Key Facts
- Hangul: 부탁하다 (butakada)
- Meaning: to request; to ask a favor
- Level: A2
- Stem: 부탁하
- Conjugation class: 하다 type
- Object marking: transitive
What Does 부탁하다 Mean?
Use it for asking someone to do something for you or take care of something: 친구에게 부탁하다. The person takes 에게/한테 (께 for seniors), and the thing requested takes 을/를. 부탁해요 and the humble 부탁드립니다 are everyday politeness, and 잘 부탁합니다 is a set phrase when meeting.
The person takes 에게/한테 (께 for seniors); the thing requested takes 을/를.
Politeness is built into this verb. In a request to a friend the plain polite 부탁해요 is enough. For someone senior, the humble 부탁드립니다 shows deference. When you meet someone for the first time, 잘 부탁합니다 is a ready-made formula. The person you ask takes 에게 or 한테, or the respectful 께 for a teacher or elder, and the favour itself takes 을/를.
How Do You Pronounce 부탁하다?
The dictionary form is read [부타카다].
How Do You Use 부탁하다 in a Sentence?
저는 친구에게 부탁해요.
I ask my friend for a favor.
부탁해요 with 친구에게: the favour is asked of a friend.
선생님께 부탁했어요.
I asked the teacher for a favor.
부탁했어요 with 선생님께: the respectful 께 replaces 에게 for a teacher.
잘 부탁합니다.
Please take care of me.
부탁합니다 in 잘 부탁합니다 is the formal set phrase for introductions.
How Does Butakada Conjugation Work?
부탁하다 is a 하다 verb: 하 + 여 contracts to 해, so 부탁해요 and 부탁했어요. The dictionary form is pronounced [부타카다], where ㄱ and ㅎ merge into ㅋ. Consonant endings keep 하: 부탁합니다, 부탁하세요, 부탁하는.
부탁하다
| Form | Korean | Romanization | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 부탁해요 | ||
| Polite past | 부탁했어요 | ||
| Polite future (plan) | 부탁할 거예요 | ||
| Polite future (intention or guess) | 부탁하겠어요 | ||
| Formal present | 부탁합니다 | ||
| Formal past | 부탁했습니다 | ||
| Formal future | 부탁할 것입니다 | ||
| Casual present | 부탁해 | ||
| Casual past | 부탁했어 | ||
| Casual future | 부탁할 거야 | ||
| Want to (polite) | 부탁하고 싶어요 | ||
| Honorific polite | 부탁하세요 | ||
| Because / and then | 부탁해서 | ||
| If (conditional) | 부탁하면 | ||
| Present modifier (before a noun) | 부탁하는 | ||
| Past modifier (before a noun) | 부탁한 | ||
| Future modifier (before a noun) | 부탁할 | ||
| Negative with 안 (short) | 부탁 안 해요 | ||
| Negative (long form) | 부탁하지 않아요 |
Sound Changes
| Form | Korean | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 부탁해요 | [부타캐요] |
| Polite past | 부탁했어요 | [부타캐써요] |
| Polite future (plan) | 부탁할 거예요 | [부타칼꺼예요] |
| Polite future (guess) | 부탁하겠어요 | [부타카게써요] |
| Formal present | 부탁합니다 | [부타캄니다] |
| Formal past | 부탁했습니다 | [부타캗씀니다] |
| Formal future | 부탁할 것입니다 | [부타칼꺼심니다] |
| Casual present | 부탁해 | [부타캐] |
| Casual past | 부탁했어 | [부타캐써] |
| Casual future | 부탁할 거야 | [부타칼꺼야] |
| Want to (polite) | 부탁하고 싶어요 | [부타카고 시퍼요] |
| Honorific polite | 부탁하세요 | [부타카세요] |
| Because / and then | 부탁해서 | [부타캐서] |
| If (conditional) | 부탁하면 | [부타카면] |
| Present modifier | 부탁하는 | [부타카는] |
| Past modifier | 부탁한 | [부타칸] |
| Future modifier | 부탁할 | [부타칼] |
| Long negative | 부탁하지 않아요 | [부타카지 아나요] |
Common Mistake
Wrong (for “I ask my friend for a favour”): ✗ 친구를 부탁해요
Correct: ✓ 친구에게 부탁해요
Why: The person you ask takes 에게/한테, not 을/를. 친구를 부탁해요 actually means "please take care of my friend", because the noun with 을/를 is the thing you entrust to someone.
How It Differs from Similar Words
| Word | How to tell it from 부탁하다 |
|---|---|
| 묻다 | 묻다 is to ask a question; 부탁하다 is to ask for a favor. |
| 시키다 | 시키다 is to order or make someone do something (and to order food); 부탁하다 is a polite request. |
Asking a Coworker to Check a Document
Jisu has a document ready for a meeting. Alex has offered to help with the final check. The favour is clear before Jisu uses 부탁해요.
Jisu
이 서류 확인 좀 부탁해요.
I seoryu hwagin jom butakaeyo.
Please check this document for me.
Alex
네. 민수 씨에게도 부탁했어요?
Ne. Minsu ssiegedo butakaesseoyo?
Okay. Did you ask Minsu too?
Jisu
아니요. 민수 씨에게는 내일 부탁할 거예요.
Aniyo. Minsu ssiegeneun naeil butakal geoyeyo.
No. I’ll ask Minsu tomorrow.
Alex
네. 지금 확인할게요.
Ne. Jigeum hwaginhalgeyo.
Okay. I’ll check it now.
확인 names the requested task: checking something. 좀 softens the request rather than measuring a small amount of checking. 부탁했어요 asks about a previous request, while 부탁할 거예요 describes a later one. The actual favour can be omitted after the first line because it is already understood.
Which 부탁 Phrases Are Useful?
부탁이 있어요 means “I have a favour to ask.” It introduces a request; it does not tell the listener what you need yet. Follow it with the task, such as checking a document or looking after something. A long pause after this opening can make the request sound serious.
잘 부탁합니다 is a relationship phrase. At a first meeting or the start of a project, the literal request for someone’s good care often becomes “I look forward to working with you.” It works when the listener will cooperate with you or help you settle in. It is not a general replacement for “nice to meet you” in every passing encounter.
부탁을 드리다 presents a request respectfully. In 부탁드립니다, the speaker lowers their own action of asking. 부탁을 들어주다 describes the other side: doing someone the favour they asked for. The verb 들어주다 here means to grant the request, beyond simply hearing the words.
부탁을 거절하다 means to turn down a request. Knowing this phrase helps you follow a conversation about whether someone accepted a favour, rather than merely whether they heard it.
Where Will You See 부탁하다?
Email closings, workplace messages and notices often use 부탁드립니다. A message about a document may end with 확인 부탁드립니다, “Please check it.” This is compact business wording: the action noun 확인 carries the task, and 부탁드립니다 carries the courteous request.
부탁해 is common with close friends or family. It can sound urgent or pleading when spoken on its own. 부탁해요 is polite, but the listener still needs to know the favour. Adding a polite ending cannot make an unclear request specific.
부탁하세요 and 부탁드립니다 point in different directions. 부탁하세요 is an honorific form of 부탁하다 and can tell someone else to ask. 부탁드립니다 is the speaker’s own respectful request. When asking a senior colleague for help, the humble phrase is usually the one you want.
Why Does the Person’s Particle Matter?
친구에게 부탁해요 means “I ask my friend for a favour.” 친구를 부탁해요 can mean “Please take care of my friend.” In the second sentence the friend is what you entrust to someone, rather than the listener you ask. Both patterns can be grammatical, but they describe different roles.
For the request recipient, 한테 is conversational, 에게 is neutral, and 께 shows respect. For the requested thing or task, use 을/를 when the noun takes an explicit object marker. The short message in the dialogue leaves the task’s marker out, a common choice in compact requests.
In spelling, keep 부탁하다 together. The ㄱ and ㅎ meet in speech and produce the aspirated sound shown in the pronunciation table, but the written verb still contains both letters. Write the negative 부탁 안 해요 with spaces around 안; the long negative 부탁하지 않아요 keeps 부탁하지 together.
Words for Requests and Replies
| Word | Meaning | Useful connection |
|---|---|---|
| 부탁 | favour; request | The noun at the centre of 부탁하다. |
| 도움 | help | What the speaker often needs when asking a favour. |
| 확인 | checking; confirmation | A common task named in short workplace requests. |
| 허락 | permission | Approval to do something, rather than someone doing it for you. |
| 거절 | refusal | A possible response to a request. |
See the polite expressions lesson for wording around requests, thanks and apologies.
Mini Drill: Make the Request Clear
- Complete “I ask a friend”: 친구___ 부탁해요. Use 에게 or 를.
- Change 부탁해요 to polite past.
- Give the long negative of 부탁하다.
- Choose the speaker’s humble request: 부탁하세요 or 부탁드립니다.
Show the request answers
- 친구에게 부탁해요. The friend receives the request.
- 부탁했어요.
- 부탁하지 않아요.
- 부탁드립니다. 부탁하세요 concerns someone else’s asking.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 잘 부탁합니다 always ask for one specific task?
- What does 확인 name in 확인 부탁드립니다?
- Which is about an information question: 묻다 or 부탁하다?
Show answers
- No. It often asks for goodwill and cooperation in a new relationship.
- The requested task: checking or confirming something.
- 묻다 asks a question. 부탁하다 asks someone for a favour or action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does 잘 부탁합니다 Mean?
It is a set phrase used when you meet someone or start working together. Literally "I ask you well", it is closer to "I look forward to working with you" or "please take care of me".
How Do I Ask a Teacher for a Favor?
Use the respectful particle 께 for the teacher: 선생님께 부탁했어요 (I asked the teacher for a favor).
What Is the Humble Form?
부탁드립니다, built on the humble verb for giving. Use it when you ask someone senior for something.
Which Particle Marks the Person You Ask?
에게 or 한테, or 께 for someone you respect: 친구에게 부탁해요. The thing you ask for takes 을/를.
Which Words Are Related to 부탁하다?
What Should You Learn Next?
Look at 시키다 and 도와주다 to compare requesting, ordering and helping. The conjugation rule is in 하다 to 해요, negatives are covered in negating 하다 verbs, any form can be checked in the Korean verb conjugator, and the full list is in the Korean verb dictionary.