In this speaking workshop, you will practice offering help in Korean. You will learn a polite offer, a casual offer, an open question, and a soft phrase to say 'let me know if you need anything.' You will also hear a short dialogue where one person offers help and the other politely declines. By the end, you will be able to choose the right expression for different people and situations, and respond appropriately when your offer is declined.
Polite Offers and Soft Follow-ups
When you want to offer help politely, use the expression «도와드릴까요?». It means 'Can I help you?' and is appropriate for strangers, elders, customers, or anyone you address politely. The ending makes it a gentle question, and the verb choice lowers the speaker and raises the listener. If you want to ask an open question like 'Is there anything I can help you with?', use «뭐 도와드릴 거 있어요?». This is useful at work or when visiting someone. After you offer help, you can add a soft phrase to show you are still available: «필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.». It means 'Let me know if you need anything.' This is very common and polite. Together, these expressions let you offer help without being pushy.
Casual Offers with Close Friends
With close friends, younger siblings, or children, you can use a casual offer: «도와줄까?». It means 'Can I help you?' but is only for people you are very close to. Do not use this with strangers or someone older. The polite and casual versions differ in the verb ending and the verb choice. Using the right one shows respect and closeness appropriately. In the dialogue, you will hear a polite offer and a polite decline. Listen for how the speaker adjusts after the offer is declined.
Responding When Help Is Declined
Sometimes your offer of help is declined. In the dialogue, one person offers help with «어머님, 뭐 도와드릴 거 있어요?», which means 'Ma'am, is there anything I can help you with?' The other person replies with «아니에요, 괜찮아요. 고마워요.», meaning 'No, it's okay. Thank you.' This is a polite refusal. The first speaker then accepts the refusal and repeats the soft phrase «네, 알겠어요. 필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.», which means 'Okay, I understand. Let me know if you need anything.' The other person thanks them again with «네, 고맙습니다.», meaning 'Yes, thank you.' This exchange shows how to respond gracefully when your help is not needed. You acknowledge the refusal, repeat your willingness to help later, and keep the interaction warm.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
도와드릴까요?
Can I help you? (polite, to someone older or of higher status)
do-wa-deu-ril-kka-yo?
도와줄까?
Can I help you? (casual, to a close friend or younger person)
do-wa-jul-kka?
뭐 도와드릴 거 있어요?
Is there anything I can help you with?
mwo do-wa-deu-ril geo i-sseo-yo?
필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.
Let me know if you need anything. (polite)
pi-ryo-han geo i-sseu-myeon mal-sseum-hae ju-se-yo.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
어머님, 뭐 도와드릴 거 있어요?
Ma'am, is there anything I can help you with?아니에요, 괜찮아요. 고마워요.
No, it's okay. Thank you.네, 알겠어요. 필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.
Okay, I understand. Let me know if you need anything.네, 고맙습니다.
Yes, thank you.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Polite Offer
Imagine you are a staff member at a community center. An older visitor is looking around. You want to offer help politely.
Your task: Listen to the recording «도와드릴까요?» «도와드릴까요?» and repeat it aloud. Then listen to «뭐 도와드릴 거 있어요?» «뭐 도와드릴 거 있어요?» and repeat it aloud. Practice saying both expressions slowly, then at a natural speed. Imagine you are speaking to the older visitor.
Reply Comprehension: Accepting a Decline
You will hear a short dialogue. One person offers help, and the other declines. Your job is to understand the reply and choose the correct response.
Your task: Listen to the dialogue: «어머님, 뭐 도와드릴 거 있어요?» «어머님, 뭐 도와드릴 거 있어요?», «아니에요, 괜찮아요. 고마워요.» «아니에요, 괜찮아요. 고마워요.», «네, 알겠어요. 필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.» «네, 알겠어요. 필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.», «네, 고맙습니다.» «네, 고맙습니다.». After listening, answer these questions: 1) Did the second person accept the help? 2) What did the first person say after the decline? 3) What does «네, 알겠어요. 필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.» «네, 알겠어요. 필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.» mean in English?
Recall and Role-Play
You will now practice both roles from the dialogue. Imagine you are either the person offering help or the person declining. Use only the expressions you have learned.
Your task: First, play the role of the person offering help. Say «어머님, 뭐 도와드릴 거 있어요?» «어머님, 뭐 도와드릴 거 있어요?» aloud. Then play the role of the person declining and say «아니에요, 괜찮아요. 고마워요.» «아니에요, 괜찮아요. 고마워요.». Then switch back and say «네, 알겠어요. 필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.» «네, 알겠어요. 필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.». Finally, respond as the other person with «네, 고맙습니다.» «네, 고맙습니다.». Do this three times, trying to remember the lines without looking.
Common questions
When should I use the polite offer «도와드릴까요?» and when should I use the casual offer «도와줄까?»?
Use «도와드릴까요?» «도와드릴까요?» with strangers, elders, customers, or anyone you address politely. Use «도와줄까?» «도와줄까?» only with close friends, younger siblings, or children. The polite form shows respect, while the casual form shows closeness. If you are unsure, use the polite form.
What should I say if someone declines my offer of help?
You can say «네, 알겠어요. 필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.» «네, 알겠어요. 필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.», which means 'Okay, I understand. Let me know if you need anything.' This acknowledges the refusal and keeps the door open for future help. It is polite and warm. You can also simply say «필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.» «필요한 거 있으면 말씀해 주세요.» to show you are still available.
Sources and further reading
- korean: offering help appropriatelyChecked September 2026
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