How to say “Wait” in Korean
- 잠깐만요jamkkanmanyo
Wait a moment
"Wait" in Korean is 잠깐만요 (jamkkanmanyo), a polite "just a moment". With friends you can say 잠깐만 (jamkkanman), and to ask someone to wait for you, use 기다려 주세요 (gidaryeo juseyo).
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 잠깐만요 jamkkanmanyo | Polite | "Just a moment." Polite and useful almost anywhere. |
| 잠깐만 jamkkanman | Casual | "Wait" or "hold on" to friends. |
| 잠시만요 jamsimanyo | Polite | Same meaning as 잠깐만요 but a little more formal. Common from shop and phone staff. |
| 기다려 주세요 gidaryeo juseyo | Polite | "Please wait (for me)." When you need someone to wait a while. |
| 잠시만 기다려 주세요 jamsiman gidaryeo juseyo | Formal | "Please wait a moment." Very common in restaurants, shops and on the phone. |
| 기다려 gidaryeo | Casual | "Wait!" A direct command. Fine with close friends but can sound bossy. |
Examples
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A friend starts walking off without you
A restaurant server asks you to wait
Looking for something while on the phone
Tips
잠깐 and 잠시 both mean "a short moment". 잠시 sounds a little more formal, which is why staff and announcements use it.
기다려 on its own is an order. To someone older or a stranger, always say 기다려 주세요.
잠깐만요 is also handy for squeezing past people, much like "excuse me".
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between jamkkanman and gidaryeo?
잠깐만 (jamkkanman) means "just a moment" or "hold on". 기다려 (gidaryeo) is the verb "wait" used as a command, so it is stronger.
How do you say "wait for me" in Korean?
Say 기다려 줘 (gidaryeo jwo) to a friend, or 기다려 주세요 (gidaryeo juseyo) politely.