달라고 하다 VS 주라고 하다

Many Korean learners struggle with indirect speech, 

especially when reporting someone else’s request.

In particular, ‘달라고 하다’ and ‘주라고 하다’ can be confusing 

because both involve asking someone to give something.

However, they are used in different contexts depending on who benefits from the action. 

Let’s break it down with explanations and examples!

[Common Ways to Make Requests in Korean]

Before diving into the difference between ‘달라고 하다’ and ‘주라고 하다’, 

let’s first take a look at how Koreans typically make requests.

1) "(좀) 주세요" (Please give me ~)

-  The most basic and polite way to ask for something.

-  Used when directly requesting something

-  Example: "물 (좀) 주세요." (Please give me water.)

2) "(좀) 아/어 주세요" (Please do ~ for me)

- Used when requesting someone to do something for you.

- Example: "창문 열어 주세요." (Please open the window for me.)

3) "(좀) 아/어 줄 수 있어요?" (Can you ~ for me?)

- A softer and more polite way to make a request.

- Example: "사진 (좀) 찍어 줄 수 있어요?" (Can you take a picture for me?)

* Adding '좀' makes the request sound a bit more polite and kind.

[달라고 하다 VS 주라고 하다]

1. 달라고 하다 : requesting something for oneself

- Used when the speaker or the subject of the sentence is asking for something for themselves.

- The focus is on "Give it to me (or the person making the request)."

<Example>

민지: "물 좀 줄 수 있어요?"

➡ 민지 씨가 물 좀 달라고 했어요. (민지 asked for water for herself.)

아이:  "엄마, 사탕 사 주세요"

➡ 아이가 엄마에게 사탕을 사 달라고 했어요. (The child asked their mom to buy candy for them.)

학생:  "선생님, 다시 설명을 해 주세요~"

➡ 학생이 선생님에게다시 설명을 해 달라고 했어요.  (The student asked the teacher to explain it again to them.)

동생:  "형, 창문 좀 열어 줘~"

➡ 동생이 저에게 창문 좀 열어 달라고 했어요.  (My younger brother asked me to open the window for them.)

< Key Tip>

- If the person making the request wants something for themselves, use '달라고 하다'.

2. 주라고 하다 : requesting something for someone else

- Used when the request is for a third party, not the speaker or the subject.

- The focus is on "Give it to someone else."

< Example >

민지: 준수 씨, 제니 씨한테 물 좀 주세요.

➡ 민지 씨가 준수 씨에게 제니 씨한테 물 좀 주라고 했어요.  (민지 asked 준수 to give some water to 제니)

남편: 여보, 강아지한테 약을 먹여 주세요.

➡ 남편이 아내에게 강아지한테 약을 먹여 주라고 했어요.  (The husband asked his wife to feed the puppy its medicine.)

엠마: 사쿠야 씨, 민규 씨한테 우산 좀 빌려줄 수 있어요?

➡ 엠마 씨가 사쿠야 씨에게 민규 씨한테 우산 좀 빌려 주라고 했어요.  (Emma asked 사쿠야 to lend an umbrella to 민규.)

런쥔: 원우 씨, 료 씨한테 한국 음식 좀 만들어 줄 수 있어요?

➡ 런쥔 씨가 원우 씨에게 료 씨한테 한국 음식 좀 만들어 주라고 했어요.  (런쥔 asked 원우 to make some Korean food for 료.)

< Key Tip>

- If the request is for someone other than the person making the request, use '주라고 하다'.

[ Mini Test ]

1)  If 리쿠 asked me to give him some water, what sentence would be correct?

- I should say, '리쿠 씨가 저에게 물 좀 달라고 했어요.'

- 리쿠 probably said to me, '준 씨, 물 좀 줄 수 있어요?'

- So when I heard 리쿠’s request and then relay it to someone else,  I would say, '리쿠 씨가 저에게 물 좀 달라고 했어요.'

2) If 리쿠 asked me not for himself but for the plant to be given water,  what sentence would be correct?"    

- I should say, '리쿠 씨가 저에게 식물한테 물 좀 주라고 했어요.'

- 리쿠 probably said to me, '준 씨, 식물한테 물 좀 줄 수 있어요?'

- So when I heard 리쿠’s request and then relay it to someone else, I would say '리쿠 씨가 저에게 식물한테 물 좀 주라고 했어요.'

If you have any additional questions, feel free to ask in the comments!😊