Giving and Receiving with '주다' & '드리다'

01

The Standard Verb: 주다 (ju·da)

주다 (ju·daju·daju·dacu·ta) is the basic verb for "to give." You use this word in two specific situations:

• When you give something to someone of equal or lower status (like a friend or a younger sibling).
• When someone (regardless of status) gives something to you.

When asking for something for yourself, you always use 주다 (ju·daju·daju·dacu·ta) (often in the polite form 주세요 (ju·se·yoju·se·yoju·se·yocu·sey·yo)), because the action is directed towards you.

• 친구에게 사과를 줘요.

  chin·gu·e·ge sa·gwa·rŭl jwŏ·yo.jin·gu·e·ge sa·gwa·reul jwŏ·yo.chin·gu·e·ge sa·gwa·rŭl jwŏ·yo.cin·ku·ey·key sa·kwa·lul jwŏ·yo.

  I give an apple to a friend.

• 밥을 주세요.

  bab·ŭl ju·se·yo.bab·eul ju·se·yo.bab·ŭl ju·se·yo.pab·ul cu·sey·yo.

  Please give me rice / food.

• 엄마가 저에게 돈을 줬어요.

  ŏm·ma·ga jŏ·e·ge don·ŭl jwŏss·ŏ·yo.eom·ma·ga jeo·e·ge don·eul jwŏss·eo·yo.ŏm·ma·ga jŏ·e·ge don·ŭl jwŏss·ŏ·yo.em·ma·ka ce·ey·key ton·ul jwŏss·e·yo.

  Mom gave me money.

02

The Humble Verb: 드리다 (dŭ·ri·da)

드리다 (dŭ·ri·dadeu·ri·dadŭ·ri·datu·li·ta) is the humble version of "to give." It is used exclusively when the giver is "lowering" themselves to honor the recipient. You use this when you give something to someone of higher status (like a teacher, boss, or grandparent) or a customer.

Because 드리다 (dŭ·ri·dadeu·ri·dadŭ·ri·datu·li·ta) implies honoring the recipient, you never use it when the recipient is yourself. You cannot "humbly give" to yourself.

• 선생님께 선물을 드려요.

  sŏn·sæng·nim·gge sŏn·mul·ŭl dŭ·ryŏ·yo.seon·saeng·nim·gge seon·mul·eul deu·ryeo·yo.sŏn·saeng·nim·kke sŏn·mul·ŭl dŭ·ryŏ·yo.sen·sayng·nim·kkey sen·mul·ul tu·lye·yo.

  I give a gift to the teacher.

• 할머니께 물을 드렸어요.

  hal·mŏ·ni·gge mu·rŭl dŭ·ryŏss·ŏ·yo.hal·meo·ni·gge mu·reul deu·ryeoss·eo·yo.hal·mŏ·ni·kke mu·rŭl dŭ·ryŏss·ŏ·yo.hal·me·ni·kkey mu·lul tu·lyess·e·yo.

  I gave water to grandmother.

• 메뉴를 드릴까요?

  me·nyu·rŭl dŭ·ril·gga·yo?me·nyu·reul deu·ril·gga·yo?me·nyu·rŭl dŭ·ril·kka·yo?mey·nyu·lul tu·lil·kka·yo?

  Shall I give you the menu?

03

Doing Favors: Auxiliary Verbs

These verbs are also used as auxiliary verbs attached to other action verbs to express "doing something for someone." The structure is Verb Stem + ~아/어 (~a/ŏ) + 주다 (ju·daju·daju·dacu·ta) or 드리다 (dŭ·ri·dadeu·ri·dadŭ·ri·datu·li·ta).

If you do a favor for a friend or ask someone to do a favor for you, use ~아/어 주다 (~a/ŏ ju·da~a/ŏ ju·da~a/ŏ ju·da~a/ŏ cu·ta).

• 이것을 읽어 주세요.

  i·gŏ·sŭl il·gŏ ju·se·yo.i·geo·seul il·geo ju·se·yo.i·gŏ·sŭl il·gŏ ju·se·yo.i·ke·sul il·ke cu·sey·yo.

  Please read this (for me).

• 친구가 숙제를 도와 줬어요.

  chin·gu·ga suk·je·rŭl do·wa jwŏss·ŏ·yo.jin·gu·ga suk·je·reul do·wa jwŏss·eo·yo.chin·gu·ga suk·je·rŭl do·wa jwŏss·ŏ·yo.cin·ku·ka suk·cey·lul to·wa jwŏss·e·yo.

  My friend helped with homework (for me).

If you do a favor for someone of higher status, use ~아/어 드리다 (~a/ŏ dŭ·ri·da~a/ŏ deu·ri·da~a/ŏ dŭ·ri·da~a/ŏ tu·li·ta).

• 제가 도와 드릴게요.

  je·ga do·wa dŭ·ril·gge·yo.je·ga do·wa deu·ril·gge·yo.je·ga do·wa dŭ·ril·kke·yo.cey·ka to·wa tu·lil·kkey·yo.

  I will help you (humble).

• 문을 열어 드렸어요.

  mu·nŭl yŏ·rŏ dŭ·ryŏss·ŏ·yo.mu·neul yeo·reo deu·ryeoss·eo·yo.mu·nŭl yŏ·rŏ dŭ·ryŏss·ŏ·yo.mu·nul ye·le tu·lyess·e·yo.

  I opened the door (for him/her).

04

Summary of Direction

To ensure you pick the right word, look at the direction of the action:

• Me → You (Higher Status): Use 드리다 (dŭ·ri·dadeu·ri·dadŭ·ri·datu·li·ta).
• Me → You (Equal/Lower Status): Use 주다 (ju·daju·daju·dacu·ta).
• You (Any Status) → Me: Use 주다 (ju·daju·daju·dacu·ta) (never 드리다 (dŭ·ri·dadeu·ri·dadŭ·ri·datu·li·ta)).

Note: If a higher-status person gives to you, you still use 주다 (ju·daju·daju·dacu·ta), but you add the honorific infix -(으)시 (-(ŭ)si) to the verb to honor the subject (the giver), resulting in 주시다 (ju·si·daju·si·daju·si·dacu·si·ta).

• 아버지가 책을 주셨어요.

  a·bŏ·ji·ga chʰæ·gŭl ju·syŏss·ŏ·yo.a·beo·ji·ga chae·geul ju·syeoss·eo·yo.a·bŏ·ji·ga ch'ae·gŭl ju·syŏss·ŏ·yo.a·pe·ci·ka chay·kul cu·syess·e·yo.

  Father gave me a book.