드릴까요? vs 드리겠습니다: Polite Offers in Korean
Learn when to use 드릴까요? vs 드리겠습니다 in polite Korean offers, avoid over-promising, and sound natural at work—master it today and learn
Teach “드릴까요?” vs “드리겠습니다” using a responsibility-commitment meter so learners stop sounding pushy or over-committed in service/work chats.
Quick answer
Use -아/어 드릴까요?-a/eo deurilkkayo? to politely offer help (leaving the choice to the other person), and use -아/어 드리겠습니다-a/eo deurigetseupnida to politely commit to doing it.
Quick cheat sheet
Expressions in this post
When it’s the right choice
This is your go-to when you want to be helpful without sounding like you’re taking over. It’s polite, light, and gives the listener an easy out.
Think of it as: “I’m available—do you want this?”
A small cultural note: in many Korean service situations (cafes, clinics, delivery), staff routinely offer the next step with this form. The first time I heard 확인해 드릴까요?hwaginhae deurilkkayo? at a clinic, it felt like “Are you sure?” in English. It wasn’t. It was simply “Want me to check for you?”
Minimal pairs (vs -아/어 드리겠습니다)
-
제가 안내해 드릴까요?jega annaehae deurilkkayo? — I can guide you (if you want). -
제가 안내해 드리겠습니다.jega annaehae deurigetseupnida. — I will guide you (I’m taking it). -
예약 도와드릴까요?yeyak dowadeurilkkayo? — Want help with the reservation? -
예약 도와드리겠습니다.yeyak dowadeurigetseupnida. — I’ll handle the reservation. -
전화 드릴까요?jeonhwa deurilkkayo? — Would you like me to call you? -
전화 드리겠습니다.jeonhwa deurigetseupnida. — I will call you.
Examples
지금 확인해 드릴까요?jigeum hwaginhae deurilkkayo? — Would you like me to check now?제가 전달해 드릴까요?jega jeondalhae deurilkkayo? — Do you want me to pass it along?예약 도와드릴까요?yeyak dowadeurilkkayo? — Want me to help with the booking?안내해 드릴까요?annaehae deurilkkayo? — Would you like me to show you?
Common trap: translating it as “Can I help you?” can sound too broad in English, but in Korean it’s usually better to offer one specific action.
When it’s the right choice
Use this when the decision is already made: you’re responding to a request, confirming what you’ll do, or volunteering to take clear responsibility.
It sounds firm and professional. That’s great in work/customer service, but it can feel pushy if you say it before the other person wants help.
A typical misunderstanding: learners use it to mean “Let me…” in a friendly way, but it can come off like “I’m doing it, end of discussion.”
Minimal pairs (vs -아/어 드릴까요?)
-
(They asked you)
네, 확인해 드리겠습니다.ne, hwaginhae deurigetseupnida. — Okay, I’ll check for you. -
(You’re offering)
확인해 드릴까요?hwaginhae deurilkkayo? — Want me to check? -
(You take ownership)
제가 예약해 드리겠습니다.jega yeyakhae deurigetseupnida. — I’ll book it for you. -
(You offer)
예약해 드릴까요?yeyakhae deurilkkayo? — Want me to book it? -
(You confirm action)
곧 전화 드리겠습니다.got jeonhwa deurigetseupnida. — I’ll call you soon. -
(You check preference)
전화 드릴까요?jeonhwa deurilkkayo? — Want me to call?
Examples
네, 지금 확인해 드리겠습니다.ne, jigeum hwaginhae deurigetseupnida. — Yes, I’ll check now.제가 안내해 드리겠습니다.jega annaehae deurigetseupnida. — I’ll guide you.내용 확인 후 전달해 드리겠습니다.naeyong hwagin hu jeondalhae deurigetseupnida. — I’ll check and then pass it along.예약은 제가 도와드리겠습니다.yeyageun jega dowadeurigetseupnida. — I’ll help with the reservation.
Comparison table
| -아/어 드릴까요? | -아/어 드리겠습니다 | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Offer and ask if they want it | Commit to doing it for them |
| Tone | Helpful, not imposing | Professional, decisive |
| Safer in workplace? | Safe for offers and checking | Very safe for confirming actions |
| Common mistake | Too vague (“help?” with no action) | Over-promising or sounding like you’re taking over |
Decision tree
If you are offering help and the other person hasn’t asked yet → use -아/어 드릴까요?-a/eo deurilkkayo?.
If the other person asked, or you are confirming what you will do, or you are taking clear responsibility → use -아/어 드리겠습니다-a/eo deurigetseupnida.
12 common wrong → right fixes
These are common usage fixes (offer vs commitment, or missing the “for you” nuance). Some casual sentences are not “wrong,” but they may be less polite than what you want in service/work chats.
- (Missing “for you”)
제가 확인할까요?jega hwaginhalkkayo? →제가 확인해 드릴까요?jega hwaginhae deurilkkayo? - (Offer vs too-decided)
제가 안내할게요.jega annaehalgeyo. →제가 안내해 드릴까요?jega annaehae deurilkkayo? - (Plain → honorific)
도와줄까요?dowajulkkayo? →도와드릴까요?dowadeurilkkayo? - (Offer with a concrete action)
예약할까요?yeyakhalkkayo? →예약해 드릴까요?yeyakhae deurilkkayo? - (Offer: “call you”)
제가 전화할게요.jega jeonhwahalgeyo. →제가 전화 드릴까요?jega jeonhwa deurilkkayo? - (They requested: confirm, don’t re-offer)
확인해 드릴까요?hwaginhae deurilkkayo? →네, 확인해 드리겠습니다.ne, hwaginhae deurigetseupnida. - (They requested: confirm)
전달해 드릴까요?jeondalhae deurilkkayo? →네, 전달해 드리겠습니다.ne, jeondalhae deurigetseupnida. - (Too strong too soon)
제가 다 해드리겠습니다.jega da haedeurigetseupnida. →제가 도와드릴까요?jega dowadeurilkkayo? - (Over-promising: soften and sequence)
지금 바로 처리해 드리겠습니다.jigeum baro cheorihae deurigetseupnida. →확인해 드리고 연락 드리겠습니다.hwaginhae deurigo yeonrak deurigetseupnida. - (Avoid awkward object wording)
선생님을 도와드릴까요?seonsaengnimeul dowadeurilkkayo? →도와드릴까요?dowadeurilkkayo? - (More natural verb choice)
도움을 드릴까요?doumeul deurilkkayo? →도와드릴까요?dowadeurilkkayo? - (Don’t sound like an order when offering)
이쪽으로 오세요. 제가 안내해 드리겠습니다.ijjogeuro oseyo. jega annaehae deurigetseupnida. →이쪽으로 안내해 드릴까요?ijjogeuro annaehae deurilkkayo?
If you truly need a firm instruction (not an offer), drop the offer form and use a polite directive instead.
Mini collocation drill (role-based rewrites)
Use these collocations to sound natural in real roles. Start with the intent, then pick the form.
Collocations: 전화 드리다jeonhwa deurida / 예약(을) 도와드리다yeyak(eul) dowadeurida / 안내해 드리다annaehae deurida / 확인해 드리다hwaginhae deurida / 전달해 드리다jeondalhae deurida / 도와드리다dowadeurida
1) Store staff
- Offer first:
예약 도와드릴까요?yeyak dowadeurilkkayo? — Offer booking help. - After request:
네, 예약 도와드리겠습니다.ne, yeyak dowadeurigetseupnida. — Commit to helping. - Offer next step:
제가 안내해 드릴까요?jega annaehae deurilkkayo? — Offer to guide.
2) Coworker (polite but not overly formal)
- Offer:
제가 확인해 드릴까요?jega hwaginhae deurilkkayo? — Offer to check. - Confirm:
제가 전달해 드리겠습니다.jega jeondalhae deurigetseupnida. — Commit to passing it along. - Offer call:
제가 전화 드릴까요?jega jeonhwa deurilkkayo? — Offer to call.
3) Customer service chat
- Offer options:
확인해 드릴까요?hwaginhae deurilkkayo? — Offer to check. - Take ownership:
제가 확인해 드리겠습니다.jega hwaginhae deurigetseupnida. — Commit to checking. - Follow-up:
확인 후 전화 드리겠습니다.hwagin hu jeonhwa deurigetseupnida. — Commit to calling after checking.
Next steps
- You’re in a work chat and your teammate sounds stuck. Write one sentence offering a specific action with
-아/어 드릴까요?-a/eo deurilkkayo?. - Someone asks you to handle something. Write one sentence confirming with
-아/어 드리겠습니다-a/eo deurigetseupnida plus what you will do next.