual, while 잠시만 (jam-si-man) sounds more formal and is common in polite requests.
When to use it
Use banmal with close friends, siblings, or people who have agreed to speak casually with you. Use -요 polite forms with acquaintances, coworkers you are not close to, shop staff, and most strangers. Use the formal -습니다 style in announcements, formal meetings, or when addressing a large group. For example, to a friend: 잠깐만 기다려. To a coworker you just met: 잠깐만 기다려 주세요. To a customer: 잠시만 기다려 주시겠어요? The setting and your relationship matter more than a single fixed rule.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
민수야, 잠깐만 기다려 줘.
Minsu, wait a moment for me.min-su-ya, jam-kkan-man gi-da-ryeo jwo응, 뭐 찾는 거 있어?
Okay, are you looking for something?eung, mwo chat-neun geo i-sseo아니, 그냥 가방 좀 정리할게.
No, I’ll just tidy up my bag a bit.a-ni, geu-nyang ga-bang jom jeong-ri-hal-ge알겠어. 금방 해.
Got it. Do it quickly.al-ge-sseo. geum-bang hae고마워. 이제 다 됐어.
Thanks. I’m all done now.go-ma-wo. i-je da dwae-sseo좋아, 가자.
Good, let’s go.jo-a, ga-jaA little context goes a long way
Korean speech style is not only about politeness; it also signals familiarity, distance, and the type of relationship. A form that sounds friendly in one context can sound out of place in another, so observe how people around you speak and adjust gradually. Many workplaces and service settings use polite -요 or formal -습니다 styles by default, while close friends often use banmal. When unsure, a polite form is usually a safe starting point, and you can adjust as the relationship develops.
One thing to watch for
Using 잠깐만 기다려 with a stranger in a formal service setting because it is shorter and easier to remember.
Try this instead: Use a polite form such as 잠깐만 기다려 주세요 or 잠시만 기다려 주시겠어요? with strangers and in service settings. For example, to a bank clerk: 잠시만 기다려 주시겠어요? This shows consideration while remaining clear.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You need a close friend to wait while you tie your shoe. Which form fits best: 잠깐만 기다려 or 잠시만 기다려 주시겠습니까?
Show a sample answer
잠깐만 기다려.
With a close friend, casual banmal is natural and friendly. The formal version is grammatically correct but would sound distant in this context.
2You are speaking to a customer at a help desk. Change 잠깐만 기다려 into a polite request.
Show a sample answer
잠시만 기다려 주시겠어요?
This polite question form softens the request and fits a service setting. 잠깐만 기다려 주세요 is also acceptable, but the question form often sounds more considerate.
3What is the main difference between 잠깐만 and 잠시만 in these requests?
Show a sample answer
잠깐만 is more casual, while 잠시만 sounds more formal and is common in polite requests.
Both mean a short moment, but the choice of time word matches the overall speech style. Using 잠시만 with a polite ending creates a consistently formal tone.
Choose the speech style by relationship and setting, not by a fixed rule: banmal with close friends, polite -요 with acquaintances and strangers, and formal -습니다 in formal situations. When unsure, start polite and adjust as you learn what feels natural.
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