First Greetings & Survival Phrases · Lesson 3 of 6
Yes, No & “Please Give Me”
네, 아니요, and 주세요 — the three words that carry a beginner through almost any counter.
Three small words carry a beginner through almost any counter, ticket booth, or street stall in Korea. Two of them you can learn in ten seconds; the third is the single most useful pattern in beginner Korean.
Yes and no
네
ne
Yes
Also used while listening, like “mm-hm, I'm with you” — Koreans sprinkle it through conversations.
아니요
aniyo
No (polite)
Soft and polite as-is. Often said with a small wave of the hand.
주세요 — the survival pattern
주세요 (juseyo) means “please give me”. Put anything in front of it and you've made a polite request — no grammar required:
이거 주세요
igeo juseyo
This one, please
Point at anything — menu, shelf, photo. The beginner's best friend.
물 주세요
mul juseyo
Water, please
커피 주세요
keopi juseyo
Coffee, please
Getting attention politely
저기요
jeogiyo
Excuse me! (to call someone)
The standard way to call a server or get a stranger's attention — friendly, not rude.
Try it
You want to order a coffee at the counter. Put the whole moment together — attention, order, thanks.Show answerAnswer
The server asks if you need anything else and you don't. What's the gentle answer?Show answerAnswer
What you just learned
- 네 = yes (and “I'm listening”); 아니요 = polite no.
- [anything] + 주세요 = a complete polite request.
- 저기요 calls someone politely; 이거 주세요 + pointing orders anything.
Quick check
Did it stick?
Three quick questions — instant answers, no grades, no pressure.
1.Besides “yes”, 네 is also used to…
2.How do you say “this one, please”?
3.To politely call a server over, say…
Want the why behind the words?
The reading path explains the culture and logic that make Korean click — a perfect companion to these lessons.