-아/어 달다
Please Do for Me
A verb ending used to say 'Please do [verb] for me'.
How It Works
The pattern -아/어 달다 is a crucial way to ask for favors in Korean. It's a combination of the connective ending -아/어 and the verb 달다, which is a form of 'to ask for' or 'to request'. The key feature of this pattern is that the action requested is for the speaker's benefit.
Conjugation:
The conjugation follows the standard -아/어 rules:
- Verb stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ + -아 달다
e.g., 가다 → 가 달다, 보다 → 봐 달다 - Verb stems ending in other vowels + -어 달다
e.g., 먹다 → 먹어 달다, 만들다 → 만들어 달다 - 하다 verbs → 해 달다
e.g., 설명하다 → 설명해 달다
Usage in Sentences:
In practice, you will rarely see the form -아/어 달다 itself. Instead, it's conjugated into a request form:
- -아/어 줘 (informal request)
- -아/어 줘요 (polite informal request)
This is very similar to -아/어 주세요, and in many direct request situations, -아/어 줘요 and -아/어 주세요 are interchangeable. However, -아/어 달다 has a stronger nuance that the request is specifically for 'me', the speaker. This becomes important in reported speech, where you must use -아/어 달라고 하다 to report a request made for the speaker's benefit.
Examples (5)
- 창문 좀 닫아 줘요.
Please close the window for me.
Word by Word: Window a little close give me.
- 이 가방 좀 들어 줘.
Please carry this bag for me. (informal)
Word by Word: This bag a little hold give me.
The informal ending -아/어 줘 is used between close friends or to someone younger.
- 모르는 단어를 설명해 줘요.
Please explain the word I don't know.
Word by Word: Not knowing word explain give me.
- 역으로 가는 길 좀 알려 줘요.
Please tell me the way to the station.
Word by Word: To the station going way a little let me know.
- 제가 이해할 수 있게 천천히 말해 줘요.
Please speak slowly so that I can understand.
Word by Word: I understand can so that slowly speak give me.
Common Mistakes
Using -아/어 달다 when the action benefits a third person.
Not Quite친구가 부탁해서 숙제를 도와 달았어요.Better친구가 부탁해서 숙제를 도와줬어요.-아/어 달다 is only used when the speaker is the beneficiary of the action. When you do something for someone else (a third party like a friend), you must use -아/어 주다 (conjugated as -아/어 줬어요 in the past tense).
Learn This First
To understand -아/어 달다, learners need the 아/어 verb form and the idea of asking someone to do something for the speaker.
Related Patterns
- -아/어 드리다Do for (Honorific)
This is the honorific equivalent of -아/어 주다, used when performing an action for someone of higher status. It contrasts with -아/어 달다, which is about receiving a favor, not giving one respectfully.
- -(으)세요Please
A general polite command ('Please do...'). Unlike -아/어 달다, it doesn't inherently carry the meaning of the action being a favor for the speaker. '문 닫으세요' is 'Please close the door,' while '문 닫아 줘요' is 'Please close the door (for me)'.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.