In Korean, honorifics are used to show respect, and the right particles are crucial to sound polite and appropriate. Honorific particles, also called suffixes, are added to nouns and verbs to elevate the status of the subject or object in conversation. In this article, we’ll cover the main honorific particles and how to use them correctly.
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
Honorific particles are special suffixes attached to nouns to show respect in Korean. These particles are essential in conveying politeness toward others, especially elders or people of higher social status.
The English equivalent would be “polite forms” or “respectful language” used in formal situations.
3. Form (Structure)
Here’s a breakdown of the most common honorific particles used in Korean:
| Particle | Honorific Form | Usage | Example |
| 은/는 | 께서는 | Topic marker | 선생님께서는 학생들을 가르치십니다. (The teacher teaches the students.) |
| 이/가 | 께서 | Subject marker | 선생님께서 오셨어요. (The teacher has arrived.) |
| 에게/한테 | 께 | Recipient marker | 선생님께 선물을 드렸어요. (I gave a gift to the teacher.) |
- 은/는 → 께서는: This is used as a topic marker when referring to someone with respect. For example, “선생님께서는 학생들을 가르치십니다.” means “The teacher teaches the students.”
- 이/가 → 께서: This is used as a subject marker. For instance, “선생님께서 오셨어요.” translates to “The teacher has arrived.”
- 에게/한테 → 께: This is used when indicating the recipient of an action. For example, “부모님께 선물을 드렸어요.” means “I gave a gift to my parents.”
4. Meaning & Usage
In Korean, honorific particles are used to show respect when speaking about or to someone of higher status or age. These particles are often attached to the subject, topic, or recipient of a sentence and are part of the larger honorific system that marks the speaker’s attitude of respect. Below are the most common honorific particles and their uses.
- 께서는 (Topic Marker)
This particle is the honorific version of 은/는 and is used to emphasize the subject while showing respect. It marks the topic of the sentence, specifically when talking about someone in a respectful manner.
Example Usage:- 선생님께서는 항상 학생들을 도와주십니다.
(The teacher always helps the students.) - 김 교수님께서는 영어 수업을 맡고 계십니다.
(Professor Kim is in charge of the English class.) - 부모님께서는 우리에게 중요한 가르침을 주십니다.
(My parents give us important teachings.) - 사장님께서는 오늘 회의를 주재하십니다.
(The boss is presiding over the meeting today.) - 할아버지께서는 자주 산책을 하십니다.
(Grandfather often goes for a walk.)
- 선생님께서는 항상 학생들을 도와주십니다.
- 께서 (Subject Marker)
께서 is the honorific form of 이/가, used to indicate the subject of the sentence respectfully. It is used when the subject is a person who deserves respect, such as an elder, superior, or authority figure.
Example Usage:- 선생님께서 오늘도 학생들에게 좋은 수업을 해주셨어요.
(The teacher gave a good lesson to the students today.) - 부모님께서 우리에게 큰 선물을 주셨어요.
(My parents gave us a big gift.) - 사장님께서 중요한 결정을 내리셨어요.
(The boss made an important decision.) - 의사 선생님께서 진료를 시작하셨어요.
(The doctor started the consultation.) - 선배님께서 우리에게 도움을 주셨어요.
(The senior helped us.)
- 선생님께서 오늘도 학생들에게 좋은 수업을 해주셨어요.
- 께 (Recipient Marker)
께 is the honorific form of 에게 or 한테, and it is used when giving something to or showing respect towards a recipient. This particle is used when the recipient is someone deserving of respect.
Example Usage:- 선생님께 선물을 드렸어요.
(I gave a gift to the teacher.) - 부모님께 감사의 편지를 썼어요.
(I wrote a letter of thanks to my parents.) - 사장님께 중요한 보고서를 제출했어요.
(I submitted the important report to the boss.) - 교장 선생님께 졸업장을 받았어요.
(I received my diploma from the principal.) - 스승님께 태권도를 배웠어요.
(I learned Taekwondo from my master.)
- 선생님께 선물을 드렸어요.
5. Key Points to Remember
- Use honorific particles when speaking to elders or people of higher social status.
- The particle “께서” is used for the subject of a sentence in honorific speech.
- “께” indicates the recipient of an action when speaking politely.
- “께서는” is used as the honorific topic marker.
6. Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate honorific particle (께서는, 께서, or 께) in the following sentences, keeping in mind that 께서는 is a respectful topic marker, 께서 is a respectful subject marker, and 께 is used for the recipient of an action.
- 선생님( ) 학생들을 가르치십니다. (The teacher teaches the students.)
- 할머니( ) 선물을 드렸어요. (I gave a gift to grandmother.)
- 교수님( ) 연구를 하고 계십니다. (The professor is doing research.)
- 부모님( ) 편지를 썼어요. (I wrote a letter to my parents.)
- 선생님( ) 질문을 드렸습니다. (I asked the teacher a question.)
- 할아버지( ) 이야기를 들려주셨어요. (Grandfather told us a story.)
- 교수님( ) 조언을 구했어요. (I sought advice from the professor.)
- 선생님( ) 수업을 시작하셨습니다. (The teacher started the class.)
- 할머니( ) 요리를 가르쳐 주셨어요. (Grandmother taught me how to cook.)
- 부모님( ) 감사 인사를 드렸습니다. (I expressed gratitude to my parents.)
7. Answers
- 께서는
- 께
- 께서는
- 께
- 께
- 께서
- 께
- 께서
- 께서
- 께
8. Common Mistakes and Tips
When using honorific particles in Korean, it’s important to follow certain rules to maintain respect and politeness. Here are some common mistakes learners make and tips to avoid them.
1. Incorrect Use of Particles with Informal Subjects
❌ Mistake: Using informal particles like 은/는 or 이/가 with formal subjects.
✅ Correct: Always use 께서는 or 께서 when referring to respected individuals.
- Incorrect: 선생님은 학생들을 가르쳐요.
(The teacher teaches the students.) - Correct: 선생님께서는 학생들을 가르치십니다.
(The teacher teaches the students.)
💡 Tip: 께서는 and 께서 should always be used when referring to people of higher status (e.g., elders, professors, or superiors).
2. Mixing Honorific Particles with Casual Expressions
❌ Mistake: Mixing honorific particles with informal language or casual speech.
✅ Correct: Honorific particles should be paired with polite or formal verb endings like -세요 or -십니다.
- Incorrect: 선생님께서 좋아요.
(The teacher likes it.) - Correct: 선생님께서 좋아하십니다.
(The teacher likes it.)
💡 Tip: Use -세요, -십니다, or other polite forms to maintain consistency in showing respect.
3. Misusing Honorific Particles for Non-Respectful Recipients
❌ Mistake: Using 께 for non-respected recipients, such as peers or younger people.
✅ Correct: 에게 or 한테 should be used when referring to those of equal or lower status.
- Incorrect: 친구께 선물을 드렸어요.
(I gave a gift to my friend.) - Correct: 친구에게/한테 선물을 줬어요.
(I gave a gift to my friend.)
💡 Tip: Use 께 only when the recipient is someone deserving of respect, like a teacher or an elder.
4. Overuse of Honorifics with All Subjects
❌ Mistake: Using 께서는 or 께서 with every subject, regardless of their status.
✅ Correct: Use 께서는 or 께서 only when referring to a respected individual. For everyday situations, use 은/는 or 이/가.
- Incorrect: 친구께서는 항상 도와줘요.
(My friend always helps me.) - Correct: 친구는 항상 도와줘요.
(My friend always helps me.)
💡 Tip: Use honorifics where necessary, but don’t overuse them. Keep informal situations simple.
5. Forgetting the Honorific Suffix on Verbs
❌ Mistake: Forgetting to use honorific verb endings like -세요 or -십니다 after using honorific particles.
✅ Correct: Honorific particles must be paired with respectful verb endings.
- Incorrect: 선생님께서 가요.
(The teacher is going.) - Correct: 선생님께서 가세요. / 가십니다
(The teacher is going.)
💡 Tip: Always pair honorific particles with polite verb endings. This shows proper respect and makes the sentence sound natural.
Understanding and using honorific particles correctly is essential for showing respect in Korean. By following the rules and tips provided, learners can avoid common mistakes and ensure they use these particles appropriately in different contexts. Practice is key to mastering honorifics, so keep using the correct forms in both speech and writing to sound polite and respectful in all situations.