들어주다
deu-reo-ju-da · literally “Listen for someone”
Situation: Your Korean friend texts: 부탁 하나만 들어줄래?
✕ What AI tells you
Translates it as 'Will you listen to one request?', so you reply 'Sure, go ahead, I'm listening.'
Why it fails: With 부탁 (favor) or 소원 (wish), 들어주다 means 'grant' or 'do'. Your friend is asking you to agree to the favor, often before saying what it is. 'I'm listening' sounds like you haven't said yes.
✓ What Koreans actually say
부탁·소원 + 들어주다 = grant, say yes. 얘기·말 + 들어주다 = listen with care.
그래, 뭔데?
geu-rae, mwon-de
Friendly reply to 부탁 들어줄래?: 'Sure, what is it?'
제 부탁 좀 들어주실 수 있으세요?
je bu-tak jom deu-reo-ju-sil su i-sseu-se-yo
Polite way to ask a senior for a favor
얘기 들어줘서 고마워.
yae-gi deu-reo-jwo-seo go-ma-wo
'Thanks for listening' — after you've shared something hard
Cultural nuance, in depth
Korean often asks for agreement before revealing the favor: 부탁 하나만 들어줄래? is a soft way to make saying no awkward. If you're unsure, 뭔데? ('What is it?') is a natural, friendly way to hear it first. In the listening sense, 들어주다 implies patience and support — it's what a good friend does.
- #double-verbs
- #requests
- #friends
More on emotion & relationships
- Emotion & Relationshipsv0.3
너
neo · “You (informal)”
AI gets it wrong:너 is used freely only toward children much younger than you, or with very close friends your age or younger. With anyone else — even in 반말 — it can sound blunt or rude. Koreans call the person by name instead.Say instead:지수야, 밥 먹었어?See why → - Emotion & Relationshipsv0.1
당신
dang-sin · “You”
AI gets it wrong:In conversation, 당신 addressed to a peer or stranger can sound distant or even like the start of an argument. Korean usually drops 'you' or uses a name/title instead.Say instead:점심 드셨어요?See why → - Emotion & Relationshipsv0.5
돌아가시다
do-ra-ga-si-da · “Go back (honorific)”
AI gets it wrong:돌아가시다 is the respectful way to say someone has died — literally 'returned'. 죽었어요 is used for animals or in blunt speech, and sounds disrespectful for a family member or elder.Say instead:작년에 할아버지가 돌아가셨어요.See why →