Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Korean grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about dongryoreul dowayo.
What does 동료 mean and what part of speech is it?
동료 is a noun meaning “colleague,” “co‐worker,” or “peer.” It refers to someone you work with or who shares the same standing or position as you.
What role does -를 play in 동료를 도와요?
-를 is the object particle attached to 동료. It marks 동료 as the direct object of the verb 도와요, telling us “(I) help the colleague.” If 동료 were the subject you would use -가 instead.
Why is there no subject (like “I” or “he”) in 동료를 도와요?
In Korean, subjects are often dropped when they are clear from context. If you’re talking about yourself helping a colleague, you don’t have to say 저는—it’s understood.
How can I explicitly say “I help my colleague”?
Add 저는 (I) and a possessive if you like:
저는 제 동료를 도와요.
Here 저는 marks “I” as the topic, and 제 (“my”) qualifies 동료.
Why is 돕다 conjugated as 도와요 instead of 돕아요?
돕다 is a ㅂ-irregular verb. When you conjugate it to the polite present tense:
- Drop the final ㅂ → 돕-
- Change ㅂ to 오 (sometimes 우) before adding -아요 → 도오 + 아요
- Simplify 도오 to 도와 → 도와요
What level of formality is 도와요?
The -요 ending is “standard polite” (해요체). It’s respectful enough for most everyday situations without being overly formal.
Can I use 도와요 as a request (“Please help”)?
Not exactly. To politely ask someone to help, use -해 주다 or -해 주세요:
동료를 도와 주세요. (“Please help the colleague.”)
How would I say “I helped a colleague” (past tense)?
Conjugate 돕다 to past polite:
도왔어요 → 동료를 도왔어요. (“I helped a colleague.”)
How can I express “we help each other” using this verb?
Use the reciprocal adverb 서로:
서로 도와요. (“We help each other.”)
What’s the difference between 동료가 도와요 and 동료를 도와요?
- 동료가 도와요. means “the colleague helps (someone).” Here 동료 is the subject.
- 동료를 도와요. means “(I/you/we) help the colleague.” Here 동료 is the object.