Part 5 - Polite Requests & Commands

Part 5.1 - ~(으)세요 — Polite Command or Request ("Please do...")

Basic Information

The ending ~(으)세요 is used to give polite commands or make polite requests in Korean.
It is like saying "Please do..." or giving instructions politely. You will hear it very often in conversations, shops, classrooms, and public announcements.

Grammar Rule

Verb stem + 세요 → if the verb stem ends with a vowel
Verb stem + 으세요 → if the verb stem ends with a consonant

Example Sentences

Korean	English
앉으세요.	Please sit down.
드세요.	Please eat / drink.
보세요.	Please look / watch.
읽으세요.	Please read.
들으세요.	Please listen.

Important Notes

This is used for **polite commands** or **requests**.
It is softer and more polite than just using the verb alone.
You will hear this form a lot in **stores, announcements, instructions**, and everyday polite speech.

Part 5.2 - ~지 마세요 — Negative Command ("Please don’t...")

Basic Information

The ending ~지 마세요 is used to tell someone not to do something in a polite way.
It is like saying "Please don't..." in English.

Grammar Rule

Verb stem + ~지 마세요

Example Sentences

Korean	English
가지 마세요.	Please don’t go.
먹지 마세요.	Please don’t eat.
보지 마세요.	Please don’t look.
늦지 마세요.	Please don’t be late.
말하지 마세요.	Please don’t speak.

Important Notes

Use this to politely tell someone **not to do something**.
Very common in **rules, signs, or polite warnings**.

Part 5.3 - ~주세요 — Request ("Please give / Please do")

Basic Information

The form ~주세요 is used to politely ask for something or ask someone to do something.
It can mean both "Please give..." or "Please do..." depending on the context.

Grammar Rule

Noun + 주세요 → Please give (noun)
Verb stem + 아/어 주세요 → Please do (verb)

Important Notes

**주세요** is one of the most common polite request forms in Korean.
You will use it every day — in shops, at restaurants, and when asking for help or service.

Part 5.4 - ~주세요 (Object) — Asking for Objects

Example Sentences

Korean	English
물 주세요.	Please give me water.
커피 주세요.	Please give me coffee.
책 주세요.	Please give me a book.
영수증 주세요.	Please give me the receipt.
메뉴판 주세요.	Please give me the menu.

Important Notes

Use this pattern to **ask for things** (nouns).
Very common when ordering food, shopping, or asking someone to hand you something.

Part 5.5 - ~주세요 (Action) — Asking for Actions

Example Sentences

Korean	English
도와 주세요.	Please help me.
설명해 주세요.	Please explain (it).
사진 찍어 주세요.	Please take a picture.
조용히 해 주세요.	Please be quiet.
문 열어 주세요.	Please open the door.

Important Notes

Use this pattern to **politely ask someone to do something** for you.
Very common when making requests to friends, shop staff, teachers, etc.

Summary

In this part you learned several very useful polite forms:
👉 ~(으)세요 → Polite command: "Please do..."
👉 ~지 마세요 → Negative command: "Please don’t..."
👉 ~주세요 → Request form: "Please give..." or "Please do..."
You will use these patterns often in both **TOPIK I** and in real-life Korean.

Common TOPIK I Patterns

Verb stem + (으)세요 → Please do (Verb)
Verb stem + 지 마세요 → Please don’t do (Verb)
Noun + 주세요 → Please give (Noun)
Verb stem + 아/어 주세요 → Please do (Verb)

End of Lesson

Now you know how to make **polite requests and commands** in Korean!
These forms are very practical — you will use them all the time.
Practice them often so they feel natural when you speak Korean. 화이팅! ✨

Part 5.6 - ~십시오 — Formal Polite Command / Request ("Please do...")

Basic Information

The ending ~십시오 is a **formal polite** way to give commands or make requests.
You will hear it in **announcements, public signs, official instructions, and customer service** situations.
It is more formal than ~(으)세요.

Grammar Rule

Verb stem + 십시오 → if the verb stem ends with a vowel
Verb stem + 으십시오 → if the verb stem ends with a consonant

Example Sentences

Korean	English
기다리십시오.	Please wait.
주문하십시오.	Please place your order.
보십시오.	Please look.
앉으십시오.	Please sit down.
읽으십시오.	Please read.

Important Notes

This is used for **formal situations** → signs, announcements, customer service.
Stronger and more formal than **~(으)세요**.
Common in **public spaces** (airports, banks, stations, offices).

Part 5.7 - ~지 마십시오 — Formal Negative Command ("Please don’t...")

Basic Information

The ending ~지 마십시오 is a **formal polite** way to tell someone not to do something.
It is like saying "Please do not..." in very formal contexts.
You will see this a lot on **warning signs, public notices, and official documents**.

Grammar Rule

Verb stem + ~지 마십시오

Example Sentences

Korean	English
들어가지 마십시오.	Please do not enter.
사진 찍지 마십시오.	Please do not take photos.
음식물을 반입하지 마십시오.	Please do not bring food inside.
휴대폰을 사용하지 마십시오.	Please do not use your phone.
소리 지르지 마십시오.	Please do not shout.

Important Notes

This is used in **formal public language** (signs, warnings).
Very useful for **TOPIK I reading section** (you will often see it in questions about signs).
Stronger and more formal than **~지 마세요**.

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