The Four Common Speech Levels in Modern Korean
While Korean traditionally has seven speech levels, modern usage centers on four main levels. These four cover virtually all situations you will encounter in everyday life.
Formal Polite Speech (합쇼체)
합쇼체 uses the verb ending -ㅂ니다/습니다. Use this in formal settings like news broadcasts, business meetings, military contexts, presentations, and when speaking to elders you don't know well. Example: 감사합니다 (thank you).
Polite Informal Speech (해요체)
해요체 uses the verb ending -아/어요. This is the most versatile level and works for most daily interactions. Use it when shopping, at restaurants, with coworkers, and acquaintances. Example: 감사해요 (thank you). This is the safest choice for learners.
Casual or Intimate Speech (해체)
해체 uses the verb ending -아/어 (no 요). Use this between close friends of similar age, to younger people, and in casual settings. Example: 고마워 (thanks). Never use this without explicit permission.
Plain or Written Speech (해라체)
해라체 uses the verb ending -다, -니, -라. This appears in writing (diaries, academic texts), narration, and when adults speak to children. Example: 이것은 책이다 (This is a book).
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 합쇼체 (Hapsyo-che), Formal Polite | Verb ending: -ㅂ니다/습니다. Used in formal settings: news broadcasts, business meetings, military, presentations, and speaking to elders you do not know well. Example: 감사합니다 (thank you). |
| 해요체 (Haeyo-che), Polite Informal | Verb ending: -아/어요. The most versatile level, appropriate for most daily interactions, shopping, restaurants, coworkers, and acquaintances. Example: 감사해요 (thank you). |
| 해체 (Hae-che), Casual/Intimate | Verb ending: -아/어 (no 요). Used between close friends of similar age, to younger people, and in casual settings. Example: 고마워 (thanks). |
| 해라체 (Haera-che), Plain/Written | Verb ending: -다, -니, -라. Used in writing (diaries, academic texts), narration, and by adults speaking to children. Example: 이것은 책이다 (This is a book). |
Honorific Verb Endings, The -(으)시- Infix
Beyond overall speech level, Korean uses the honorific infix -(으)시- to elevate the subject of a sentence. Add this to verb stems when the person performing the action deserves respect. The infix goes between the verb stem and the speech level ending.
Regular Honorific Forms
Many verbs add -(으)시- to the stem: 가다 becomes 가시다 (to go). Example: 선생님이 가십니다 (The teacher is going, formal polite with honorific).
Special Honorific Vocabulary
Some verbs have completely different honorific forms that must be memorized as separate words:
- 먹다 → 드시다 (eat becomes "to partake"). Example: 어머니가 드세요 (Mother is eating, polite informal with honorific).
- 자다 → 주무시다 (sleep has special form). Example: 아버지가 주무세요 (Father is sleeping).
- 있다 → 계시다 (to exist/be at becomes "to be present"). Example: 할아버지가 집에 계세요 (Grandfather is at home).
- 말하다 → 말씀하시다 (speak uses honorific noun plus 하시다). Example: 교수님이 말씀하셨어요 (The professor said).
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 가다 → 가시다 | 'To go' becomes honorific. Example: 선생님이 가십니다 (The teacher is going, formal polite with honorific). |
| 먹다 → 드시다 (special form) | 'To eat' has a completely different honorific word. 어머니가 드세요 (Mother is eating, polite informal with honorific). |
| 있다 → 계시다 (special form) | 'To exist/be at' becomes 계시다 in honorific. 할아버지가 집에 계세요 (Grandfather is at home). |
| 자다 → 주무시다 (special form) | 'To sleep' has a special honorific form. 아버지가 주무세요 (Father is sleeping). |
| 말하다 → 말씀하시다 (special form) | 'To speak' uses the honorific noun 말씀 plus 하시다. 교수님이 말씀하셨어요 (The professor said). |
Honorific Vocabulary, When the Entire Word Changes
Korean has special honorific vocabulary where the entire word is replaced when referring to respected individuals. These are not conjugation changes, they are completely different words you must memorize separately.
Common Honorific Word Pairs
- 밥 → 진지 (rice/meal). Use 진지 for an elder's meal: 진지 드셨어요? (Have you eaten, respectful?).
- 나이 → 연세 (age). Example: 연세가 어떻게 되세요? (How old are you, respectful to elders?).
- 이름 → 성함 (name). Example: 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (What is your name, respectful?).
- 집 → 댁 (house/home). Example: 댁에 안녕히 가세요 (Please go home safely, respectful).
- 생일 → 생신 (birthday). Example: 생신 축하드립니다 (Happy birthday, respectful to elders).
- 아프다 → 편찮으시다 (to be sick). Example: 할머니가 편찮으세요 (Grandmother is not feeling well).
Learning Strategy
Memoriz these pairs as complete substitutions, not individual conjugations. Pair them in flashcards showing both standard and honorific versions.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 밥 → 진지 | Rice/meal. 진지 is used when referring to an elder's meal: 진지 드셨어요? (Have you eaten?, respectful). |
| 나이 → 연세 | Age. 연세가 어떻게 되세요? (How old are you?, respectful to elders). |
| 이름 → 성함 | Name. 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (What is your name?, respectful). |
| 집 → 댁 | House/home. 댁에 안녕히 가세요 (Please go home safely, respectful). |
| 생일 → 생신 | Birthday. 생신 축하드립니다 (Happy birthday, respectful to elders). |
| 아프다 → 편찮으시다 | To be sick. 할머니가 편찮으세요 (Grandmother is not feeling well). |
How to Choose the Right Speech Level
Three primary factors determine the correct speech level: relative age difference, social relationship, and situation formality.
Default to Polite Informal
When uncertain, use 해요체 (polite informal). It is respectful without sounding stiff and works appropriately in most everyday situations. This is your safest foundation as a learner.
Use Formal Polite in Professional Settings
Use 합쇼체 (formal polite) in business meetings, with strangers significantly older than you, during public speaking, and in formal announcements. This is required in professional Korean contexts.
Casual Speech Requires Explicit Permission
Use casual speech only with people clearly younger than you or close friends who have mutually agreed to speak casually. In Korean culture, being asked to 'drop the formality' (말 놓으세요) signals growing closeness. Never unilaterally switch to casual speech with someone older or in a higher position. Wait for them to suggest it first. A mistake toward too-formal speech is always safer than being too casual.
Tips for Mastering Korean Honorifics with Flashcards
Korean honorifics are best learned through contextual practice rather than abstract rules. Flashcards presenting the same sentence in multiple speech levels show exactly how the language changes across formality registers.
Build Gradually from Polite Foundation
- Start with the polite informal level (-아/어요) for everything. It is appropriate in 80% of situations and gives you a safe foundation.
- Learn the 10 most common honorific vocabulary pairs (먹다/드시다, 자다/주무시다, etc.) as dedicated flashcard sets.
- Practice switching between speech levels for the same verb. A card showing 먹습니다, 먹어요, 먹어, and 먹다 builds automatic level-switching ability.
- Study the -(으)시- honorific infix separately from speech level endings. They are independent systems that combine together.
- Use scenario-based flashcards: 'You are ordering at a restaurant' uses 해요체, while 'You are presenting at a business meeting' uses 합쇼체.
- 1
Start with the polite informal level (-아/어요) for everything. It is appropriate in 80% of situations and gives you a safe foundation.
- 2
Learn the 10 most common honorific vocabulary pairs (먹다/드시다, 자다/주무시다, etc.) as dedicated flashcard sets.
- 3
Practice switching between speech levels for the same verb. A card that shows 먹습니다, 먹어요, 먹어, and 먹다 builds automatic level-switching ability.
- 4
Study the -(으)시- honorific infix separately from speech level endings, they are independent systems that combine.
- 5
Use scenario-based flashcards: 'You are ordering at a restaurant' → 해요체, 'You are presenting at a business meeting' → 합쇼체.