Honorific forms in Korean are essential for showing respect, especially to older individuals or those of higher status. In this guide, we’ll cover common honorific verb forms and how to use them in everyday situations. Mastering honorifics will elevate your Korean and help you communicate more courteously, whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills.
Contents
1. Mastering Korean Honorifics: Step-by-Step Guide
- Honorific Usage for Beginners
- Honorific Pronouns and Nouns
- Honorific Particles and Suffixes
- Regular Honorific Verbs (‘-으시/시’)
- Irregular Honorific Verbs
- Polite Honorific Expressions
2. Definition
Korean honorific verbs are special forms of verbs used to show respect to the subject or the recipient of an action. These forms differ from regular polite forms (-세요 and -으세요) and are used specifically when addressing or referring to people of higher social status, older individuals, or in formal situations.
If you want to learn about the regular polite forms, check out our previous guide on ‘V-(으)세요’ by clicking the button below! 👇👇👇
3. Form (Structure)
Honorific verbs in Korean often have completely different forms from their regular counterparts. Here’s a table illustrating some common honorific verbs:
| Verb | Honorific Form | Honorific Command |
| 가다 | 가시다 | 가세요 (Please go) |
| 읽다 | 읽으시다 | 읽으세요 (Please read) |
| 쓰다 | 쓰시다 | 쓰세요 (Please write) |
| 앉다 | 앉으시다 | 앉으세요 (Please sit) |
| 만나다 | 만나시다 | 만나세요 (Please meet) |
Rule for forming regular honorific verbs:
- Add the honorific infix ‘-시-‘ to the verb stem.
- For the basic honorific form, add ‘-다’ after ‘-시-‘.
- For the honorific command form, add ‘-세요’ after ‘-시-‘.
This rule applies to most Korean verbs, making it easier to form honorific expressions for regular verbs. However, some verbs have irregular honorific forms that need to be learned separately.
How to attach -세요 and -으세요:
- -세요 is added directly to the verb stem when the stem ends in a vowel.
- -으세요 is added when the verb stem ends in a consonant, except for ‘ㄹ’.
For example:
만나다 (to meet) → 만나세요 (Please meet)
(Vowel ending, so just add -세요)
가다 (to go) → 가세요 (Please go)
(Vowel ending, so just add -세요)
앉다 (to sit) → 앉으세요 (Please sit)
(Consonant ending, so add -으세요)
읽다 (to read) → 읽으세요 (Please read)
(Consonant ending, so add -으세요)
Irregular Honorific Verbs
| Verb | Honorific Form | Honorific Command |
| 먹다 | 드시다 | 드세요 (Please eat) |
| 자다 | 주무시다 | 주무세요 (Please sleep) |
| 있다 | 있으시다 | 있으세요 (Please have) |
| 있다 | 계시다 | 계세요 (Please be/stay) |
| 말하다 | 말씀하시다 | 말씀하세요 (Please speak) |
| 주다 | 드리다 / 주시다 | 드리세요 (Please give) |
Note:
- 있으시다 / 계시다: 계시다 is more commonly used for a respected person’s location or existence. 있으시다 is less common and is used to indicate existence or possession for a respected person.
- 드리다 / 주시다: 드리다 is used when the speaker gives something to someone respected, while 주시다 is used when a respected person gives something.
4. Meaning & Usage
Honorific verbs in Korean are essential for expressing respect and politeness, especially when addressing people who are older or of higher social status. These forms are used to show deference, and they can change the way a verb is structured, as we saw in the previous section with the use of ‘-시-‘ and ‘-세요’ or ‘-으세요’.
The meaning of these honorific forms is the same as their regular counterparts, but they convey a higher level of respect. For example, 가다 (to go) becomes 가시다 in honorific form, showing respect for the person you are speaking about. Similarly, 먹다 (to eat) becomes 드시다 when talking about someone older or of higher status.
Honorific verbs are often used in the following contexts:
- When speaking to someone of higher status (e.g., a teacher, elder, or boss).
- When referring to someone of higher status in the third person.
- In formal settings or when addressing people you are not familiar with.
5. Examples
Here are some examples to illustrate how honorific verbs are used in different contexts:
Example 1:
- 어머니께서 가시려고 해요.
(My mother is about to go.)
In this example, 가시다 is the honorific form of 가다 (to go). It shows respect towards the speaker’s mother, indicating that she holds a position of respect in this context.
Example 2:
- 선생님, 이 책을 읽으세요.
(Teacher, please read this book.)
Here, 읽으세요 is the honorific form of 읽다 (to read). It’s used when speaking to a teacher to show politeness and respect.
Example 3:
- 할아버지께서는 주무시고 계세요.
(My grandfather is sleeping.)
주무시다 is the honorific form of 자다 (to sleep), used when talking about an elder’s actions. This form shows deep respect for the subject, in this case, the speaker’s grandfather.
Example 4:
- 아버지께서 드세요.
(My father is eating.)
In this case, 드시다 is used instead of 먹다 to indicate the subject (the father) is of higher status, and the speaker wants to show respect.
Example 5:
- 사장님께서 회의 중이세요.
(The boss is in a meeting.)
Here, 회의 중이세요 is the honorific form of 회의 중이다 (to be in a meeting), used to show respect towards the boss.
Example 6:
- 어머니께서는 오늘 기분이 좋으세요.
(My mother is in a good mood today.)
기분이 좋으세요 is the honorific form of 기분이 좋다 (to be in a good mood), showing respect to the speaker’s mother.
Example 7:
- 친구의 부모님이 집에 오셨어요.
(My friend’s parents came to the house.)
오셨어요 is the honorific form of 오다 (to come), showing respect to the parents of the speaker’s friend.
Example 8:
- 우리 선생님께서 이 책을 쓰셨어요.
(Our teacher wrote this book.)
쓰셨어요 is the honorific form of 쓰다 (to write), used to show respect to the teacher.
Example 9:
- 할머니께서 말씀하세요.
(My grandmother is speaking.)
말씀하세요 is the honorific form of 말하다 (to speak), used to show respect when talking about the speaker’s grandmother.
These examples further emphasize how honorific verbs convey respect and politeness when referring to or addressing individuals of higher social status or older age. By using honorific forms, you can make your speech more courteous and fitting for formal or respectful situations.
6. Key Points to Remember
- Honorifics Show Respect: In Korean, honorific verbs are used to show respect to the subject or recipient of the action. They are especially important when speaking to or about older individuals, those in higher social positions, or in formal settings.
- The -시- Infix: For regular honorific verbs, you add the honorific infix -시- to the verb stem. This changes the verb form to show respect.
- Honorific Command Forms: When forming honorific commands, you add -세요 or -으세요 after the -시- infix:
-세요 is used when the verb stem ends in a vowel.
-으세요 is used when the verb stem ends in a consonant (except for ‘ㄹ’).
4. Irregular Honorific Verbs: Some verbs have irregular honorific forms that need to be memorized separately. These include verbs like 먹다 (to eat) → 드시다, 자다 (to sleep) → 주무시다, and 있다 (to exist) → 계시다.
5. Context is Key: Honorific verbs are used in both spoken and written language to show respect, so use them carefully in formal situations or when addressing people of higher status.
7. Practice Exercises
Here are the practice exercises in English, with all the answers ending in “-세요”:
- Form the honorific command form of “가다” (to go).
가다 → _______ - Form the honorific command form of “읽다” (to read).
읽다 → _______ - Write the irregular honorific command form of “먹다” (to eat).
먹다 → _______ - Change “선생님이 쓰고 있다” (The teacher is writing) to honorific.
선생님 / 쓰다 → _______ - Change “할머니가 집에 있다” (Grandmother is at home) to honorific.
할머니 / 집 / 있다 → _______ - Form the honorific command form of “앉다” (to sit).
앉다 → _______ - Change “사장님이 회의를 하고 있다” (The boss is having a meeting) to honorific.
사장님 / 회의 / 하다 → _______ - Write the irregular honorific command form of “자다” (to sleep).
자다 → _______ - Use “주다” (to give) to create the honorific expression, “Please give me the book.”
주다 / 책 → _______ - Change “아버지가 신문을 보고 있다” (Father is reading the newspaper) to honorific.
아버지 / 신문 / 보다 → _______
8. Answers
- 가세요 (Please go)
- 읽으세요 (Please read)
- 드세요 (Please eat)
- 선생님께서 쓰고 계세요 (The teacher is writing – honorific)
- 할머니께서 집에 계세요 (Grandmother is at home – honorific)
- 앉으세요 (Please sit)
- 사장님께서 회의를 하고 계세요 (The boss is having a meeting – honorific)
- 주무세요 (Please sleep)
- 책을 주세요 (Please give me the book)
- 아버지께서 신문을 보고 계세요 (Father is reading the newspaper – honorific)
9. Common Mistakes and Tips
Using honorific verbs in Korean can be tricky, especially since there are specific rules and exceptions. Here are some common mistakes learners make, along with tips to help you use these verbs correctly:
1. ⚠️ Mistake: Using the wrong honorific form with informal subjects
- Example Mistake: “가세요, 친구!” (Go, friend!)
- Tip: When addressing someone of equal or lower status, it is important to use the regular polite forms rather than the honorific form. Honorific forms should only be used when speaking to someone older, in a higher position, or in formal contexts.
- Correct: “가세요, 선생님!” ✅ (Go, teacher!)
2. ⚠️ Mistake: Using ‘으세요’ instead of ‘-세요’ with vowel-ending verbs
- Example Mistake: “가으세요” (Go, please)
- Tip: When a verb stem ends with a vowel, use ‘-세요’ directly, without adding ‘으’. This rule applies to many verbs like “가다” (to go), “하다” (to do), and “보다” (to see).
- Correct: “가세요” (Please go)
5. ⚠️ Mistake: Misusing irregular honorifics
- Example Mistake: “자세요” instead of “주무세요”
- Tip: Some verbs have irregular honorific forms, so make sure to memorize them. For instance, the honorific form of “자다” (to sleep) is “주무시다,” not “자세요.”
- Correct: “주무세요” ✅ (Please sleep)
6. ⚠️ Mistake: Mixing up the honorific and regular command forms
- Example Mistake: “가세요” (Please go) for both formal and casual situations.
- Tip: When speaking to someone in a casual setting, it’s best to use the regular polite forms like “가” instead of “가세요.” Honorifics should be reserved for formal situations and addressing older or more respected individuals.
- Correct: “가세요” ✅ (Please go) for formal situations, but “가” for informal or peer-level situations.
In conclusion, mastering honorific forms in Korean is essential for respectful communication, especially with older individuals or those in higher social positions. By understanding and practicing the correct usage of these forms, you can elevate your language skills and interact more courteously in various social situations. Keep practicing, and soon using honorifics will become second nature!