Stay Hydrated in Seoul! How to Ask for Water in Korean

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

Are you planning a trip to Korea? Or maybe you just love Korean food? Today, we’re going to learn one of the most essential phrases you’ll ever need: how to ask for water at a restaurant! Lately in Korea, trying all the different, delicious banchan (side dishes) that come with your meal is a huge trend. Some of them can be surprisingly spicy, and that’s when today’s lesson will be a lifesaver! Let’s get started!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are the key phrases to sound like a pro when you’re thirsty.

• 물 (Mul)
  • Pronunciation [Romanized]: Mul
  • English Meaning: Water
  • Detailed Explanation: This is the most basic word for “water.” It’s simple and easy to remember. Just one syllable!
• 저기요 (Jeogiyo)
  • Pronunciation [Romanized]: Jeo-gi-yo
  • English Meaning: Excuse me!
  • Detailed Explanation: This is how you politely get someone’s attention in a restaurant, like a waiter or waitress. It literally means “over there,” but it’s used to call staff over. Don’t just shout “Mul!”; always start with “Jeogiyo!”
• 물 좀 주세요 (Mul jom juseyo)
  • Pronunciation [Romanized]: Mul jom ju-se-yo
  • English Meaning: Please give me some water.
  • Detailed Explanation: This is the magic phrase! 주세요 (juseyo) means “please give me,” and 좀 (jom) is a word that makes the request sound a little softer and more polite. This is the perfect, friendly way to ask for water.

Example Dialogue

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

• A (You): Wow, look at all this banchan! I want to try this red one.
• (You take a bite)
• A (You): Whoa, it’s spicy! I need water! 저기요! (Jeogiyo!)
• B (Server): 네, 손님. 무엇을 도와드릴까요? (Ne, sonnim. Mueoseul dowadeurilkkayo? / Yes, customer. How may I help you?)
• A (You): 물 좀 주세요. (Mul jom juseyo.)
• B (Server): 네, 바로 가져다 드릴게요. (Ne, baro gajyeoda deurilgeyo. / Yes, I’ll bring it right away.)

See? Simple and effective!

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

Here’s a tip to make you look like a Korea expert! In many casual restaurants in Korea, water is ‘셀프’ (sel-peu), which comes from the English word “self-service.”

You’ll often find a water dispenser or cooler somewhere in the restaurant where you can get your own cup and water for free. So, before you call the server with “저기요!”, take a quick look around. If you see a sign that says “물은 셀프” (Mureun selpeu / Water is self-service), you know what to do!

However, knowing “물 좀 주세요” is still super important for restaurants that offer table service or if you can’t find the self-service station. It shows you know polite Korean!

Let’s Review and Practice!

Great job today! You learned how to get a server’s attention with 저기요 (Jeogiyo) and politely ask for water with 물 좀 주세요 (Mul jom juseyo).

Now, it’s your turn to practice!

Quiz: Fill in the blank. You’ve just eaten some spicy tteokbokki and you’re really thirsty. What do you say to the server?

저기요! ___ 좀 주세요. (Jeogiyo! ___ jom juseyo.)

What word goes in the blank? Leave your answer in the comments below using the phrases we learned today! We’d love to see you try them out.