Beneficiary Makes the Difference: For Them vs For Me
Both endings make polite sentences, but they have completely different purposes:
- -(으)세요 (Do it for yourself / General directive): - You are instructing or recommending the listener to do something for their own benefit: - 맛있게 드세요 (Enjoy your meal / Eat well). - 편하게 앉으세요 (Please take a comfortable seat). - -아/어 주세요 (Do it as a favor for me / Request): - You are asking the listener to perform an action that benefits you: - 저 좀 도와주세요 (Please help me). - 문 좀 닫아 주세요 (Please close the door for me).
앉다 (to sit)앉으세요 (Please take a seat) · 앉아 주세요 (Please sit down for me) · Beneficiary
보다 (to look)보세요 (Look over there) · 봐 주세요 (Please take a look at my work) · For you vs For me
쓰다 (to write)쓰세요 (Please write here) · 써 주세요 (Please write it for me) · Who writes
기다리다 (to wait)기다리세요 (Please wait) · 기다려 주세요 (Please wait for me) · Instruction vs Favor
When asking a taxi driver to go to a destination, say 서울역으로 가 주세요 (favor for me), NOT 서울역으로 가세요 (which sounds like ordering the driver to go there alone!).
손님, 여기 편하게 앉으세요.Customer, please sit here comfortably. (Directive for listener's comfort)
회의 시작하니까 모두 자리에 앉아 주세요.The meeting is starting, so please take your seats. (Favor requested by speaker)
사진 한 장만 찍어 주세요.Please take a photo for me. (Favor benefiting speaker)
연습 Practice
이 레슨에는 풀어 보는 문제가 6개 있습니다. 앱에서 하나씩 맞히며 넘어갑니다. 6 exercises come with this lesson — open it to work through them.
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