Learn Hangul Grammer 12

🟩 Introduction to Korean Honorifics (Politeness in Sentences)

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🟢 1. What Are Honorifics in Korean?

Korean is a language that places strong emphasis on respect and social hierarchy. Honorifics are grammatical tools to show respect to:

1. The person you are speaking to (Addressee Honorifics)
2. The subject of the sentence (Subject Honorifics)

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🟢 2. Addressee Honorifics

✅ What is it?

Honorifics used to adjust your sentence ending based on who you are talking to.

✅ Main Speech Styles:

Style	Ending Examples	Usage
해요체	-아요 / -어요	Polite daily conversation
합쇼체	-습니다 / -ㅂ니다	Formal setting (news, presentation)
해체	-아 / -어	Informal speech with friends, younger

✅ Examples:

• Casual: 뭐 해? = What are you doing?
• Polite: 뭐 해요?
• Formal: 무엇을 합니까?

Using the wrong level can sound rude in Korean, even if the words are correct.

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🟢 3. Subject Honorifics

✅ What is it?

Used when the subject of the sentence is someone that should be respected (teacher, elder, etc.).

✅ How it works:

1. Add -시- to the verb stem
• 가다 → 가시다
• 오다 → 오시다
2. Use honorific vocabulary
• 말하다 → 말씀하시다
• 자다 → 주무시다
• 먹다 → 드시다
• 있다 → 계시다

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✅ Examples:

Non-honorific Sentence	Honorific Version
아버지가 집에 있어요.	아버지께서 집에 계세요.
선생님이 오셨어요.	Teacher came (with honorific)
할머니가 자고 계세요.	Grandmother is sleeping (with honorific)

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🟢 4. Object Honorifics (Less common)

Sometimes the object of the action is respected.
Example:

• 선생님을 모셨어요. = I escorted the teacher (instead of 그냥 "데리고 왔어요")

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🟢 5. Honorific Particles

Honorific	Replaces	Example
께서	이/가	아버지께서 오셨어요.
께	에게	선생님께 드렸어요.
댁	집	할머니는 댁에 계세요.

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🟢 6. Summary: Common Honorific Conversions

Verb	Polite	Honorific Form
가다	가요	가세요
먹다	먹어요	드세요
말하다	말해요	말씀하세요
있다	있어요	계세요
자다	자요	주무세요