Knowing how to ask someone to take your picture is essential when traveling or capturing memories in Korea. This guide provides key Korean phrases for politely requesting a photo, giving simple directions, and expressing gratitude, ensuring you can communicate effectively in these common situations.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
This is the most standard and polite way to ask someone to take a picture for you.
- Expression: 사진 좀 찍어주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: sa-jin jom jjik-eo-ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you please take a picture for me? (The ‘좀’ (jom) softens the request, making it more polite.)
Basic Requests
Use these phrases to initiate the request politely and make simple requests.
-
Expression: 저기요.
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo.
Meaning: Excuse me. (Used to get someone’s attention) -
Expression: 실례합니다.
Pronunciation: sil-lye-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Excuse me. (Slightly more formal way to get attention or apologize for interrupting) -
Expression: 사진 좀 찍어줄 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: sa-jin jom jjik-eo-jul su i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Can you take a picture for me? (Slightly less formal than -주시겠어요?) -
Expression: 사진 한 장만 찍어주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: sa-jin han jang-man jjik-eo-ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you please take just one picture for me? -
Expression: 저희 사진 좀 찍어주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: jeo-hui sa-jin jom jjik-eo-ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you please take a picture of us? -
Expression: 여기서 사진 찍어도 돼요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-seo sa-jin jjik-eo-do dwae-yo?
Meaning: Is it okay to take pictures here? -
Expression: 잠깐 시간 괜찮으세요?
Pronunciation: jam-kkan si-gan gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo?
Meaning: Do you have a moment? -
Expression: 부탁 하나만 드려도 될까요?
Pronunciation: bu-tak ha-na-man deu-ryeo-do doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: May I ask you a favor? -
Expression: 이 카메라로 찍어주세요.
Pronunciation: i ka-me-ra-ro jjik-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take it with this camera. -
Expression: 제 핸드폰으로 찍어주세요.
Pronunciation: je haen-deu-pon-eu-ro jjik-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take it with my phone. -
Expression: 이 버튼을 누르면 돼요.
Pronunciation: i beo-teun-eul nu-reu-myeon dwae-yo.
Meaning: You just need to press this button. -
Expression: 사용법 아세요?
Pronunciation: sa-yong-beop a-se-yo?
Meaning: Do you know how to use it?
Specifying the Shot
These phrases help you guide the person taking the photo to get the shot you want.
-
Expression: 가로로 찍어주세요.
Pronunciation: ga-ro-ro jjik-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take it horizontally (landscape). -
Expression: 세로로 찍어주세요.
Pronunciation: se-ro-ro jjik-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take it vertically (portrait). -
Expression: 배경이 다 나오게 찍어주세요.
Pronunciation: bae-gyeong-i da na-o-ge jjik-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take it so the whole background is included. -
Expression: 이 건물이 나오게 찍어주세요.
Pronunciation: i geon-mul-i na-o-ge jjik-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take it so this building is included. -
Expression: 조금 더 가까이 찍어주세요.
Pronunciation: jo-geum deo ga-kka-i jjik-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take it a little closer (zoom in slightly). -
Expression: 조금 더 멀리서 찍어주세요.
Pronunciation: jo-geum deo meol-li-seo jjik-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take it from a little farther away (zoom out slightly). -
Expression: 저희 둘 다 나오게 찍어주세요.
Pronunciation: jeo-hui dul da na-o-ge jjik-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please make sure both of us are in the picture. -
Expression: 전신이 나오게 찍어주세요.
Pronunciation: jeon-sin-i na-o-ge jjik-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take a full-body shot. -
Expression: 상반신만 나오게 찍어주세요.
Pronunciation: sang-ban-sin-man na-o-ge jjik-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take it from the waist up. -
Expression: 초점 맞춰 주세요.
Pronunciation: cho-jeom mat-chwo ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please focus it. -
Expression: 여기 서면 될까요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi seo-myeon doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: Should I stand here? -
Expression: 준비되면 말씀해주세요.
Pronunciation: jun-bi-doe-myeon mal-sseum-hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please tell me when you’re ready.
After the Photo
Remember to thank the person and check the photo. Here are some useful expressions.
-
Expression: 감사합니다!
Pronunciation: gam-sa-ham-ni-da!
Meaning: Thank you! -
Expression: 고맙습니다!
Pronunciation: go-map-seum-ni-da!
Meaning: Thank you! (Slightly less formal than 감사합니다) -
Expression: 수고하셨습니다.
Pronunciation: su-go-ha-syeot-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you for your trouble/effort. (Common expression after someone does something for you) -
Expression: 사진 확인해 볼게요.
Pronunciation: sa-jin hwa-gin-hae bol-kke-yo.
Meaning: I’ll check the picture. -
Expression: 와, 잘 나왔어요!
Pronunciation: wa, jal na-wa-sseo-yo!
Meaning: Wow, it came out great! -
Expression: 마음에 들어요.
Pronunciation: ma-eum-e deul-eo-yo.
Meaning: I like it. -
Expression: 혹시 한 장만 더 찍어주실 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: hok-si han jang-man deo jjik-eo-ju-sil su i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Could you possibly take just one more? -
Expression: 눈을 감았어요. 다시 찍어주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: nun-eul gam-a-sseo-yo. da-si jjik-eo-ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: I closed my eyes. Could you take it again? -
Expression: 괜찮아요. 이걸로 충분해요.
Pronunciation: gwaen-chan-a-yo. i-geol-lo chung-bun-hae-yo.
Meaning: It’s okay. This is enough. -
Expression: 정말 감사합니다!
Pronunciation: jeong-mal gam-sa-ham-ni-da!
Meaning: Thank you very much! -
Expression: 덕분에 좋은 사진 건졌어요.
Pronunciation: deok-bun-e jo-eun sa-jin geon-jyeo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Thanks to you, I got a great picture. -
Expression: 혹시 사진 찍어드릴까요?
Pronunciation: hok-si sa-jin jjik-eo-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Would you like me to take a picture for you? (A polite offer in return)
Korean Culture Notes
Understanding cultural nuances can make interactions smoother when asking for photos in Korea.
- Politeness is Key: Always use polite language (like adding -요 (-yo) or -ㅂ/습니다 (-p/seumnida) endings) when asking strangers for help. Starting with “저기요” (jeo-gi-yo) or “실례합니다” (sil-lye-ham-ni-da) is standard practice.
- Asking Younger People: While politeness is always good, Koreans generally feel more comfortable asking younger people or fellow tourists for photos than interrupting older individuals or couples.
- Offering Reciprocity: It’s a nice gesture to offer to take a picture for the person who helped you, especially if they are also tourists. Use the phrase: “혹시 사진 찍어드릴까요?” (hok-si sa-jin jjik-eo-deu-ril-kka-yo?).
- Busy Locations: Be mindful of the situation. If someone looks very busy or is in a rush, it might be better to ask someone else. At popular tourist spots, people are generally more accustomed to and willing to help with photos.
- Using ‘좀’ (jom): Adding ‘좀’ (jom), meaning ‘a little’, to requests like “사진 좀 찍어주시겠어요?” (sa-jin jom jjik-eo-ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?) softens the request and makes it sound more polite and less demanding.
Real Conversation Example
Here’s a sample interaction at a popular tourist spot.
- Situation: A tourist wants to get a picture taken in front of Gyeongbok Palace.
-
Roles:
- A: Tourist
- B: Local Korean passerby
-
Expression: A: 저기요, 실례합니다.
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo, sil-lye-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: A: Excuse me. -
Expression: B: 네?
Pronunciation: ne?
Meaning: B: Yes? -
Expression: A: 혹시 사진 한 장만 찍어주실 수 있을까요? 제 핸드폰으로요.
Pronunciation: hok-si sa-jin han jang-man jjik-eo-ju-sil su i-sseul-kka-yo? je haen-deu-pon-eu-ro-yo.
Meaning: A: Could you possibly take just one picture for me? With my phone. -
Expression: B: 네, 그럼요. 이 버튼 누르면 되나요?
Pronunciation: ne, geu-reom-yo. i beo-teun nu-reu-myeon doe-na-yo?
Meaning: B: Yes, of course. Do I just press this button? -
Expression: A: 네, 맞아요. 저 뒤에 궁궐이 다 나오게 찍어주세요.
Pronunciation: ne, maj-a-yo. jeo dwi-e gung-gwol-i da na-o-ge jjik-eo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: A: Yes, that’s right. Please take it so the palace behind me is all included. -
Expression: B: 알겠습니다. 자, 찍습니다! 하나, 둘, 셋!
Pronunciation: al-get-seum-ni-da. ja, jjik-seum-ni-da! ha-na, dul, set!
Meaning: B: Okay. Alright, taking it now! One, two, three! -
Expression: B: 확인해보세요.
Pronunciation: hwa-gin-hae-bo-se-yo.
Meaning: B: Please check it. -
Expression: A: 와~ 정말 잘 나왔어요! 감사합니다!
Pronunciation: wa~ jeong-mal jal na-wa-sseo-yo! gam-sa-ham-ni-da!
Meaning: A: Wow~ It came out really well! Thank you! -
Expression: B: 별말씀을요. 좋은 여행 되세요!
Pronunciation: byeol-mal-sseum-eul-yo. jo-eun yeo-haeng doe-se-yo!
Meaning: B: Don’t mention it. Have a great trip! -
Expression: A: 네, 감사합니다!
Pronunciation: ne, gam-sa-ham-ni-da!
Meaning: A: Yes, thank you!
Practice Tips
Now you have the essential phrases! To get comfortable, try practicing them out loud~ Imagine you’re at a beautiful spot in Korea and need that perfect photo! Role-play with a friend or even practice asking in front of a mirror. Pay attention to the pronunciation, especially the polite endings like -요 (-yo) and -주시겠어요 (-ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?). The more you practice, the more natural it will feel when you actually need to ask someone. Good luck and happy photo-taking! 🙂
