How to Use 잠시만요 (Jamsimanyo): Ask Someone to Wait Politely
잠시만요 (jam-si-man-yo) is a polite way to ask for a brief moment, pause someone gently, or get attention before a short request. It works when you need a second to check something; it is not a universal replacement for every English “excuse me.”
Say 잠시만요 when you need a moment or want to pause a conversation politely. Add what you need—잠시만 기다려 주세요 (“Please wait just a moment”)—when the listener needs a clear request.
1. What 잠시만요 means
A useful first translation is “Just a moment, please” or “One second, please.” The phrase signals that you need a short pause. Your next words and the situation show whether you are checking something, asking someone to wait, or politely getting attention.
The National Institute of Korean Language’s Basic Korean Dictionary includes the natural exchange “네, 잠시만요” (“Yes, just a moment”) while someone goes to get a measuring tool. Another example has a passenger say “기사님, 잠시만요. 저 내립니다” (“Driver, one moment. I’m getting off”). These examples show how the phrase can introduce a brief pause or request in an everyday interaction.
2. Three everyday situations
| Situation | Useful Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Checking an order | 잠시만요, 주문을 확인할게요. | Just a moment; I’ll check the order. |
| Asking someone to wait | 잠시만 기다려 주세요. | Please wait just a moment. |
| Getting off a taxi | 기사님, 잠시만요. 저 내립니다. | Driver, one moment. I’m getting off. |
| Passing through | 잠시만요, 지나갈게요. | Excuse me for a moment; I’m coming through. |
These are practice examples. If you are opening a formal question, 실례합니다 (“Excuse me”) can be a clearer opener. Choose the expression that matches the action instead of translating an English phrase word for word.
3. Choosing a clearer phrase
- 잠시만요 — a polite, compact “one moment, please.”
- 잠시만 기다려 주세요 — a clear request: “Please wait just a moment.”
- 잠깐만요 — another common way to ask for a short pause; match the politeness level of the situation.
- 실례합니다 — a useful “excuse me” to begin a polite question or approach someone.
The ending -요 makes these expressions polite in everyday conversation. With close friends who normally speak casually, 잠깐만 may fit; with a stranger or someone you do not know well, keep the polite ending.
4. Short dialogues to practice
At a cafe
직원: 주문 도와드릴까요? — Can I help with
your order?
손님: 잠시만요. 메뉴를 다시 볼게요. — One moment, please.
I’ll look at the menu again.
Getting off a taxi
승객: 기사님, 잠시만요. 여기서
내릴게요. — Driver, one moment. I’ll get off here.
Practice the rhythm in four syllables: jam · si · man · yo. Say it calmly, then add the reason if the other person needs to know what is happening.
5. Common questions
Does 잠시만요 always mean “excuse me”?
No. Its core job is asking for a brief moment or pause. It can sound like “excuse me” when you interrupt gently, but 실례합니다 is often clearer to open a polite question.
Is 잠시만요 rude?
It is a polite everyday expression. Tone still matters: a calm voice and a short explanation such as 잠시만 확인할게요 (“I’ll just check for a moment”) make the request easier to understand.
How can I ask someone to wait more explicitly?
Say 잠시만 기다려 주세요. It directly asks the listener to wait, while the shorter 잠시만요 relies more on context.
Want another everyday expression whose meaning changes with context? Read the guide to 괜찮아요 and compare its common uses.
Read the everyday guide to 괜찮아요 →
Official dictionary examples: passenger exchange using 잠시만요; brief request using 네, 잠시만요. National Institute of Korean Language, Basic Korean Dictionary; accessed September 25, 2026.
The illustration in this article was created with AI for language-learning context.
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