Korean Honorific Words List for Beginners: 저 vs 나, 성함 vs 이름 Explained

Korean honorific words are polite vocabulary used when speaking about or to other people in Korean.
For example, Korean learners use 저 instead of 나 for “I,” and 성함 instead of 이름 when politely asking someone’s name.
This beginner-friendly guide explains common Korean honorific pronouns and nouns with clear examples so you can understand the difference between casual and respectful vocabulary.

1. What Are Korean Honorific Words?

Korean honorific words are vocabulary used to show respect and politeness in the Korean language. They help speakers adjust their language depending on social relationships such as age, status, or familiarity.

In Korean, people often change pronouns or nouns to speak more politely. For example, learners use 저 instead of 나 for “I,” and 성함 instead of 이름 when politely asking someone’s name.

These honorific forms are commonly used when speaking to:

• older people
• teachers or professors
• bosses or coworkers in formal situations
• customers or strangers

Using the correct Korean honorific words helps speakers communicate politely and appropriately in Korean society.

1.1 Why Honorific Words Are Important in Korean

Respect and hierarchy play an important role in Korean culture. Because of this, Korean often changes vocabulary depending on the social relationship between speakers.

For example, Korean speakers may choose different pronouns depending on the level of politeness.

나는 오늘 바빠.
(I am busy today.)

저는 오늘 바쁩니다.
(I am busy today.)

In this example, 나 changes to 저, which is a more humble and polite way to say “I.”

Understanding these differences is an important step for Korean learners who want to speak naturally and politely. Honorific words appear in Korean pronouns, nouns, verbs, and grammar structures.

2. Korean Honorific Pronouns (저 vs 나)

Korean polite pronouns can express humility (저) or respect (그분) depending on the situation. One of the first differences beginners learn in Korean honorific language involves the pronouns 저 and 나.

Both words mean “I”, but they are used in different social situations.

Pronoun	Usage	Meaning
나	casual conversation	I
저	polite or humble speech	I

2.1 저 vs 나 – What Is the Difference?

The pronoun 나 is used in casual conversations with friends, younger people, or people with close relationships.

Example:

나는 오늘 친구를 만나.
(I am meeting a friend today.)

나는 커피를 좋아해.
(I like coffee.)

In contrast, 저 is used in polite or formal situations.

Example:

저는 한국어를 공부하고 있습니다.
(I am studying Korean.)

저는 김민수입니다.
(My name is Minsoo Kim.)

Using 저 makes the speaker sound more humble and respectful.

2.2 When to Use 저 Instead of 나

In general, Korean learners should use 저 in situations where politeness is expected.

Common situations include:

• speaking to teachers
• talking to bosses or superiors
• meeting someone older
• talking to strangers
• formal introductions

Example:

저는 서울에서 왔습니다.
(I am from Seoul.)

저는 회사원입니다.
(I am an office worker.)

However, when speaking with close friends or younger people, 나 is more natural.

Example:

나는 내일 여행 가.
(I am going on a trip tomorrow.)

나는 오늘 집에 있어.
(I am at home today.)

2.3 Common Korean Honorific Pronouns List

Korean pronouns change depending on the level of politeness and respect used in conversation. In formal or respectful situations, speakers often replace casual pronouns with honorific versions. These pronouns help maintain politeness when speaking to elders, teachers, supervisors, or people you do not know well.

Below are some of the most common Korean honorific pronouns beginners should learn.

Casual Pronoun	Honorific Pronoun	Meaning	When It Is Used
나	저	I	Used when speaking politely about yourself
우리	저희	we / us	Used when referring to your group in a humble way
그 사람	그분	he / she (respectful)	Used when respectfully referring to someone
이 사람	이분	this person (respectful)	Used when respectfully referring to someone nearby
저 사람	저분	that person (respectful)	Used when respectfully referring to someone farther away

Example Sentences

• 저는 한국어를 배우고 있어요.
  (I am learning Korean.)
• 저희 가족은 서울에 살아요.
  (My family lives in Seoul.)
• 그분은 우리 학교 선생님이에요.
  (That person is a teacher at our school.)
• 이분은 제 친구의 어머니예요.
  (This person is my friend’s mother.)
• 저분은 우리 회사 사장님이에요.
  (That person over there is the CEO of our company.)
  

Key Tip for Beginners

Many Korean learners overuse 나 and 우리, but in polite conversations it is safer to use 저 and 저희. These forms sound more respectful and are commonly used in formal situations such as:

• speaking with teachers
• talking to elders
• introducing yourself politely
• workplace conversations

Using the correct pronoun is one of the simplest ways to sound more natural and polite in Korean.

3. Korean Honorific Nouns (성함 vs 이름)

Another important part of Korean honorific vocabulary involves honorific nouns.

A common example is the difference between 성함 and 이름.

Both words mean “name,” but they are used in different levels of politeness.

Word	Usage	Meaning
이름	casual or neutral	name
성함	honorific	name (respectful)

3.1 성함 vs 이름 – What Is the Difference?

The word 이름 is commonly used in everyday conversations.

Example:

• 이름이 뭐예요?
  (What is your name?)
• 이름을 다시 말해 주세요.
  (Please say your name again.)

However, 성함 is a respectful word used when asking about the name of someone older or in a formal situation.

Example:

• 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
  (May I ask your name?)
• 성함을 여쭤봐도 될까요?
  (May I ask your name?)

Using 성함 makes the question sound more polite and professional.

3.2 When to Use 성함

You should use 성함 when speaking respectfully to someone.

Common situations include:

• meeting someone older
• speaking to customers
• workplace conversations
• formal introductions

Example:

• 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
  (What is your name? — polite)
• 성함을 다시 한 번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
  (Could you please tell me your name again?)

In contrast, 이름 is more natural with friends or people of the same age.

Example:

• 이름이 뭐야?
  (What’s your name?)
• 이름을 알려 주세요.
  (Please tell me your name.)
  
  

4. Common Korean Honorific Nouns List

Korean also has many honorific nouns that replace casual words when referring to respected people. These honorific nouns are commonly used in polite speech and formal situations.

Below are some common Korean honorific noun pairs.

Casual Word	Honorific Word	Meaning
이름	성함	name
나이	연세	age
집	댁	house
말	말씀	speech
밥	진지	meal

Learning these Korean honorific nouns helps learners speak more politely and naturally.

4.1 Example Sentences Using Honorific Nouns

• 연세가 어떻게 되세요?
  (May I ask your age?)
• 선생님 댁에 방문했습니다.
  (I visited the teacher’s home.)
• 말씀 감사합니다.
  (Thank you for your words.)
• 진지를 드셨어요?
  (Have you eaten your meal?)

These expressions help make conversations sound more respectful and polite.

5. When to Use Korean Honorific Words

In Korean conversations, honorific vocabulary is often used when the speaker needs to show respect to another person. This usually happens in real-life situations such as speaking to older people, teachers, bosses, or strangers.

Speaking to Older People

• 연세가 어떻게 되세요?
  (May I ask your age?)
• 댁이 어디세요?
  (Where is your home? — polite)

Speaking to Teachers or Superiors

• 교수님의 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
  (May I ask the professor’s name?)
• 선생님 말씀 감사합니다.
  (Thank you for your words, teacher.)

Speaking to Strangers

• 그분은 우리 회사 직원이에요.
  (That person is an employee at our company.)
• 성함을 다시 한 번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
  (Could you please tell me your name again?)
  
  

6. Common Mistakes Beginners Make

Many Korean learners make similar mistakes when they first study Korean honorific pronouns and nouns. Because Korean uses different words to show respect, beginners sometimes mix casual and polite vocabulary in the same sentence.

Understanding these common mistakes can help you sound more natural when speaking Korean in polite situations.

6.1 Using 나 in Formal Situations

One of the most common mistakes beginners make is using 나 when introducing themselves in formal situations.

The pronoun 나 means “I,” but it is mainly used in casual conversations with friends or people of the same age. When speaking politely—such as in introductions, classrooms, or workplaces—Korean speakers usually use 저 instead.

Example:

나는 김민수입니다.
(I am Minsoo Kim.)

저는 김민수입니다.
(I am Minsoo Kim.)

Using 저 instead of 나 makes the sentence sound more polite and respectful.

Quick Tip:
In polite speech, it is usually safer to introduce yourself using 저는 rather than 나는.

6.2 Using 이름 Instead of 성함

Another common mistake is asking someone’s name using 이름 in polite conversations.

The word 이름 simply means “name,” and it is perfectly natural in casual situations. However, when speaking to elders, teachers, or strangers, Korean speakers usually use the honorific noun 성함 to show respect.

Example:

이름이 뭐예요?
(What is your name?)

성함이 어떻게 되세요?
(May I ask your name?)

Difference

Word	Level of Politeness	Meaning
이름	neutral / casual	name
성함	honorific	name (respectful)

Using 성함 instead of 이름 helps your Korean sound more polite in formal conversations.

Quick Tip:
When you are unsure which word to use, 성함 is usually the safer choice when speaking politely.

6.3 Forgetting to Use Honorific Pronouns

Some learners remember to use honorific nouns like 성함 or 연세, but forget to change the pronoun in the same sentence. This creates a mixed level of politeness that can sound slightly unnatural.

For example, beginners sometimes say:

나 학생이에요.
(I am a student.)

In polite speech, it is better to say:

저는 학생이에요.
(I am a student.)

Mixing casual pronouns with honorific nouns can sound unnatural in Korean.
For example, using 나 with 성함 creates an inconsistent level of politeness.

Quick Tip:
When speaking politely in Korean, remember to change both the pronoun and the noun if necessary.

6.4 Summary Tip for Beginners

To avoid common mistakes with Korean honorific words, remember these two simple changes:

• Use 저 instead of 나 when speaking politely
• Use 성함 instead of 이름 when showing respect

These small vocabulary changes can make your Korean sound much more natural and polite.

7. Quick Summary of Korean Honorific Words

Korean honorific vocabulary helps speakers communicate respectfully.

Key examples include:

• 저 → humble “I”
• 나 → casual “I”
• 성함 → honorific “name”
• 이름 → casual “name”

Learning these key honorific words helps Korean learners sound more polite in everyday conversations.

8. Practice Exercises

1. Choose the correct honorific form of “father” in the sentence:
   
   저희 ____께서 회사에 오셨어요.
   
   
2. Fill in the blank with the correct honorific noun for “name”:
   
   선생님의 ____을 여쭙겠습니다.
   
   
3. Fill in the blank with the correct honorific pronoun for “you”:
   
   __는 어디 가세요?
   
   
4. Complete the sentence with the correct honorific form for “birthday”:
   
   __축하드립니다. (your birthday)
   
   
5. Choose the right honorific form of “house” in the sentence:
   
   이사하신 ____에 언제 가면 될까요?
   
   
6. Fill in the blank with the correct honorific pronoun for “I”:
   
   ____는 한국어를 배우고 있습니다.
   
   
7. Replace the non-honorific noun with the correct honorific form for “age”:
   
   
   저희 할머니의 ____가 몇이세요?
   
   
8. Choose the correct honorific pronoun for “he/she” in the sentence:
   
   ____는 저희 회사의 새로운 직원입니다.
   
   
9. Fill in the blank with the appropriate honorific noun for “words/speech”:
   
   교수님의 ____을 잘 들었습니다.
   
   
10. Choose the correct honorific noun for “mother” in the sentence:
    
    
    저희 ____께서 병원에 가셨어요.
    
    

Answers

1. 아버님
2. 성함
3. 그분
4. 생신
5. 댁
6. 저
7. 연세
8. 그분
9. 말씀
10. 어머님
    
    

9. FAQ About Korean Honorific Pronouns and Nouns

Q1: What are Korean honorific pronouns?

A: Korean honorific pronouns are respectful pronouns used to refer to people politely in Korean. Examples include 저 (humble “I”), 저희 (humble “we”), and 그분 (respectful “he/she”). Key: honorific pronouns show respect when referring to people.

Q2: What are Korean honorific nouns?

A: Korean honorific nouns are polite versions of common nouns used when referring to someone respectfully. Examples include 성함 (honorific “name”) and 연세 (honorific “age”). Key: honorific nouns replace casual nouns in polite speech.

Q3: When should you use Korean honorific pronouns?

A: Korean honorific pronouns are used when speaking politely to elders, teachers, bosses, or people you do not know well. They are common in formal conversations and respectful situations.
Key: honorific pronouns show politeness and respect.

Q4: Do Korean pronouns change in polite speech?

A: Yes, some Korean pronouns change in polite speech to show humility or respect. For example, 나 becomes 저 and 우리 becomes 저희 in polite contexts.
Key: casual pronouns change to humble forms.

Q5: Why are honorific words important in Korean?

A: Honorific words are important because Korean language reflects social relationships and hierarchy. Using honorific forms helps speakers sound polite and respectful in Korean conversations.

Understanding Korean honorific pronouns and nouns is an important step in learning polite Korean speech. By learning common honorific forms like 저, 저희, 성함, and 연세, learners can communicate more naturally and respectfully in Korean conversations.

10. Continue Learning Korean Honorific Grammar

Korean honorific grammar includes pronouns, nouns, verbs, particles, and polite expressions.
If you want to deepen your understanding of Korean honorific language, explore the related guides below.

Polite Honorific Expressions

Learn how respectful vocabulary, honorific verbs, and polite sentence endings combine to create natural and polite Korean sentences.

Korean Honorific Usage for Beginners

Understand when and why honorific language is used in Korean conversations with elders, teachers, or superiors.

Korean Honorific Particles and Suffixes

Study particles such as 께서, 께, and suffixes like -님 that raise politeness levels in Korean sentences.

Regular Korean Honorific Verbs (‘-으시/시’)

Learn how the honorific suffix -(으)시 changes regular Korean verbs to show respect toward the subject.

Irregular Korean Honorific Verbs

Discover special honorific verb forms that replace base verbs when referring to respected people.