Korean · Everyday Verbs
"to help" in Korean: 돕다
돕다dopda
to help in Korean is 돕다 (dopda). 돕다 is ㅂ-irregular; 도와요 and 도왔어요 are the common polite forms.
to help: an everyday statement
친구를 도와요.chingureul dowayo.
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How to pronounce 돕다
Say it
dopda
/top̚t͈a/
Read 돕다 as dopda. The spoken form 도와요 is dowayo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"to help" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 돕다dopda | to help Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 도와요dowayo | to help (polite present) Use 도와요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 도와요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 도왔어요dowasseoyo | to help (polite past) Use 도왔어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 도왔어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 돕다 in real life
- 1to help: an everyday statement
친구를 도와요.
chingureul dowayo.
I help a friend.
도와요 is the present form of 돕다.
- 2to help: a different situation
어제 이사를 도왔어요.
eoje isareul dowasseoyo.
I helped with the move yesterday.
도왔어요 is the past form of 돕다.
- 3to help: a question or request
누구를 도와요?
nugureul dowayo?
Who do you help?
도와요 is the present form of 돕다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 돕다
Incorrect: 돕다.
Correct: 도와요.
When practicing to help, 돕다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 도와요.
Incorrect: 어제 도와요.
Correct: 어제 도왔어요.
When practicing to help, for a completed event yesterday, use 도왔어요; the present form 도와요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
돕다 is ㅂ-irregular; 도와요 and 도왔어요 are the common polite forms. 도와요 is the polite conversational form of 돕다; 도왔어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led everyday verbs study exercise: two sentences with 돕다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
친구를 도와요.
chingureul dowayo.
I help a friend.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
어제 이사를 도왔어요.
eoje isareul dowasseoyo.
I helped with the move yesterday.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to help" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to help" in Korean
How do I use 돕다 in polite speech?
도와요 is the polite conversational form of 돕다; 도왔어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 돕다 in a past-tense sentence?
도왔어요 is the polite past form. 돕다 is ㅂ-irregular; 도와요 and 도왔어요 are the common polite forms.
What does 도와요 mean here?
도와요 is used for to help. For example, 친구를 도와요. means “I help a friend.”
What should I remember about 돕다?
돕다 is ㅂ-irregular; 도와요 and 도왔어요 are the common polite forms.
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