Native Korean verb, attested from Old Korean. The root 주- has remained stable across centuries of the language. It also functions as an auxiliary verb (V + 아/어 주다) meaning "to do something for someone," making it doubly essential for learners.

In Korean, giving and receiving are deeply tied to social hierarchy and politeness. The verb 주다 is used when someone gives TO you or to a social equal or lower; when giving TO someone of higher status, the humble form 드리다 is preferred instead. Mixing these up is a common politeness error for learners — saying 선생님께 책을 주었어요 sounds rude, while 선생님께 책을 드렸어요 is correct. Additionally, 주다 is widely used as an auxiliary: 도와 주다 (to help someone), 가르쳐 주다 (to teach someone) — making it one of the most productive verbs in the language.