Facing a challenging quiz, especially in a subject like history, can be tough. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for when you need to ask a friend for help while studying at home. Learn how to explain the difficulty, ask for assistance, and suggest studying together effectively in Korean.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 좀 도와줄 수 있어?
Pronunciation: jom do-wa-jul su i-sseo?
Meaning: Can you help me a bit? (Informal, used between close friends)
Basic Phrases for Asking for Help
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Expression: 나 도움이 필요해.
Pronunciation: na do-u-mi pil-yo-hae.
Meaning: I need help. (Informal) -
Expression: 역사 퀴즈 때문에 힘들어.
Pronunciation: yeok-sa kwi-jeu ttae-mu-ne him-deu-reo.
Meaning: I’m having a hard time because of the history quiz. -
Expression: 이거 어떻게 풀어야 돼?
Pronunciation: i-geo eo-tteo-ke pu-reo-ya dwae?
Meaning: How should I solve this? -
Expression: 이 문제 좀 봐줄래?
Pronunciation: i mun-je jom bwa-jul-lae?
Meaning: Can you take a look at this problem for me? -
Expression: 잘 모르겠어.
Pronunciation: jal mo-reu-ge-sseo.
Meaning: I don’t understand well. / I’m not sure. -
Expression: 설명 좀 해줄 수 있어?
Pronunciation: seol-myeong jom hae-jul su i-sseo?
Meaning: Can you explain it to me? -
Expression: 힌트 좀 줄래?
Pronunciation: hin-teu jom jul-lae?
Meaning: Can you give me a hint? -
Expression: 너 이거 알아?
Pronunciation: neo i-geo a-ra?
Meaning: Do you know this? -
Expression: 같이 공부할까?
Pronunciation: ga-chi gong-bu-hal-kka?
Meaning: Shall we study together? -
Expression: 시간 괜찮아?
Pronunciation: si-gan gwaen-cha-na?
Meaning: Is now a good time? / Are you free? -
Expression: 잠깐만 시간 내줄 수 있어?
Pronunciation: jam-kkan-man si-gan nae-jul su i-sseo?
Meaning: Can you spare a moment?
Explaining the Difficulty
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Expression: 이 역사 퀴즈 너무 어려워.
Pronunciation: i yeok-sa kwi-jeu neo-mu eo-ryeo-wo.
Meaning: This history quiz is too difficult. -
Expression: 문제가 너무 헷갈려.
Pronunciation: mun-je-ga neo-mu het-gal-lyeo.
Meaning: The questions are too confusing. -
Expression: 이 부분을 전혀 이해 못 하겠어.
Pronunciation: i bu-bu-neul jeon-hyeo i-hae mot ha-ge-sseo.
Meaning: I can’t understand this part at all. -
Expression: 답을 모르겠어.
Pronunciation: da-beul mo-reu-ge-sseo.
Meaning: I don’t know the answer. -
Expression: 공부를 했는데도 잘 안 풀려.
Pronunciation: gong-bu-reul haet-neun-de-do jal an pul-lyeo.
Meaning: Even though I studied, I can’t solve it well. -
Expression: 특히 이 연도가 기억 안 나.
Pronunciation: teu-ki i yeon-do-ga gi-eok an na.
Meaning: I especially can’t remember this year. -
Expression: 이 사건의 순서가 헷갈려.
Pronunciation: i sa-kkeo-nui sun-seo-ga het-gal-lyeo.
Meaning: I’m confused about the order of these events. -
Expression: 선생님 설명이 부족했어.
Pronunciation: seon-saeng-nim seol-myeong-i bu-jo-kae-sseo.
Meaning: The teacher’s explanation wasn’t enough. -
Expression: 책을 봐도 모르겠네.
Pronunciation: chae-geul bwa-do mo-reu-gen-ne.
Meaning: I still don’t get it even after looking at the book. -
Expression: 완전 막혔어.
Pronunciation: wan-jeon ma-kyeo-sseo.
Meaning: I’m completely stuck. -
Expression: 이건 내 능력 밖이야.
Pronunciation: i-geon nae neung-ryeok ba-kki-ya.
Meaning: This is beyond my ability.
Suggesting Studying Together
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Expression: 우리 집에서 같이 공부할래?
Pronunciation: u-ri ji-be-seo ga-chi gong-bu-hal-lae?
Meaning: Do you want to study together at my place? -
Expression: 너희 집 가도 돼?
Pronunciation: neo-hui jip ga-do dwae?
Meaning: Can I come over to your place? -
Expression: 이따가 같이 퀴즈 준비하자.
Pronunciation: i-tta-ga ga-chi kwi-jeu jun-bi-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s prepare for the quiz together later. -
Expression: 서로 모르는 거 가르쳐주자.
Pronunciation: seo-ro mo-reu-neun geo ga-reu-chyeo-ju-ja.
Meaning: Let’s teach each other what we don’t know. -
Expression: 내가 간식 사갈게.
Pronunciation: nae-ga gan-sik sa-gal-ge.
Meaning: I’ll bring snacks. -
Expression: 몇 시에 만날까?
Pronunciation: myeot si-e man-nal-kka?
Meaning: What time should we meet? -
Expression: 오늘 저녁 어때?
Pronunciation: o-neul jeo-nyeok eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about this evening? -
Expression: 같이 하면 더 잘 될 거야.
Pronunciation: ga-chi ha-myeon deo jal doel geo-ya.
Meaning: It’ll be better if we do it together. -
Expression: 너 역사 잘하잖아.
Pronunciation: neo yeok-sa jal-ha-ja-na.
Meaning: You’re good at history, aren’t you? -
Expression: 네 도움이 필요해.
Pronunciation: ne do-u-mi pil-yo-hae.
Meaning: I need your help. (Informal) -
Expression: 같이 벼락치기 하자!
Pronunciation: ga-chi byeo-rak-chi-gi ha-ja!
Meaning: Let’s cram together!
Korean Culture Notes
Studying Together: Group study (스터디 – seu-teo-di) is very common in Korea, both formally in study groups and informally among friends. Helping each other with homework or preparing for tests is a natural part of friendship.
Asking for Help: While asking friends for help is normal, Koreans might sometimes hesitate to directly say “I don’t know” or admit difficulty to avoid ‘losing face’. Using phrases like “헷갈려” (het-gal-lyeo – I’m confused) or asking for clarification can be a softer way to seek help.
Reciprocity: If a friend helps you, it’s common courtesy to offer something in return, even if it’s small, like buying snacks (간식 사줄게 – gan-sik sa-jul-ge – I’ll buy you snacks) or helping them with a subject you’re good at later.
Informal Language (Banmal): When talking to close friends (친구 – chin-gu), especially at home, Koreans use informal language (반말 – ban-mal). This involves dropping the formal ‘-yo’ (요) ending and using more casual vocabulary, as seen in many examples here.
Academic Pressure: Education is highly valued, and students often feel significant pressure. Helping friends study is seen as supportive and collaborative, strengthening bonds.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Minjun is struggling with a history quiz at home and calls his friend Jiho for help.
Characters:
- A: Minjun (민준) – The student needing help.
- B: Jiho (지호) – The friend being asked for help.
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Expression: A: 지호야, 뭐해? 나 지금 역사 퀴즈 때문에 죽겠어.
Pronunciation: A: ji-ho-ya, mwo-hae? na ji-geum yeok-sa kwi-jeu ttae-mu-ne juk-ge-sseo.
Meaning: A: Hey Jiho, what are you doing? I’m dying because of this history quiz right now. -
Expression: B: 어, 민준아. 나 그냥 쉬고 있었어. 왜? 퀴즈 어려워?
Pronunciation: B: eo, min-ju-na. na geu-nyang swi-go i-sseo-sseo. wae? kwi-jeu eo-ryeo-wo?
Meaning: B: Oh, Minjun. I was just relaxing. Why? Is the quiz hard? -
Expression: A: 응, 너무 헷갈려. 특히 조선 시대 왕들 순서가 기억이 안 나. 좀 도와줄 수 있어?
Pronunciation: A: eung, neo-mu het-gal-lyeo. teu-ki jo-seon si-dae wang-deul sun-seo-ga gi-eo-gi an na. jom do-wa-jul su i-sseo?
Meaning: A: Yeah, it’s really confusing. I especially can’t remember the order of the Joseon Dynasty kings. Can you help me a bit? -
Expression: B: 아, 그 부분? 나도 좀 헷갈렸는데, 같이 보면 괜찮을 거야. 내가 너희 집으로 갈까?
Pronunciation: B: a, geu bu-bun? na-do jom het-gal-lyeot-neun-de, ga-chi bo-myeon gwaen-cha-neul geo-ya. nae-ga neo-hui ji-beu-ro gal-kka?
Meaning: B: Ah, that part? I was a bit confused too, but it should be okay if we look at it together. Should I come over to your place? -
Expression: A: 진짜? 와, 고마워! 그럼 지금 와줄 수 있어? 내가 맛있는 거 시켜 놓을게!
Pronunciation: A: jin-jja? wa, go-ma-wo! geu-reom ji-geum wa-jul su i-sseo? nae-ga ma-si-neun geo si-kyeo no-eul-ge!
Meaning: A: Really? Wow, thanks! Can you come over now then? I’ll order something delicious! -
Expression: B: 알았어. 금방 갈게. 같이 퀴즈 박살내자!
Pronunciation: B: a-ra-sseo. geum-bang gal-ge. ga-chi kwi-jeu bak-sal-nae-ja!
Meaning: B: Okay. I’ll be right there. Let’s crush this quiz together!
Practice Tips
Learning these phrases is just the start! Try role-playing this situation with a study partner or friend~ Imagine you’re really stuck on a quiz and need help. Use the phrases for explaining what’s difficult (이 부분이 헷갈려 – i bu-bu-ni het-gal-lyeo) and asking directly for assistance (좀 가르쳐줘 – jom ga-reu-chyeo-jwo). The more you practice, the more natural it will feel when you actually need to ask for help in Korean. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – it’s part of learning! 화이팅! (hwaiting! – You can do it!)
