For autodidact students of Korean, "give" has two forms based on direction of benefit. 주다 (juda) is neutral "give" — to equals or downward. 드리다 (deurida) is the humble/honorific form — giving to someone of higher status. -아/어 주다 / -아/어 드리다: benefactive auxiliary — do something for someone. 받다 (receive) is the counterpart. 선물을 주다 (give a gift). 조언을 드리다 (give advice to superior).
Key Takeaways: - 주다 (juda): give — neutral/downward - 드리다 (deurida): give — humble (toward superior) - -아/어 주다: do for someone (benefactive) - -아/어 드리다: do for superior (humble benefactive) - 선물을 주다: give a gift - 기회를 주다: give an opportunity
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48.1 선물을 (seonmureul) gift-OBJ 줬어요 (jwosseoyo) gave-POLITE
48.2 도움을 (doumeul) help-OBJ 드릴게요 (deurilgeyo) will-give-HON-POLITE
48.3 이거 (igeo) this 줄까요 (julkkayo) shall-give-POLITE?
48.4 시간을 (siganeul) time-OBJ 주세요 (juseyo) please-give-HON
48.5 설명해 (seolmyeonghae) explain-INF 드릴게요 (deurilgeyo) will-give-HON-POLITE
48.6 기회를 (gihoerel) opportunity-OBJ 주셔서 (jusyeoseo) because-gave-HON 감사해요 (gamsahaeyo) thank-POLITE
48.7 무엇을 (mueoseul) what-OBJ 드릴까요 (deurilkkayo) shall-give-HON-POLITE?
48.8 힘을 (himeul) strength-OBJ 줘요 (jwoyo) give-POLITE！
48.9 이 일을 (i ireul) this-work-OBJ 해줄게요 (haejulgeyo) will-do-for-POLITE
48.10 더 (deo) more 알려드릴게요 (alryeodeurilgeyo) will-inform-HON-POLITE
48.11 언제든지 (eonjedeunjji) whenever 도와줄게요 (dowajulgeyo) will-help-POLITE
48.12 커피를 (keopi-reul) coffee-OBJ 한 잔 (han jan) one-cup 드릴까요 (deurilkkayo) shall-give-HON-POLITE?
48.13 사랑을 (sarangeul) love-OBJ 줘요 (jwoyo) give-POLITE
48.14 답을 (dabeul) answer-OBJ 알려줄게요 (alryeojulgeyo) will-let-know-POLITE
48.15 받은 것보다 (badeun geotboda) than-received 더 (deo) more 주고 (jugo) give-CONJ 싶어요 (sipeoyo) want-POLITE
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48.1 선물을 줬어요. "I gave a gift." 48.2 도움을 드릴게요. "I will help you." (humble to superior) 48.3 이거 줄까요? "Shall I give this to you?" 48.4 시간을 주세요. "Please give me time." 48.5 설명해 드릴게요. "I will explain for you." (humble) 48.6 기회를 주셔서 감사해요. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity." 48.7 무엇을 드릴까요? "What shall I give/bring you?" 48.8 힘을 줘요! "Give me strength! / Cheer me on!" 48.9 이 일을 해줄게요. "I'll do this work for you." 48.10 더 알려드릴게요. "I'll let you know more." (humble) 48.11 언제든지 도와줄게요. "I'll help whenever." 48.12 커피를 한 잔 드릴까요? "Shall I give you a cup of coffee?" (humble) 48.13 사랑을 줘요. "Give love." 48.14 답을 알려줄게요. "I'll let you know the answer." 48.15 받은 것보다 더 주고 싶어요. "I want to give more than I received."
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48.1 선물을 줬어요. 48.2 도움을 드릴게요. 48.3 이거 줄까요? 48.4 시간을 주세요. 48.5 설명해 드릴게요. 48.6 기회를 주셔서 감사해요. 48.7 무엇을 드릴까요? 48.8 힘을 줘요! 48.9 이 일을 해줄게요. 48.10 더 알려드릴게요. 48.11 언제든지 도와줄게요. 48.12 커피를 한 잔 드릴까요? 48.13 사랑을 줘요. 48.14 답을 알려줄게요. 48.15 받은 것보다 더 주고 싶어요.
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주다 vs 드리다: Direction determines form. 주다: giving to equals, children, friends, or downward. 드리다: humble form — giving to teachers, elders, superiors, or customers. 선물을 줬어요 (gave a gift to a peer), 선물을 드렸어요 (gave a gift to a superior). Never use 드리다 for giving to yourself or friends — it sounds absurd.
-아/어 주다 — benefactive auxiliary: Any verb + 아/어 주다 = do [verb] for someone's benefit. 도와줄게요 (I'll help for you), 설명해줄게요 (I'll explain for you), 알려줄게요 (I'll let you know). The 주다 signals that the action benefits the listener.
-아/어 드리다 — humble benefactive: Same structure but humble: 도와드릴게요 (I'll help for you — to superior), 설명해 드릴게요 (I'll explain — to superior), 알려드릴게요 (I'll let you know — to superior). The most polite level of doing something for another.
힘을 주다 / 힘을 드리다 — "give strength / encourage": 힘을 줘요 (give me strength / cheer me on!) is a standard encouragement call. 힘을 드리고 싶어요 (I want to give you strength — to a senior in difficulty). 힘 (strength/energy) is given and received in Korean relational culture.
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기회를 주셔서 감사해요 (thank you for giving me the opportunity) — among the most important phrases in Korean professional life. 기회 (opportunity) is a gift in Korean hierarchical culture — superiors give opportunities; subordinates receive them with gratitude. The giving of opportunities (기회를 주다) is one of the primary obligations of Korean senior figures to their juniors.
받은 것보다 더 주고 싶어요 (I want to give more than I received) — the Korean ethic of 은혜 (grace/debt) in action. Receiving creates obligation; the culturally ideal response is to eventually give back more than you received. This is the grammar of Korean gift and favour culture.
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정호승 (Jeong Hoseung), 《내가 사랑하는 사람》— The People I Love, 1993
내가 사랑하는 사람은 / 사랑을 줄 줄 안다.
F-A: Interlinear — 사랑을 (sarangeul) love-OBJ 줄 (jul) give-FUT 줄 (jul) ability 안다 (anda) knows-PLAIN
F-B: Translation — "The people I love / know how to give love."
F-C: Original — 내가 사랑하는 사람은 사랑을 줄 줄 안다.
F-D: Notes — 줄 줄 알다: -ㄹ 줄 알다 = know how to do. 사랑을 줄 줄 안다 (knows how to give love). The doubled 줄 (줄 줄): the first is the future modifier -ㄹ (give), the second is the noun 줄 (ability/way). An elegant syntactic doubling: 사랑을 줄 (to give love) + 줄 안다 (knows how).
F-E: Commentary — 주다 is the verb of love in Korean poetry. 사랑을 주다 (give love), 힘을 주다 (give strength), 기회를 주다 (give opportunity) — Korean social and emotional life is structured around giving. Jeong Hoseung says: the measure of love is the ability to give it. 줄 줄 아는 사람 — the person who knows how to give.
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A birthday — 주다 and 드리다 across all the giving moments.
48.16 지수의 (Jisuui) Jisu-GEN 생일이에요 (saengirieyo) birthday-is-POLITE。친구들이 (chingudeuri) friends-SUBJ 선물을 (seonmureul) gift-OBJ 줬어요 (jwosseoyo) gave-POLITE
48.17 민준이 (Minjuni) Minjun-SUBJ 큰 (keun) big 상자를 (sangjareul) box-OBJ 가져왔어요 (gajeowasseoyo) brought-POLITE
48.18 「이거 (igeo) this 줄게 (julge) will-give-INF。잘 받아줘 (jal badajwo) please-receive-well-INF」
48.19 지수가 (Jisuga) Jisu-SUBJ 열어보니 (yeoreoboa-ni) opening-and 안에 (ane) inside 책이 (chaegi) book-SUBJ 가득 (gadeuk) full 있었어요 (isseosseoyo) was-POLITE
48.20 「너 (neo) you 항상 (hangsang) always 책 (chaek) book 읽고 (ikgo) reading-CONJ 싶다고 (sipttago) wanted-QUOT 했잖아 (haetjanha) said-right-INF。그래서 (geraeseo) so 모아줬어 (moajwosseo) collected-for-you-INF」
48.21 지수: 「고마워 (gomawo) thank-you-INF。이렇게 (ireoke) like-this 해줄 줄 (haejul jul) do-for-ability 몰랐어 (mollasseo) didn't-know-INF」
48.22 은지도 (Eunjido) Eunji-also 작은 (jageun) small 봉투를 (bongtureul) envelope-OBJ 줬어요 (jwosseoyo) gave-POLITE
48.23 「별거 (byeolge o) nothing-special 아닌데 (aninde) not-but 마음을 (maeumeul) heart-OBJ 줄게 (julge) will-give-INF」
48.24 안에 (ane) inside 손편지가 (sonpyeonjiga) handwritten-letter-SUBJ 있었어요 (isseosseoyo) was-POLITE
48.25 지수: 「이게 (ige) this-SUBJ 제일 (jeil) most 소중한 (sojunghan) precious 선물이야 (seonmuRiya) gift-is-INF」
48.26 나이 든 (nai deun) aged 어머니께 (eomeonikke) to-mother-HON 전화해서 (jeonhwahaeseo) calling 「오늘 (oneul) today 어떻게 (eotteoke) how 지내셨어요 (jinaesyeosseoyo) did-HON-POLITE?」라고 (rago) QUOT 여쭤봤어요 (yeojweobwasseoyo) asked-HON-POLITE
48.27 어머니: 「아가 (aga) child，생일 (saengil) birthday 축하해 (chukKahae) congratulations-INF。건강하게 (geonganhage) healthily 지내줘서 (jinaejwoseo) because-lived 고마워 (gomawo) thank-you-INF」
48.28 지수가 (Jisuga) Jisu-SUBJ 눈물을 (nunmureul) tears-OBJ 글썽였어요 (geulsseong-yeosseoyo) welled-up-POLITE
48.29 받은 (badeun) received 사랑을 (sarangeul) love-OBJ 다시 (dasi) again 돌려줘야지 (dollyeojwoyaji) must-give-back-INF라고 (rago) QUOT 생각했어요 (saenggakhaesseoyo) thought-POLITE
48.30 오늘 (oneul) today 받은 것보다 (badeun geotboda) than-received 더 (deo) more 많이 (manhi) much 주고 (jugo) give-CONJ 싶은 (sipeun) want 하루였어요 (haruyeosseoyo) day-was-POLITE
48.16 지수의 생일이에요. 친구들이 선물을 줬어요. "It's Jisu's birthday. The friends gave gifts." 48.17 민준이 큰 상자를 가져왔어요. "Minjun brought a big box." 48.18 「이거 줄게. 잘 받아줘.」 "'I'll give you this. Please receive it well.'" 48.19 지수가 열어보니 안에 책이 가득 있었어요. "Opening it, inside there were books full." 48.20 「너 항상 책 읽고 싶다고 했잖아. 그래서 모아줬어.」 "'You always said you wanted to read books. So I collected them for you.'" 48.21 「고마워. 이렇게 해줄 줄 몰랐어.」 "'Thank you. I didn't know you would do this for me.'" 48.22 은지도 작은 봉투를 줬어요. "Eunji also gave a small envelope." 48.23 「별거 아닌데 마음을 줄게.」 "'It's nothing special, but I'll give you my heart.'" 48.24 안에 손편지가 있었어요. "Inside was a handwritten letter." 48.25 「이게 제일 소중한 선물이야.」 "'This is the most precious gift.'" 48.26 나이 든 어머니께 전화해서 「오늘 어떻게 지내셨어요?」라고 여쭤봤어요. "She called her aged mother and asked 'How was your day today?'" 48.27 「아가, 생일 축하해. 건강하게 지내줘서 고마워.」 "'My child, happy birthday. Thank you for living healthily.'" 48.28 지수가 눈물을 글썽였어요. "Jisu's eyes welled up with tears." 48.29 받은 사랑을 다시 돌려줘야지라고 생각했어요. "She thought, I must give back the love I received." 48.30 오늘 받은 것보다 더 많이 주고 싶은 하루였어요. "It was a day she wanted to give more than she received."
48.16 지수의 생일이에요. 친구들이 선물을 줬어요. 48.17 민준이 큰 상자를 가져왔어요. 48.18 「이거 줄게. 잘 받아줘.」 48.19 지수가 열어보니 안에 책이 가득 있었어요. 48.20 「너 항상 책 읽고 싶다고 했잖아. 그래서 모아줬어.」 48.21 「고마워. 이렇게 해줄 줄 몰랐어.」 48.22 은지도 작은 봉투를 줬어요. 48.23 「별거 아닌데 마음을 줄게.」 48.24 안에 손편지가 있었어요. 48.25 「이게 제일 소중한 선물이야.」 48.26 나이 든 어머니께 전화해서 「오늘 어떻게 지내셨어요?」라고 여쭤봤어요. 48.27 「아가, 생일 축하해. 건강하게 지내줘서 고마워.」 48.28 지수가 눈물을 글썽였어요. 48.29 받은 사랑을 다시 돌려줘야지라고 생각했어요. 48.30 오늘 받은 것보다 더 많이 주고 싶은 하루였어요.
잘 받아줘 (jal badajwo) — "please receive it well": 받다 (receive) + 아 주다 (do for someone's benefit) = receive [it] for me. 잘 받아줘 is the humble request to accept a gift gracefully — the giver acknowledges that receiving is also an act of gift. Korean gift etiquette includes this phrase: the act of accepting is itself a kindness.
마음을 주다 — "give one's heart": 마음 (heart/mind) + 을 + 주다 = give one's heart. 마음을 주다 can mean: give one's affection, put one's heart into something, or give a heartfelt feeling. 별거 아닌데 마음을 줄게 (it's nothing special but I'll give you my heart) — the Korean understanding that the heart behind the gift matters more than the gift itself.
모아주다 (moajuda) — "collect for someone": 모으다 (collect/gather) + 아 주다 (benefactive) = gather for someone's benefit. 책을 모아줬어 (collected books for you). The benefactive transforms the action into a gift — not just collecting but collecting FOR you.
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주다 (juda) — IPA: /tɕu.da/ — Two syllables: palatal affricate /tɕu/ + /da/. 줘요: /tɕwʌ.jo/ — labialised contraction 주+어 → 줘. 드리다 (deurida) — IPA: /dɯ.ɾi.da/ — Three syllables: /dɯ/ + /ɾi/ (flap) + /da/.
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