Korean Dictionary
How to say "Help" in Korean
“Help” in Korean is 도와주세요 (pronounced "Dowajuseyo").
도와주세요
Dowajuseyo
Usage & Context
An important emergency phrase. '도와주세요' is polite and urgent. In a real emergency, you can shout '살려주세요 (sallyeojuseyo)' which means 'Save me!'
Example Sentence
좀 도와주세요!
Please help me!
How to use 도와주세요 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Help” is 도와주세요, romanized as Dowajuseyo.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 도와주세요.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'do-wa-ju-se-yo' — 'do' sounds like 'doh,' 'wa' is a quick 'wah,' 'ju' is 'joo,' and 'seyo' ends politely.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
도와주십시오
dowajusipsio
Very formal, used in emergencies or official contexts
Casual (반말)
도와줘
dowajwo
Casual, used with friends or family
More Example Sentences
asking a stranger for help
저 좀 도와주세요.
Please help me.
asking a friend to help
짐 옮기는 것 좀 도와줘.
Help me move the bags.
lost in a Korean city
길을 잃었어요, 도와주시겠어요?
I'm lost — could you help me?
Cultural Context
도와주세요 is the critical phrase in any emergency — know it before traveling to Korea. For serious situations, Koreans shout 살려 주세요! ('save me!'). In everyday life, 도움 (help, noun) is common in phrases like 도움이 필요하다 ('I need help'). Koreans are generally very willing to help lost tourists.
Editorial note
We review entries like 도와주세요 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
도와주세요.
Please help me.
도움이 필요해요.
I need help.
도와줘서 고마워요.
Thanks for helping.
Related Expressions
도움
doum
help (noun)
도와주다
dowajuda
to help someone
살려 주세요
sallyeo juseyo
save me! (emergency)
부탁드려요
butakdeuryeoyo
I ask you a favor
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