Introduction
Hello! This is [Daily Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills to the next level!
Today, we are going to dive into a crucial skill for Social Networking Strategies: Offering help or information to a new connection.
Have you heard of the term “Coffee Chat” (커피챗)? Lately, in Korea, instead of stiff, formal meetings, professionals often ask for a “Coffee Chat”—a casual 20-30 minute meeting to exchange industry insights. In these situations, being the person who offers value first is the key to building a strong “Inmaek” (인맥 – personal network).
If you want to be seen as a capable and kind professional in Korea, you must know how to offer assistance elegantly. Let’s learn how to say, “I can help you with that” in sophisticated Korean!
Core Expressions
Here are 3 essential expressions to offer help, perfect for intermediate (B2) learners.
1. 혹시 도움이 필요하시면 말씀해 주세요.
- Pronunciation: [Hoksi doumi piryohasimyeon malsseumhae juseyo]
- English Meaning: If you happen to need any help, please tell me.
- Detail: This is the “Gold Standard” of polite offers. ‘혹시’ (Hoksi) softens the sentence (meaning “by any chance”), making you sound less pushy. ‘말씀해 주세요’ is the honorific form of ‘말해 주세요’ (please tell me), suitable for business partners or new acquaintances.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- Let’s look at ‘말씀해’. It is often pronounced as [mal-sseu-mae].
- This is due to ‘H-weakening’. When the consonant ‘ㅎ(h)’ comes between voiced sounds, it often becomes weak or disappears, and the bottom consonant (batchim) from the previous block moves over. So, ‘m’ moves to the empty ‘h’ spot. Try saying it softly: Malsseum-mae.
2. 관련 자료를 공유해 드릴까요?
- Pronunciation: [Gwallyeon jaryoreul gongyuhae deurilkkayo?]
- English Meaning: Shall I share some related materials/data with you?
- Detail: In a B2 level context, offering specific information is better than just generic help. ‘공유하다’ (to share) is a very common business term. Using ‘-(으)ㄹ까요?’ suggests a polite suggestion or offer, asking for the listener’s opinion.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- Pay attention to ‘관련’. It is written as ‘gwan-ryeon’ but pronounced [gwal-lyeon].
- This is called ‘Liquidization’. When ‘ㄴ(n)’ and ‘ㄹ(l)’ meet, the ‘n’ usually turns into an ‘l’ sound to make it flow better. It’s much easier to say Gwallyeon than Gwanryeon!
3. 제가 아는 선에서 설명해 드릴 수 있어요.
- Pronunciation: [Jega aneun seonese seolmyeonghae deuril su isseoyo]
- English Meaning: I can explain it to you within the limits of my knowledge.
- Detail: This is a very humble and professional way to offer advice. ‘~는 선에서’ (within the line/limit of) protects you from promising too much while still being helpful. It shows modesty, which is highly valued in Korean culture.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- Look at ‘선에서’. It is pronounced [seo-ne-seo].
- This is a classic example of ‘Liaison’ (linking). When a block ends with a consonant (batchim) and the next starts with a vowel (ieung ‘ㅇ’), the consonant sound carries over. Seon-e-seo becomes Seo-ne-seo.
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these expressions work in a real “Coffee Chat” scenario.
(Context: Mark is having a coffee chat with Minji, a Korean marketer he met on LinkedIn.)
Mark: 요즘 한국에서는 숏폼(Short-form) 마케팅이 정말 중요한 것 같아요. 그런데 트렌드가 너무 빨리 변해서 어렵네요.
(Short-form marketing seems really important in Korea these days. But it’s hard because trends change so fast.)
Minji: 맞아요. 특히 틱톡이나 릴스 챌린지가 중요하죠. 혹시 도움이 필요하시면 말씀해 주세요. 제가 요즘 뜨는 챌린지 리스트를 정리해 둔 게 있거든요.
(That’s right. Especially TikTok or Reels challenges. If you need any help, please tell me. I actually have a list of rising challenges organized.)
Mark: 와, 정말요? 그걸 볼 수 있다면 큰 도움이 될 것 같아요!
(Wow, really? It would be a huge help if I could see that!)
Minji: 그럼 이따가 메일로 관련 자료를 공유해 드릴까요?
(Then, shall I share the related materials via email later?)
Mark: 네, 감사합니다!
(Yes, thank you!)
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
☕ The Rise of the “Coffee Chat” (커피챗) & “Giver” Culture
In the past, Korean networking was heavily reliant on School Ties or Hometown Ties. However, the current trend, especially among Millennials and Gen Z, is loose-tie networking.
Apps like “Coffee Chat” (where you pay for 20 minutes of someone’s time) or connecting via LinkedIn are booming. In this new culture, the person who acts as a “Giver”—someone who shares information freely without expecting immediate return—is the most attractive networker.
Using the phrase “제가 아는 선에서…” (As far as I know…) is a “Cheat Key.” It lowers the pressure for both you and the listener. You aren’t claiming to be a guru, but you are willing to share your experience. This humility combined with helpfulness creates a very positive impression in Korean society.
Conclusion & Practice
Today, we learned how to offer help and information to new connections in Korean. Remember, a small offer of help can open big doors in your career!
📝 Practice Quiz
Complete the sentence using the words in the parenthesis.
- If you need help, please tell me anytime.
= 도움이 필요하시면 언제든지 _____________. (말씀하다) -
Shall I share the file with you?
= 파일을 ______________? (공유해 드리다)
Answers:
1. 말씀해 주세요
2. 공유해 드릴까요?
Did you get them right? Leave a comment below using one of today’s expressions! See you in the next post!
