Asking a Friend for Help with Geography Homework in Korean

Understanding how to ask for help, especially with schoolwork like a tricky geography map, is a common situation. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for students needing assistance from a friend at home, focusing on clear communication and politeness even in informal settings.

Core Expression

• Expression: 나 좀 도와줄 수 있어?
  Pronunciation: na jom do-wa-jul su i-sseo?
  Meaning: Can you help me out a bit? (Informal, used with close friends)

Basic Phrases for Asking for Help

• Expression: 이거 너무 어려워.
  Pronunciation: i-geo neo-mu eo-ryeo-wo.
  Meaning: This is too difficult.
• Expression: 이 부분 이해가 안 가.
  Pronunciation: i bu-bun i-hae-ga an ga.
  Meaning: I don’t understand this part.
• Expression: 이거 무슨 뜻이야?
  Pronunciation: i-geo mu-seun tteu-si-ya?
  Meaning: What does this mean?
• Expression: 이것 좀 설명해 줄래?
  Pronunciation: i-geot jom seol-myeong-hae jul-lae?
  Meaning: Can you explain this to me?
• Expression: 지금 바빠?
  Pronunciation: ji-geum ba-ppa?
  Meaning: Are you busy right now?
• Expression: 뭐 좀 물어봐도 돼?
  Pronunciation: mwo jom mu-reo-bwa-do dwae?
  Meaning: Can I ask you something?
• Expression: 네 도움이 필요해.
  Pronunciation: ne do-u-mi pi-ryo-hae.
  Meaning: I need your help.
• Expression: 같이 좀 봐 줄 수 있어?
  Pronunciation: ga-chi jom bwa jul su i-sseo?
  Meaning: Can you take a look at this together with me?
• Expression: 나 완전 막혔어.
  Pronunciation: na wan-jeon ma-kyeo-sseo.
  Meaning: I’m completely stuck.
• Expression: 지리 숙제 진짜 어렵다.
  Pronunciation: ji-ri suk-je jin-jja eo-ryeop-da.
  Meaning: This geography homework is really hard.
• Expression: 시간 괜찮으면 잠깐 와 줄 수 있어?
  Pronunciation: si-gan gwaen-cha-neu-myeon jam-kkan wa jul su i-sseo?
  Meaning: If you have time, can you come over for a bit?
• Expression: 이 지도 때문에 머리 아파.
  Pronunciation: i ji-do ttae-mu-ne meo-ri a-pa.
  Meaning: This map is giving me a headache.

Map Specific Questions

• Expression: 이 지도에서 [나라 이름] 어디 있어?
  Pronunciation: i ji-do-e-seo [na-ra i-reum] eo-di i-sseo?
  Meaning: Where is [Country Name] on this map?
• Expression: [나라 이름] 수도가 어디야?
  Pronunciation: [na-ra i-reum] su-do-ga eo-di-ya?
  Meaning: Where is the capital of [Country Name]?
• Expression: 여기 좀 짚어 줄래?
  Pronunciation: yeo-gi jom ji-peo jul-lae?
  Meaning: Can you point here?
• Expression: 이 기호는 무슨 의미야?
  Pronunciation: i gi-ho-neun mu-seun ui-mi-ya?
  Meaning: What does this symbol mean?
• Expression: 이 국경선 맞아?
  Pronunciation: i guk-gyeong-seon ma-ja?
  Meaning: Is this the correct border?
• Expression: 범례가 너무 헷갈려.
  Pronunciation: beom-nye-ga neo-mu het-gal-lyeo.
  Meaning: The legend (key) is too confusing.
• Expression: 이 바다는 이름이 뭐야?
  Pronunciation: i ba-da-neun i-reu-mi mwo-ya?
  Meaning: What’s the name of this ocean?
• Expression: 이 산맥은 어디야?
  Pronunciation: i san-mae-geun eo-di-ya?
  Meaning: Where is this mountain range?
• Expression: 축척은 어떻게 읽어?
  Pronunciation: chuk-cheo-geun eo-tteo-ke il-geo?
  Meaning: How do I read the scale?
• Expression: 이거 위도야, 경도야?
  Pronunciation: i-geo wi-do-ya, gyeong-do-ya?
  Meaning: Is this latitude or longitude?
• Expression: [도시 이름] 좀 찾아봐 줄래?
  Pronunciation: [do-si i-reum] jom cha-ja-bwa jul-lae?
  Meaning: Can you find [City Name] for me?
• Expression: 이 강을 따라가 보자.
  Pronunciation: i gang-eul tta-ra-ga bo-ja.
  Meaning: Let’s trace this river.

Expressing Understanding and Gratitude

• Expression: 아, 이제 알겠다!
  Pronunciation: a, i-je al-get-da!
  Meaning: Ah, I get it now!
• Expression: 이제 이해했어.
  Pronunciation: i-je i-hae-hae-sseo.
  Meaning: Now I understand.
• Expression: 정말 고마워!
  Pronunciation: jeong-mal go-ma-wo!
  Meaning: Thank you so much! (Informal)
• Expression: 네 덕분에 살았다!
  Pronunciation: ne deok-bu-ne sa-rat-da!
  Meaning: You saved me! / You’re a lifesaver! (Informal expression of gratitude)
• Expression: 진짜 고맙다.
  Pronunciation: jin-jja go-map-da.
  Meaning: I’m really thankful. (Informal)
• Expression: 네 덕분에 이해했어.
  Pronunciation: ne deok-bu-ne i-hae-hae-sseo.
  Meaning: Thanks to you, I understand.
• Expression: 이제 좀 알 것 같아.
  Pronunciation: i-je jom al geot ga-ta.
  Meaning: I think I understand it a bit now.
• Expression: 오케이, 알았어.
  Pronunciation: o-ke-i, a-ra-sseo.
  Meaning: Okay, I got it.
• Expression: 설명 진짜 잘한다.
  Pronunciation: seol-myeong jin-jja jal-han-da.
  Meaning: You explain really well.
• Expression: 너 없었으면 못 했을 거야.
  Pronunciation: neo eop-seo-sseu-myeon mot hae-sseul geo-ya.
  Meaning: I couldn’t have done it without you.
• Expression: 다음에 내가 쏠게!
  Pronunciation: da-eu-me nae-ga ssol-ge!
  Meaning: I’ll treat you next time! (Informal)
• Expression: 훨씬 명확해졌어.
  Pronunciation: hwol-ssin myeong-hwa-kae-jyeo-sseo.
  Meaning: It’s become much clearer.

Cultural Tips

In Korea, education is highly valued, and students often spend long hours studying. It’s common for friends to help each other with homework or study together (같이 공부하다 – ga-chi gong-bu-ha-da).

When asking a friend for help, while informal language (반말 – ban-mal) is typically used between close friends, it’s still polite to check if they are busy first (지금 바빠? – ji-geum ba-ppa?).

Offering a snack or drink (간식 – gan-sik) is a nice gesture when a friend comes over to help or study together. It shows appreciation for their time and effort.

While collaboration is encouraged, be mindful of academic integrity. Helping understand concepts is fine, but copying answers directly is generally frowned upon.

Expressing gratitude clearly (고마워 – go-ma-wo) after receiving help strengthens the friendship. Offering to return the favor later (다음에 내가 도와줄게 – da-eu-me nae-ga do-wa-jul-ge) is also common.

Real Conversation Example

Situation: Minjun (A) is struggling with a world map for his geography homework at his house. He asks his friend Jiwoo (B) for help.

Characters:

• A: Minjun (Student needing help)
• B: Jiwoo (Friend helping out)

• Expression: A: 지우야, 지금 혹시 바빠? 나 지리 숙제 때문에 죽겠어.
  Pronunciation: Ji-u-ya, ji-geum hok-si ba-ppa? Na ji-ri suk-je ttae-mu-ne juk-ge-sseo.
  Meaning: Jiwoo, are you busy right now by any chance? I’m dying because of this geography homework.
• Expression: B: 아니, 괜찮아. 왜? 뭐 어려운 거 있어?
  Pronunciation: a-ni, gwaen-cha-na. wae? mwo eo-ryeo-un geo i-sseo?
  Meaning: No, I’m okay. Why? Is something difficult?
• Expression: A: 응, 이 세계 지도 너무 헷갈려. 나 좀 도와줄 수 있어? 잠깐 우리 집 올래?
  Pronunciation: eung, i se-gye ji-do neo-mu het-gal-lyeo. na jom do-wa-jul su i-sseo? jam-kkan u-ri jip ol-lae?
  Meaning: Yeah, this world map is so confusing. Can you help me out? Want to come over to my place for a bit?
• Expression: B: 그래, 알았어. 금방 갈게. (잠시 후, 민준의 집에서) 와, 진짜 복잡해 보이네. 뭐가 제일 어려워?
  Pronunciation: geu-rae, a-ra-sseo. geum-bang gal-ge. (jam-si hu, Min-jun-ui ji-be-seo) wa, jin-jja bok-ja-pae bo-i-ne. mwo-ga je-il eo-ryeo-wo?
  Meaning: Okay, got it. I’ll be right there. (A bit later, at Minjun’s house) Wow, it really looks complicated. What’s the hardest part?
• Expression: A: 여기 이 기호들… 이게 산맥인지 강인지 모르겠어. 그리고 이 나라는 수도가 어디야?
  Pronunciation: yeo-gi i gi-ho-deul… i-ge san-mae-gin-ji gang-in-ji mo-reu-ge-sseo. geu-ri-go i na-ra-neun su-do-ga eo-di-ya?
  Meaning: These symbols here… I can’t tell if they’re mountain ranges or rivers. And where is the capital of this country?
• Expression: B: 아, 이거? 범례 보면 나와. 봐봐, 이 표시는 산맥이고, 이건 강이야. 그리고 이 나라 수도는 여기!
  Pronunciation: a, i-geo? beom-nye bo-myeon na-wa. bwa-bwa, i pyo-si-neun san-mae-gi-go, i-geon gang-i-ya. geu-ri-go i na-ra su-do-neun yeo-gi!
  Meaning: Ah, this? It’s in the legend. Look, this symbol is a mountain range, and this one is a river. And the capital of this country is right here!
• Expression: A: 오! 이제 알겠다! 와, 진짜 고마워 지우야. 너 없었으면 밤샐 뻔했어.
  Pronunciation: o! i-je al-get-da! wa, jin-jja go-ma-wo Ji-u-ya. neo eop-seo-sseu-myeon bam-sael ppeon-hae-sseo.
  Meaning: Oh! I get it now! Wow, thank you so much, Jiwoo. I might have pulled an all-nighter without you.
• Expression: B: 뭘~ 이 정도 가지고. 다른 건 없어?
  Pronunciation: mwol~ i jeong-do ga-ji-go. da-reun geon eop-seo?
  Meaning: It’s nothing~ for something like this. Is there anything else?

Practice Tips

Try practicing these phrases with a Korean-speaking friend or a language partner! You can role-play the scenario of asking for help with homework or a map~ Find a map online and try describing locations or asking questions about it in Korean.

Listen to how friends talk in Korean dramas or shows when they help each other study. Pay attention to the informal language (반말 – ban-mal) and expressions of gratitude. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to ask for and offer help naturally! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/You can do it!)