Order Like a K-Drama Star: How to Ask for More Napkins in Korean!

Hello! Welcome to [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Have you ever been at a Korean restaurant, enjoying delicious food, but suddenly realized you’ve dropped your chopsticks or need an extra napkin? Don’t panic! Today, we’re going to learn the essential phrases to confidently ask for what you need.

Lately in Korea, sharing lots of different side dishes (banchan) with friends is a huge part of the dining experience. This means you might run out of small plates or need extra utensils. With these simple phrases, you’ll be able to handle any situation smoothly, just like a local!

Let’s get started!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are three magic phrases that will make your dining experience in Korea so much easier.

1. 여기요! (Yeogiyo!)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: Yeo-gi-yo!
* English Meaning: Excuse me! / Over here!
* Detailed Explanation: This is the most common and essential way to get a server’s attention in a restaurant. It’s polite yet casual. Think of it as raising your hand and saying, “Excuse me!” You can say it with confidence when you need to call the staff.

2. [Item] + 좀 주세요. ([Item] + jom juseyo.)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: [Item] jom ju-se-yo.
* English Meaning: Please give me some [Item].
* Detailed Explanation: This is your golden ticket to asking for anything! Simply put the name of the item you want in the blank. The word 좀 (jom) is a key part of this phrase; it means “a little” or “some,” but here it works to make your request sound softer and more polite.

*   **Useful Vocabulary:**
    *   **냅킨 (naepkin):** Napkin
    *   **물 (mul):** Water
    *   **숟가락 (sutgarak):** Spoon
    *   **젓가락 (jeotgarak):** Chopsticks
    *   **포크 (pokeu):** Fork
    *   **앞접시 (apjeobsi):** Small plate (for sharing food)

3. 하나 더 주세요. (Hana deo juseyo.)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: Ha-na deo ju-se-yo.
* English Meaning: Please give me one more.
* Detailed Explanation: This phrase is perfect when you already have something but need an additional one. 하나 (hana) means “one,” and 더 (deo) means “more.” So if you need another small plate, you can simply say, “앞접시 하나 더 주세요.” (Apjeobsi hana deo juseyo).

Example Conversation

Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation at a trendy Korean BBQ restaurant!

• A (Alex): (Waving his hand slightly) 여기요!
  (Yeogiyo! / Excuse me!)
• B (Server): 네, 필요하신 거 있으세요?
  (Ne, piryohasin geo isseuseyo? / Yes, is there something you need?)
• A (Alex): 네, 냅킨 좀 주세요. 그리고 앞접시 하나 더 주세요.
  (Ne, naepkin jom juseyo. Geurigo apjeobsi hana deo juseyo. / Yes, please give me some napkins. And please give me one more small plate.)
• B (Server): 네, 바로 가져다 드릴게요.
  (Ne, baro gajyeoda deurilgeyo. / Of course, I’ll bring them right away.)

See? Simple and effective!

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

To sound even more like a native, here are two key things to know about modern Korean dining culture:

• The Magic Button (호출 벨 – Hochul Bel): In many Korean restaurants, you don’t even need to shout “여기요!” Look closely at your table. Do you see a small button? That’s a call button! Just press it, and a server will come right to your table. It’s super efficient and very common in Korea.

• The Rise of “Self-Service” (셀프 코너 – Selpeu Koneo): Recently, many casual and trendy spots have a “Self-Service Corner.” Here, you can get your own water, kimchi, and other side dishes for free. Before calling the staff, look for a sign that says ‘셀프’ (Selpeu). This shows you’re in the know about the latest restaurant trends!

Let’s Review & Practice!

Great job today! You’ve learned how to confidently ask for things in a Korean restaurant.

• To get attention, you say: 여기요!
• To ask for something, you say: [Item] 좀 주세요.
• To ask for one more, you say: 하나 더 주세요.

Now, let’s test your knowledge!

1. Fill in the blank: You accidentally dropped your spoon! How do you ask for a new one?
   

   “여기요! _________ 좀 주세요.”

2. Make a sentence: You are sharing food with a friend and need one more fork. What do you say?

You are now officially ready to dine out in Korea without any worries!

Why not practice right now? Leave a comment below asking for something using one of today’s phrases!