Dealing with specific customer requests requires politeness and clear communication, especially when the request might be unusual, like asking for a thicker napkin. This guide provides Korean phrases and cultural context for waitstaff to handle such situations professionally in a restaurant setting.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 더 두꺼운 냅킨
Pronunciation: deo du-kkeo-un naep-kin
Meaning: Thicker napkin (Lit: more thick napkin)
Basic Phrases for Waitstaff
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Expression: 어서 오세요.
Pronunciation: eo-seo o-se-yo.
Meaning: Welcome. -
Expression: 무엇을 도와드릴까요?
Pronunciation: mu-eo-seul do-wa-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: How may I help you? / What can I assist you with? -
Expression: 네, 알겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, al-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, I understand. / Okay. -
Expression: 잠시만 기다려 주십시오.
Pronunciation: jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo ju-sip-si-o.
Meaning: Please wait a moment. (Formal) -
Expression: 주문하시겠어요?
Pronunciation: ju-mun-ha-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Would you like to order? -
Expression: 필요하신 것 있으시면 말씀해 주세요.
Pronunciation: pil-yo-ha-sin geot i-sseu-si-myeon mal-sseum-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please let me know if you need anything. -
Expression: 죄송합니다.
Pronunciation: joe-song-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I am sorry. (Formal) -
Expression: 확인해 보겠습니다.
Pronunciation: hwa-gin-hae bo-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will check. -
Expression: 가져다 드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ga-jyeo-da deu-ri-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will bring it to you. -
Expression: 맛있게 드세요.
Pronunciation: ma-sit-ge deu-se-yo.
Meaning: Enjoy your meal. (Bon appétit) -
Expression: 계산 도와드릴까요?
Pronunciation: gye-san do-wa-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Shall I help you with the bill? -
Expression: 안녕히 가세요.
Pronunciation: an-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo.
Meaning: Goodbye. (To someone leaving)
Responding to Customer Requests
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Expression: 네, 손님. 무엇이 필요하십니까?
Pronunciation: ne, son-nim. mu-eo-si pil-yo-ha-sim-ni-kka?
Meaning: Yes, customer. What do you need? -
Expression: 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: da-si han-beon mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you please say that again? -
Expression: 네, 바로 확인해 보겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, ba-ro hwa-gin-hae bo-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, I will check right away. -
Expression: 죄송하지만, 잠시만 기다려 주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: joe-song-ha-ji-man, jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: I’m sorry, but could you please wait just a moment? -
Expression: 요청하신 것 준비해 드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: yo-cheong-ha-sin geot jun-bi-hae deu-ri-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will prepare what you requested. -
Expression: 혹시 다른 필요하신 것은 없으신가요?
Pronunciation: hok-si da-reun pil-yo-ha-sin geo-seun eop-seu-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is there perhaps anything else you need? -
Expression: 불편을 드려 죄송합니다.
Pronunciation: bul-pyeo-neul deu-ryeo joe-song-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I apologize for the inconvenience. -
Expression: 저희가 가지고 있는지 확인해 보겠습니다.
Pronunciation: jeo-hui-ga ga-ji-go it-neun-ji hwa-gin-hae bo-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will check if we have it. -
Expression: 최대한 빨리 가져다 드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: choe-dae-han ppal-li ga-jyeo-da deu-ri-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will bring it as quickly as possible. -
Expression: 이것 맞으신가요?
Pronunciation: i-geot ma-jeu-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is this correct? / Is this what you wanted? -
Expression: 도움이 필요하시면 언제든지 불러주세요.
Pronunciation: do-u-mi pil-yo-ha-si-myeon eon-je-deun-ji bul-leo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please call me anytime if you need help.
Addressing the Napkin Request
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Expression: 네, 어떤 냅킨을 찾으십니까?
Pronunciation: ne, eo-tteon naep-ki-neul cha-jeu-sim-ni-kka?
Meaning: Yes, what kind of napkin are you looking for? -
Expression: 더 두꺼운 냅킨 말씀이신가요?
Pronunciation: deo du-kkeo-un naep-kin mal-sseu-mi-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Are you referring to a thicker napkin? -
Expression: 저희 식당에는 이 종류의 냅킨만 준비되어 있습니다.
Pronunciation: jeo-hui sik-dang-e-neun i jong-nyu-ui naep-kin-man jun-bi-doe-eo i-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Our restaurant only has this type of napkin prepared. -
Expression: 죄송하지만, 더 두꺼운 냅킨은 제공되지 않습니다.
Pronunciation: joe-song-ha-ji-man, deo du-kkeo-un naep-ki-neun je-gong-doe-ji an-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: I’m sorry, but thicker napkins are not provided. -
Expression: 냅킨을 더 가져다 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: naep-ki-neul deo ga-jyeo-da deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Shall I bring you more napkins? -
Expression: 혹시 물티슈가 필요하신가요?
Pronunciation: hok-si mul-ti-syu-ga pil-yo-ha-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Perhaps you need wet wipes? -
Expression: 이 냅킨으로 괜찮으시겠어요?
Pronunciation: i naep-ki-neu-ro gwaen-cha-neu-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Would this napkin be alright? -
Expression: 다른 종류의 냅킨이 있는지 확인해 보겠습니다.
Pronunciation: da-reun jong-nyu-ui naep-ki-ni it-neun-ji hwa-gin-hae bo-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will check if there is another type of napkin. -
Expression: 현재 가지고 있는 냅킨 중 가장 두꺼운 것입니다.
Pronunciation: hyeon-jae ga-ji-go it-neun naep-kin jung ga-jang du-kkeo-un geo-sim-ni-da.
Meaning: This is the thickest napkin we currently have. -
Expression: 대신 냅킨을 여러 장 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: dae-sin naep-ki-neul yeo-reo jang deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Shall I give you several napkins instead? -
Expression: 이해해 주셔서 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: i-hae-hae ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you for your understanding.
Cultural Tips for Service
Politeness is paramount in Korean service culture. Always use formal language (존댓말 – jon-daen-mal) with customers, especially elders. Address customers as 손님 (son-nim).
Anticipating needs (눈치 – nunchi) is valued. While a request for thicker napkins might be uncommon, try to understand the customer’s underlying need (perhaps they spilled something or find the standard ones too thin) and offer helpful alternatives like extra napkins or wet wipes.
Apologize sincerely (죄송합니다 – joe-song-ham-ni-da) if you cannot fulfill a request. Clearly explaining the situation (e.g., “We only have this type”) is better than making excuses or ignoring the request.
Efficiency is expected. Respond to requests promptly. If you need to check something, let the customer know you will be back quickly (잠시만 기다려 주십시오 – jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo ju-sip-si-o).
Even if a request seems unusual, maintain a helpful and professional attitude. Offering alternatives shows good service, even if the exact item isn’t available.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A customer at a Korean restaurant finds the standard paper napkins too thin and asks the waiter for thicker ones.
Roles: A = Customer (손님 – son-nim), B = Waiter (종업원 – jong-eo-bwon)
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Expression: A: 저기요.
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo.
Meaning: Excuse me. -
Expression: B: 네, 손님. 무엇을 도와드릴까요?
Pronunciation: ne, son-nim. mu-eo-seul do-wa-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Yes, customer. How may I help you? -
Expression: A: 이 냅킨이 너무 얇은데, 혹시 더 두꺼운 냅킨은 없나요?
Pronunciation: i naep-ki-ni neo-mu yal-beun-de, hok-si deo du-kkeo-un naep-ki-neun eom-na-yo?
Meaning: This napkin is too thin, do you perhaps have any thicker napkins? -
Expression: B: 아, 더 두꺼운 냅킨 말씀이시군요. 죄송하지만 저희 식당에는 현재 이 종류의 냅킨만 준비되어 있습니다.
Pronunciation: a, deo du-kkeo-un naep-kin mal-sseu-mi-si-gun-yo. joe-song-ha-ji-man jeo-hui sik-dang-e-neun hyeon-jae i jong-nyu-ui naep-kin-man jun-bi-doe-eo i-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Ah, you mean thicker napkins. I apologize, but our restaurant currently only has this type of napkin prepared. -
Expression: A: 그래요? 알겠습니다.
Pronunciation: geu-rae-yo? al-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Is that so? I understand. -
Expression: B: 대신 냅킨을 여러 장 더 가져다 드릴까요? 아니면 물티슈 필요하시면 드릴 수 있습니다.
Pronunciation: dae-sin naep-ki-neul yeo-reo jang deo ga-jyeo-da deu-ril-kka-yo? a-ni-myeon mul-ti-syu pil-yo-ha-si-myeon deu-ril su i-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Shall I bring you several more napkins instead? Or if you need wet wipes, I can give you some. -
Expression: A: 아, 그럼 냅킨 몇 장만 더 주세요.
Pronunciation: a, geu-reom naep-kin myeot jang-man deo ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Ah, then please just give me a few more napkins. -
Expression: B: 네, 알겠습니다. 바로 가져다 드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, al-ge-sseum-ni-da. ba-ro ga-jyeo-da deu-ri-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, understood. I will bring them right away.
Practice Tips
Practice makes perfect, especially with politeness levels! Try role-playing these scenarios with a friend or language partner~ Imagine different customer requests and practice responding politely, even when you can’t fulfill the exact request!
Pay close attention to pronunciation, especially the formal endings like -ㅂ니다/습니다 (-m-ni-da / -seum-ni-da) and -시겠어요? (-si-ge-sseo-yo?). Using the correct level of formality is crucial in service interactions.
Listen carefully to how native speakers handle requests in Korean dramas or reality shows set in restaurants. Notice their tone, word choice, and body language. Good luck with your practice! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/Good luck!)
