Learn Hardcore Korean: sajangnimi gyesando jikjeop dowajusyeosseo. - The boss even helped with the payment personally.

사장 = owner/boss (of a shop, company, etc.).
-님 = honorific suffix that shows respect.
사장님 is often used in Korean to politely address or refer to a shop/restaurant owner, even if they aren’t your literal “boss.” It’s a general respectful title in service contexts.

Why is the subject particle 이 used (사장님이) instead of 은/는 or 께서?

이/가 marks the grammatical subject neutrally or introduces new info.
은/는 sets a topic or adds contrast. Example nuance: 사장님은 계산도... = As for the owner, he even helped with payment (contrastive/topic).
께서 is the honorific subject marker, more deferential than 이/가. 사장님께서 계산도... sounds more formal/respectful.
In casual narration, 사장님이 is perfectly fine; switch to 께서 in more formal or deferential contexts.

What nuance does 도 add in 계산도?

도 means “also/too,” and in many contexts it can mean “even,” especially if the action is somewhat unexpected or noteworthy.
Here, 계산도 suggests the boss did other things and, in addition, helped with the checkout, or that it was notable that he even helped with the checkout himself.
Compare:
- 사장님이 계산도... = Focus on “payment too/even.”
- 사장님도 계산을... = Focus on “the owner too” (others also did it).
Don’t confuse 도 (particle “also/even”) with 또 (adverb “again/also”; different grammar position and nuance).

Where did the object marker go? Why not 계산을?

When 도 attaches to a noun that functions as the object, it typically replaces 을/를.
So 계산도 도와주셨어 is correct; saying 계산을도 is ungrammatical.
Without 도, you can say 계산을 도와주셨어.

What does 직접 modify, and where can it go?

직접 means “personally/in person” and modifies the verb phrase.
Common placements:
- 사장님이 계산도 직접 도와주셨어.
- 사장님이 직접 계산도 도와주셨어.
Both are natural. 직접 emphasizes that the owner did it himself rather than delegating it.
You can also place 직접 right before the verb: ...직접 도와주셨어.

What’s the difference between 계산을 도와주다 and 계산해 주다?

계산(을) 도와주다 = “help with the checkout/payment.” He assisted you (e.g., guided the process, stepped in to help).
계산해 주다 = “do the checkout for you.” He actually handled/processed it on your behalf.
Both are natural; choose based on whether you want “helped with” vs “did it for me.”

Can I say 사장님도 instead of 계산도? How does that change the meaning?

사장님도 계산을 직접 도와주셨어. = The owner also helped (others did, and the owner too).
사장님이 계산도 직접 도와주셨어. = Among the things the owner did, he also/even helped with the payment.
Switching 도 changes what is being emphasized: the doer (사장님도) versus the action/object (계산도).

How is 도와주셨어 formed? What are the parts?

Why use 도와주다 instead of just 돕다?

도와주다 is far more common in everyday speech because 주다 adds a benefactive nuance (“do it for someone”).
돕다 alone tends to be more general or formal; with inanimate objects it can sound stiff. 계산을 돕다 is possible but less natural than 계산(을) 도와주다 in conversation.

Is 도와주셨어 polite enough? What are more/less polite options?

도와주셨어 = informal (intimate) speech, but still contains the subject honorific -시-.
More standard polite: 도와주셨어요.
Formal polite: 도와주셨습니다.
Be careful: 도와줬어 (no -시-) is informal and drops honorifics; it can sound disrespectful when referring to someone like a boss/owner.

Do I always need the honorific -시- when the subject is 사장님?

In most situations, yes, include -시- to show respect: 도와주셨어요/도와주셨습니다.
Omitting -시- (e.g., 도와줬어요) is possible in casual talk, but it can sound rude or at least less respectful, especially if the owner is older or you want to be polite.

What exactly does 계산 mean here? Isn’t it also “calculation” (math)?

계산 means both “calculation” and “payment/checkout.” In store or restaurant contexts, it defaults to “settling the bill/checkout.”
Related words:
- 결제: payment/transaction (often card/online or more formal).
- 수납: payment collection (hospital/clinic, administrative).
- 영수증: receipt.
- 계산대/카운터: checkout counter.

Could I say 계산까지 instead of 계산도?

까지 = “up to/even,” often stronger than 도, highlighting the extremity or unexpectedness.
사장님이 계산까지 직접 도와주셨어. suggests “He went so far as to help with the checkout (too),” sounding a bit more emphatic than 도.
Choose 도 for neutral “also/even,” 까지 for “even to the point of.”

Is 직접으로 correct?

Use 직접, not 직접으로, when you mean “personally/in person.”
Alternatives:
- 몸소 (formal/literary “in person”),
- 친히 (very formal “personally”),
- 스스로 (“by oneself,” nuance of doing it oneself).

Is the spacing 도와주셨어 or 도와 주셨어?

Both 도와주다 and 도와 주다 are acceptable in standard Korean. In practice, the solid form 도와주다 is very common.
So you can write 도와주셨어 or 도와 주셨어; most people prefer the solid spelling in everyday writing.

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?