How to say “Hurry up” in Korean
- 빨리ppalli
Hurry up, quickly
"Hurry up" in Korean is 빨리 (ppalli), which means "quickly". Add a verb to say what to do fast, like 빨리 와 (ppalli wa, "come quickly"). To be polite, use 서둘러 주세요 (seodulleo juseyo).
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 빨리 ppalli | Casual | "Quick!" or "Hurry!" on its own. Too blunt for strangers or elders. |
| 빨리 와 ppalli wa | Casual | "Hurry up and come." For a friend who is running late. |
| 빨리빨리 ppalli-ppalli | Casual | "Quick, quick!" Doubling it adds urgency. It is also the name for Korea's fast-paced culture. |
| 서둘러 seodulleo | Casual | "Hurry!" From 서두르다, to hurry. |
| 서둘러 주세요 seodulleo juseyo | Polite | "Please hurry." Polite enough for a taxi driver or staff, but use it only when it's really needed. |
Examples
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Texting a friend who is late
Waiting for your sibling to get ready
Running late in a taxi
Tips
빨리빨리 (ppalli-ppalli) culture describes how fast things move in Korea, from food delivery to internet speed. You'll hear the phrase a lot.
The opposite is 천천히 (cheoncheonhi), "slowly". 천천히 하세요 (cheoncheonhi haseyo) means "take your time", a kind thing to say.
빨리 starts with a tense ㅃ sound. Say it like a sharp "bb" with no puff of air: "ppal-li".
More on 빨리 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
What is 빨리빨리 culture?
It's a common way to describe Korea's love of speed and efficiency, from quick service to fast public transport.
How do you say "slow down" or "take your time" in Korean?
Say 천천히 (cheoncheonhi), "slowly". 천천히 하세요 (cheoncheonhi haseyo) means "take your time".