How to apply honorifics in a conversation
1. No respect to the listener and the subject
*Note*
“-아” is used when the syllable of a verb stem contains the vowel [아] or [오].
“-어” is used when the syllable of a verb stem contains any other vowel.
2. No respect to the listener and the subject
*Note*
“-아” is used when the syllable of a verb stem contains the vowel [아] or [오].
“-어” is used when the syllable of a verb stem contains any other vowel.
3. No respect to the listener and the subject
*Note*
“-아라” is used when the syllable of a verb stem contains the vowel [아] or [오].
“-어라” is used when the syllable of a verb stem contains any other vowel
4. No respect to the listener and the subject
*Note*
When a verb stem ends with a vowel, it combines with [-ㄴ/는다] and [-냐?]
When a verb stem ends with a consonant, it combines with [-다] and [-니?]
*Useful Expressions*
1. 지금 뭐하냐? / 지금 뭐하니? / 지금 뭐하나? = What are you doing now?
2. 지금 바쁘냐? / 지금 바쁘니? / 지금 바쁘나? = Are you busy now?
3. 밥 먹었냐? / 밥 먹었니? / 밥 먹었나? = Did you have a meal?
[-(으)ㄴ/는가?] is often used by adults when they are speaking to younger people
지금 뭐하는가? / 지금 바쁜가? / 밥 먹었는가?
5. Low respect to the listener and the subject
*Note*
“-아요” is used when the syllable of a verb stem contains the vowel [아] or [오].
“-어요” is used when the syllable of a verb stem contains any other vowel.
*Interesting Expressions*
[-나요?] and [-(으)ㄴ/는 가요?] are the common question endings that can be interchangeable with [-아/어요]. But there is a slight nuance between them.
[-아/어요] can be used when you refer to someone closer to you.
[-나요?] and [-(으)ㄴ/는 가요?] can be used when you refer to someone who you have more formal relations with.
행복해요? = Are you happy? (Close)
행복하나요? / 행복하신가요? = Are you happy? (Less close)
밖에 더워요? = Is it hot outside? (Close)
밖에 덥나요? / 밖에 더운가요? = Is it hot outside? (Less close)
Irregulars
1. 가다 = 가 + -아요 = 가요
2. 가다 = 가 + 시 + -어요 = 가세요
3. 오다 = 오 + -아요 = 와요
4. 오다 = 오 + 시 + -어요 = 오세요
5. 하다 = 하 + -아요 = 해요
6. 하다 = 하 + 시 + -어요 = 하세요
7. 이다 = 이 + -어요 = 예요/이예요
8. 이다 = 이 + 시 + -어요 = 세요/이세요
9. 크다 = 크 + -어요 = 커요
10. 가깝다 = 가깝+-어요 = 가까워요
11. 반갑다 = 반갑 + -어요 = 반가워요 -> Nice to mee you
12. 아름답다 = 아름답 + -어요 = 아름다워요 -> It is beautiful
13. 춥다 = 춥 + -어요 = 추워요 -> It is cold
6. Low respect to the listener and the subject
*Note*
If a verb stem ends with a vowel, it combines with [-세요]
If a verb stem ends with a consonant, it combines with [-으세요]
7. Low respect to the listener and the subject
*Note*
If a verb stem ends with a vowel, it combines with [-세요]
If a verb stem ends with a consonant, it combines with [-으세요]
*[-세요/으세요] and [-아/어요] can be as equally used in daily conversation. [-세요/으세요] is just a more respectful way to say than [-아/어요] due closeness with the person you are speaking with.
8. High respect to the listener Sentence
*Note*
If a verb stem ends with a vowel, it is combined with [-ㅂ니다] and [-ㅂ니까?]
If a verb stem ends with a consonant, it is combined with [-습니다] and [-습니까?]
9. High respect to the subject
*Note*
If a verb stem ends with a vowel, it is combined with [-시]
If a verb stem ends with a consonant, it is combined with [-으시]
10. High respect to the subject
*Note*
If a verb stem ends with a vowel, it is combined with [-셔]
If a verb stem ends with a consonant, it is combined with [-으셔]
11. High respect both to the listener and to the subject
*Note*
If a verb stem ends with a vowel, it is combined with [-십니다] and [-십니까?]
If a verb stem ends with a consonant, it is combined with [-으십니다] and [-으십니까?]
12. High respect to the listener-subject (Very High Honorific Endings)
*Note*
If a verb stem ends with a vowel, it is combined with [-십시오] and [-십시다]
If a verb stem ends with a consonant, it is combined with [-으십시오] and [-으십시다]
*Interesting Expressions*
These very high honorific endings are used for a supernatural being like a King or God. Therefore you can often see these expressions in historical dramas or the Bible.
용서하여 주시옵소서 = Please forgive me
누구시오? = Who is it?
문제를 잘 읽어보십시오 = Please read the questions well
Additional Honorific Expressions
1. Honorific Suffix [-씨]
The honorific suffix [-씨] is attached to the name of a person to show respect. It is not used to call someone superior to the speaker. It is usually used for colleagues who are considered to be of equal status to the speaker or someone inferior to the speaker.
그 일은 김 씨가 맡기로 했어 = Mr. Kim will take charge of the work.
태희씨, 퇴근 안해요? = Taehee, aren’t you off work?
박시완씨, 이리 좀 와 보세요 = Mr. Siwan Park, please come here
2. Honorific Suffix [-님]
The honorific suffix [-님] can be attached to the name, title, or kinship of the person to show respect. It is the suffix that exalts the person to call, and it represents that the meaning of the suffix [-님] is higher than the suffix [-씨].
Name: 김태희 님, 들어오세요 = Mr. Taehee Kim, please come in
Title:선생님이 학생들을 좋아합니다 = The teacher likes her students
Kinship: 아버님과 어머님이 같이 오셨다 = His father and mother came together
Terms
아버지 = 아버님 (Father)
어머니 = 어머님 (Mother)
부모 = 부모님 (Parents)
형 = 형님 (Older brother)
누나 = 누님 (Older sister)
아들 = 아드님 (Son)
딸 = 따님 (Daughter)
팀장 = 팀장님 (Team leader)
회장 = 회장님 (CEO)
대통령 = 대통령님 (Mr. President)
3. Honorific Case Marker [-께] and [-께서]
The case marker [-께] is an honorific word for “to” (-에게), so it is used to show respect to the object, whereas the case marker [-께서] indicates a subject in a given sentence.
선생님께서 숙제를 내주셨다 = The teacher assigned some homework to me
어머니께서 선생님께 편지를 쓰셨다 = My mother wrote a letter to my teacher
4. Honorific Counter [-분]
The honorific counter [-분] is usually used when we count a number of people who are older or whom we have never met before to show respect.
몇 분이(서) 오셨어요? = How many in your party?
오늘 대표님 네 분을 만났습니다 = I met four CEOs today
이 분은 좋은 분 같아요 = I think he is a great person
5. Irregular Honorific Verbs
We can apply the honorific system that we learned above to show respect. However, some irregular verbs have their own form. Some verbs are used a lot in daily conversations, but others are dependent on the situation. It is useful to know them because Koreans use these honorific expressions a lot to show respect to older people when they speak. The way of using verbs can be different depending on what situation we are in, but the meaning of the verbs remains the same.
있다 = 계시다 (To be)
아버지께서 방에 계신다 = My father is in his room
보다 = 뵙다/뵈다 (To meet)
오늘 부모님을 뵈러 간다 = I will go to meet my parents today
먹다 = 드시다 or 잡수시다 (To eat)
할머니께서 저녁을 드신다/잡수신다 = My grandmother is having dinner
말하다 = 말씀하시다 (To talk)
선생님이 한국에 대해 말씀하신다 = My teacher is talking about Korea
묻다 = 여쭙다/여쭈다 (To ask)
몇가지만 여쭙겠습니다 = I will ask you some questions
죽다 = 돌아가시다 (To pass away, to die)
할아버지는 5년 전에 돌아가셨습니다 = My grandfather passed away five years ago
자다 = 주무시다 (To sleep)
어머니는 늦게 주무신다 = My mother sleeps late
6. Irregular Honorific Nous
나이 = 연세 (Age)
올해 연세가 어떻게 되세요? = How old are you this year? (to ask older person’s age)
생일 = 생신 (Birthday)
오늘은 할머니 생신이다 = Today is my grandmother’s birthday
아내 = 부인/사모님 (Wife)
사모님을 도와드렸습니다 = I helped your wife (to indicate someone else’s wife)
아이 = 자녀/자제 (Child)
그는 자녀들에게 다정하다 = He is affectionate to his children
영부인 (First Lady/president’s wife)
영부인은 항상 우아하게 행동한다 = The first lady always behaves elegantly
손님 = 귀빈 (Honorable guest)
그는 귀빈으로 초대받았다 = He received an invitation as an honorable guest
귀하 (To whom it may concern)
1) It is a noun that is used after a person’s name to exalt the receiver (email, letter)
2) It is a pronoun to exalt the listener
귀하의 이름이 예약 명단에 없습니다 = Your name is not on the reservation list
집 = 댁 (House)
댁이 어디세요? = Where is your house?
밥 = 식사/진지 (Food, meal)
식사 전에 약을 복용하세요 = Take a pill before meals
Irregular Verbs
Every language has particular irregularities, but fortunately, there are not many of them. In the case of irregular verbs, it’s just better to memorize the verbs and adjectives. I made a list for each irregular, so I hope you can check how irregular verbs change their stems when they are combined with various types of suffixes, and you will get used to them the more you study.
Irregular [ㅅ]
When the last letter of a verb stem is [ㅅ], then the [ㅅ] is dropped before a vowel.
잇다 (to connect, to continue) -> 이 + -어 = 이어
짓다 (to do, to construct) -> 지 + -어 = 지어 낫다 (to get better)
[낫다] is an only irregular [ㅅ] as an adjective.
*Exceptions*
웃다 (to laugh), 씻다 (to wash), 솟다 (to soar)
뺏다 (빼앗다) (to take away), 벗다 (to take off)
Irregular [ㄷ]
When the last letter of a verb stem is [ㄷ], then the [ㄷ] is changed into the consonant [ㄹ].
싣다 (to load) -> 실 + -어 = 실어
걷다 (to walk) -> 걸 + -어 = 걸어
깨닫다 (to realize) -> 깨달 + -어 = 깨달어
묻다 (to ask) -> 물 + -어 = 물어 듣다 (to listen)
*Exceptions*
닫다 (to close), 굳다 (to harden), 믿다 (to believe), 받다 (to receive), 뜯다 (to tear off) 묻다 (to bury), 곧다 (to be stubborn)
Irregular [ㅡ]
Since it is not evident which ending to use [ㅏ] or [ㅓ], we have to look at the vowel before the [ㅡ] in the word. If the preceding vowel “looks” to the right like [ㅏ], then we have to use [ㅏ] in conjugation. If the preceding vowel “looks” to the left like [ㅓ], then we have to use the [ㅓ] in the final form. If the infinitive word contains neither, we put [ㅓ].
끄다 (to turn off) -> ㄲ + -어 = 꺼
바쁘다 (to be busy) -> 바ㅃ + -아 = 바빠
예쁘다 (to be pretty) -> 예ㅃ + -어 = 예뻐 슬프다
Irregular [ㅂ]
When the last letter of a verb stem is [ㅂ], then the [ㅂ] is changed into the vowel [ㅜ].
덥다 (to be hot) -> 더 + ㅜ + -어 = 더워
귀엽다 (to be cute) -> 귀여 + ㅜ + -어 = 귀여워 쉽다 (to be easy)
*Tip*
When you describe a noun with an adjective that ends with [ㅂ], then [ㄴ] is added.
춥다 (to be cold) -> 추 + ㅜ + -ㄴ = 추운 -> 추운 날씨 (cold weather)
새롭다 (to be new) -> 새로 + ㅜ + -ㄴ = 새로운 -> 새로운 집 (new house)
*Exception : [곱다] and [돕다]*
When the last letter of a verb stem is [ㅂ], then the [ㅂ] is changed into the vowel [ㅗ].
*Exceptions*
잡다 (to catch), 굽다 (to roast), 좁다 (to be narrow)
집다 (to pick up) 뽑다 (to pull out), 씹다 (to chew)
Irregular [르]
When the last letter of a verb stem is [르], then [ㅏ] or [ㅓ] is added.
So, [ㄹ] is attached to the preceding syllable and [르] is changed into [라] or [러].
빠르다 (to be fast) -> 빨 + -라 = 빨라
누르다 (to press) -> 눌 + -러 = 눌러 - 흐르다 (to flow) -> 흘 + -러 = 흘러
다르다 (to be different) -> 달 + -라 = 달라 기르다 (to raise)
Irregular [ㄹ]
When the last letter of a verb stem is [ㄹ], then [-ㅂ/습] or [-ㄹ/을] is added.
1. Irregular [ㄹ] with [-ㅂ/습]
Remove [ㄹ] and [-ㅂ] is added to a verb stem.
멀다 (to be far from) -> 머 + -ㅂ = 집은 여기서 멉니다 (My house is far from here)
놀다 (to play) -> 노 + -ㅂ = 저는 집에서 놉니다 (I play at home)
2. Irregular [ㄹ] with [-ㄹ/을]
Only [ㄹ] is added to a verb stem
빌다 (to beg) -> 비 + -ㄹ + -어 = 빌어
열다 (to open) -> 여 + -ㄹ + -어 = 열어
팔다 (to sell) -> 파 + -ㄹ + -어 = 팔어
Irregular [ㅎ]
When the last letter of a verb or adjective stem is ‘ㅎ’, ‘ㅎ’ is removed.
1. Irregular [ㅎ] with [-아/어]
When ㅎ is followed by ‘-아’ or ‘-어’, the ‘ㅎ’ is removed, and ‘-아’ or ‘-어’ changes to -ㅐ for smoother pronunciation.
빨갛다 (to be red) → 빨갛 + -아 = 빨개요 (It is red).
Example: 사과가 빨개요. (The apple is red)
2. Irregular [ㅎ] with [-야]
When ㅎ is followed by ‘-야’, the ‘ㅎ’ is removed, and ‘-야’ changes to -ㅒ for smoother pronunciation.
하얗다 (to be white) → 하얗 + -아 = 하얘요 (It is white).
Example: 눈이 하얘요. (The snow is white)
3. Irregular [ㅎ] with [-여]
When ㅎ is followed by ‘-여’, the ‘ㅎ’ is removed, and ‘-여’ changes to -ㅖ for smoother pronunciation.
뿌옇다 (to be hazy) → 뿌옇 + -아 = 뿌예요 (It is hazy).
Example: 바깥이 뿌예요. (It is hazy outside)