K-PLAZA.COM Korean Learning › Korean phrases › Dining out & ordering › 맵기를 조금 낮춰 주실 수 있을까요?
How to Say “Could you make it a little less spicy” in Korean
맵기를 조금 낮춰 주실 수 있을까요?
maepgireul jogeum natchwo jusil su isseulkkayo?
Meaning
Could you make it a little less spicy?
Usage note
맵기 is 맵다 (spicy) turned into a noun with -기, meaning “spice level.” 낮추다 means “to lower,” handy when asking a restaurant to tone down the heat.
Romanization follows the Revised Romanization system and is a guide to pronunciation.
Practical guide
When to use it
A very polite request to lower the spice level. It suits a business meal or a request to someone you do not know.
Watch out
맵기 means “spice level” (맵다 + -기) and 낮추다 means “to lower”. -(으)ㄹ까요? softens a request. In a casual restaurant, the shorter 덜 맵게 해 주세요 is polite enough.
How to pronounce it
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 맵기를 | ||
| 맵 | ㅁ+ㅐ+ㅂ | maep |
| 기 | ㄱ+ㅣ | [끼] gi |
| 를 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄹ | reul |
| 조금 | ||
| 조 | ㅈ+ㅗ | jo |
| 금 | ㄱ+ㅡ+ㅁ | geum |
| 낮춰 | ||
| 낮 | ㄴ+ㅏ+ㅈ | [낟] nat |
| 춰 | ㅊ+ㅝ | chwo |
| 주실 | ||
| 주 | ㅈ+ㅜ | ju |
| 실 | ㅅ+ㅣ+ㄹ | sil |
| 수 | ㅅ+ㅜ | su |
| 있을까요 | ||
| 있 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅆ | [이] i |
| 을 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄹ | [쓸] sseul |
| 까 | ㄲ+ㅏ | kka |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 맵기 → [맵끼]
- Final-sound reduction: every final consonant is pronounced as one of seven sounds — ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㅂ or ㅇ. 낮춰 → [낟춰]
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 있을까 → [이쓸까]
Speech style
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in this phrase
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 조금 | adverb | a little | TOPIK level 1 |
| 있다 | verb | to exist, to have | TOPIK level 1 |
Phrases that use the same word
Phrases with “조금”
- 조금 긴장돼요I’m a little nervous
Phrases with “주실”
- 마감 기한을 하루만 연장해 주실 수 있을까요?Would it be possible to extend the deadline by just one day?
- 혹시 이 부분을 다시 검토해 주실 수 있으신지요?Would you be able to review this part once more?
- 선물 포장해 주실 수 있어요?Could you gift-wrap this?
- 덜 맵게 해 주실 수 있어요?Could you make it less spicy?
Quick self-check
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 What does “맵기를 조금 낮춰 주실 수 있을까요?” mean?
Show the answer
Answer: Could you make it a little less spicy?
Question 2 How do you say “Could you make it a little less spicy?” in Korean?
Show the answer
Answer: 맵기를 조금 낮춰 주실 수 있을까요? maepgireul jogeum natchwo jusil su isseulkkayo?
Reinforce what you learn with typing drills and quizzes.
Practice nowMore phrases for this situation
- 간이 딱 맞아서 자꾸 손이 가요The seasoning is just right, so I keep reaching for more
- 배가 터지도록 먹었더니 움직이기 싫네요I ate until I nearly burst, and now I don’t want to move
- 식사가 나오기까지 얼마나 걸릴까요?About how long will it take for the food to come out?
- 오늘은 제가 대접하겠습니다It’s my treat today
- 음식이 입에 맞으세요?Is the food to your liking?
- 여기서 제일 잘 나가는 메뉴가 뭐예요?What’s the best-selling item here?
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