Learning Korean Grammar(5-1) - Honorific Expressions

Due to the influence of Confucian thought in Korea, it is normal to use honorific and humble forms based on age, relationships and social distance.

 

(1) Honoring the Subject of the Sentence

When the subject of a sentence is older than the speaker, Honorifics are used. To honor the subject, ~(으)시 is added to the stems of adjectives and verbs. For verb stems ending in a vowel, ~시 is added, and for those ending in a consonant, ~으시 is added.

 

ex1) 오다 (to come)

오 + ~시~ + ~ㅂ니다 -> 오십니다

오 + ~시~ + ~어요 -> 오세요

오 + ~시~ + ~었어요 -> 오셨어요

오 + ~시~ + ~(으)ㄹ 거에요 -> 오실 거에요

 

ex2) 보다 (to watch)

보 + ~으시~+ ~ㅂ니다 -> 보십니다

보 + ~으시~+ ~어요 -> 보세요

보 + ~으시~+ ~었어요 -> 보셨어요

보 + ~으시~+ ~(으)ㄹ 거에요 -> 보실거에요

 

- 사장님께서 오십니다. The president comes

- 할머니는 티비를 보십니다. My grandmother watches the TV

 

(2) Honoring the Listener

When the listener is older or higher social status than the speaker, Honorifics are used. Final endings are used to express the degree of respect, and they can be formed from each of the formal polite, informal polite and informal plain styles.

 

ex3) 미안하다 (to sorry)

미안합니다. (formal polite style)

미안해요. (informal polite style)

미안해. (informal plain style)