첨부드립니다 vs 첨부합니다: Attached in Korean

A “who benefits?” verb chooser plus wrong→right rewrites makes 첨부드립니다/첨부합니다/첨부해 드립니다 feel native in real work messages.

Situation

You’re sending a file in a Korean work email/DM and want to sound polite without sounding stiff, pushy, or oddly translated.

In my first week messaging a Seoul office, I wrote 파일 첨부드립니다.pail cheombudeuripnida. and got a gentle correction: in Korean, you usually don’t announce “file” like that—your verb choice already implies it.

Here’s the fast chooser (formality + who benefits):

Decision tree:

• Is this a normal work message (not ultra-formal letterhead)?
  • Yes → Do you want a neutral “Attached.” with no extra nuance?
    • Yes → Use 첨부합니다cheombuhapnida
    • No → Are you framing it as a favor/service for the recipient (client/senior, or you’re doing the action “for you”)?
      • Yes → Use 첨부해 드립니다cheombuhae deuripnida
      • No / you want humble-but-standard closings → Use 첨부드립니다cheombudeuripnida
• If it’s very formal document style, you may also see 붙임butim or 동봉합니다dongbonghapnida in templates, but stick to the three above for everyday work email/DM.

Next steps

Mini practice: rewrite each direct line into a polite workplace line (keep the meaning).

1. 파일 확인하세요.pail hwaginhaseyo.

• Suggested: 첨부 파일 확인 부탁드립니다.cheombu pail hwagin butakdeuripnida. / 첨부파일 확인 부탁드립니다.cheombupail hwagin butakdeuripnida.

2. 이거 첨부했어요.igeo cheombuhaesseoyo.

• Suggested: 첨부했습니다.cheombuhaetseupnida. / 첨부했습니다. 확인 부탁드립니다.cheombuhaetseupnida. hwagin butakdeuripnida.

3. 빨리 보내주세요.ppalri bonaejuseyo.

• Suggested: 가능하시면 빠르게 전달 부탁드립니다.ganeunghasimyeon ppareuge jeondal butakdeuripnida. / 가능하시면 금일까지 전달 부탁드립니다.ganeunghasimyeon geumilkkaji jeondal butakdeuripnida.

Mini drill (particles + spacing that look “native”):

• Pick the safer workplace default in each pair (unless your team style guide says otherwise):
  • 첨부 파일cheombu pail / 첨부파일cheombupail
  • 파일을 첨부합니다paireul cheombuhapnida / 파일 첨부합니다pail cheombuhapnida
  • 메일에 파일을 첨부했습니다meire paireul cheombuhaetseupnida / 메일을 첨부했습니다meireul cheombuhaetseupnida
• Quick rule of thumb:
  • Use 을/를eul/reul with what you attach: 파일을/자료를paireul/jaryoreul.
  • Use 에e with where it’s attached: 메일에meire.
  • Use one spacing style consistently inside a single message/thread.

Mini quiz

1. You’re sending an attachment and want the most neutral closing line.
2. You want a humble, standard closing line without adding a “for you” nuance.
3. You want to frame it as a service for the recipient.

Answers:

1. 첨부합니다cheombuhapnida
2. 첨부드립니다cheombudeuripnida
3. 첨부해 드립니다cheombuhae deuripnida

Notes:

• Q1: 첨부합니다cheombuhapnida is the neutral, broadly safe choice; it doesn’t add extra nuance beyond “attached.”
• Q2: 첨부드립니다cheombudeuripnida is a common humble workplace closing, especially natural as a stand-alone sentence.
• Q3: 첨부해 드립니다cheombuhae deuripnida adds recipient-benefit nuance, so it fits when that framing is intended.