What it means
좀 is one of the most used words in Korean — it softens requests and indicates a small amount. Like "a little," "a bit," or "please" in English. Essential for polite Korean.
Nuance & when to use
좀 줘요 = give me a little / please give me. 좀 도와줘요 = please help me a bit. 좀 이상해요 = it's a bit strange. 좀 쉬어요 = rest a bit. Adding 좀 to any request instantly makes it softer and more polite. 제발 좀 = please (strong pleading).
⚠ Common mistake
좀 doesn't always mean "a little amount." 좀 해줘요 = please do it (not: do a little of it). Context determines whether 좀 means quantity or politeness softener.
Example sentences
See also
FAQ
When is this used?
좀 줘요 = give me a little / please give me. 좀 도와줘요 = please help me a bit. 좀 이상해요 = it's a bit strange. 좀 쉬어요 = rest a bit. Adding 좀 to any request instantly makes it softer and more polite. 제발 좀 = please (strong pleading).
What's a common mistake?
좀 doesn't always mean "a little amount." 좀 해줘요 = please do it (not: do a little of it). Context determines whether 좀 means quantity or politeness softener.
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