Learn Korean , Learn 한굴 by Hwal-wal

#Unit_Lesson 40: Honorific Expressions

~ Honorific Expressions:

Due to the influence of Confucian thought on Korean society, it is common for Korean speakers to use both honorific and humble forms of speech in conversation according to age, family relationships, social status, and social distance (degree of intimacy).

(1) Honoring the Subject of the Sentence

Honorifics are used when the subject of a sentence is a person older than the speaker, a senior member of one’s family, or a person of higher social rank. To honor the subject, –(으)시 is added to the stems of adjectives and verbs. For verb stems ending in a vowel, –시 is added, and for those ending in a consonant, –으시 is added.

· 생님께서 한국말을 가르치십니다. The teacher teaches Korean.

· 아버지께서는 작년에 부신에 가셨어요. My father went to Busan last year.

(2) Honoring the Listener

Honorifics are sued when the listener is older or of higher social status than the speaker and also when the speaker and listener are not acquainted with each other, regardless of age. Final endings are used to express the degree or respect, and they can be formed from each of the formal polite informal polite and informal plain styles.

(3) Other Honorifics

1. The honorific forms of some verbs are not expressed by adding –(으)시 to the verb stem but rather by using a different verb from altogether.

· 어머니께서 집더 안 계세요. Mother is not home right now.

· 내일 시간 있으세요? Do you have time tomorrow?

2. Some nouns have honorific counterparts.

· 할아버지, 진지 잡수세요. Granpa, please have some dinner.

· 부인께서도 안녕하십니까? How is your wife?

3. Honorific particles can be used after nouns indicating people.

· 동생이 친구에게 선문을 줍니다. My younger sibling gives a present to a friend.

· 할아버지께서 친구에게 선물을 주십니다. Granpa gives a present to a friend.

· 저는 딸기를 좋아해요. I like strawberries.

· 할머니께서는 딸기를 좋아하세요. Grandma likes strawberries.

4. Nouns designating persons can be made honorific by adding the suffix –님.

· 저희 사장님은 마은이 넓으시나다.

Our company president is a generous person.

· 목사님, 기조해 주셔서 감사합니다.

Pastor, thank you for your prayer.

5. Respect can be expressed toward the listener or target of an action by using the following words.

· 아버지께 말씀드릴까요? Shall we speak with Dad?

· 할아버지께 이 책을 드리세요. Please give this book to Grandpa.

6. The speaker can also show respect toward the listener by lowering his or her own status.

· 저도 그 소식을 들었어요. I also heard that news.

· 저희 집에 한헌 놀러 오세요. Please stop by our house sometime.

· 부장님, 말씀드릴 것이 있습니다. Chief, I have something to tell you.

(4) Things to Remember when Using Honorfics

1. In Korean it is common to address others by repeatedly using their name or title rather that pronouns such as 당신(you), 너(you), 그(he/him), 그녀(she/her), and 그들(they/them).

“요코 씨, 어저 회사에서 재준 씨를 만났어요? 재준 씨가 요코 씨를 찾았어요.

그가(x) 당신을(x)

그러니까 요코 씨가 재준 씨한테 존화해 보세요.”

그가(x) 당신을(x)

“Yoko, did you see Jaejun at work yesterday? Jaejun(He) was looking for Yoko(you), so Yoko(you) need to give Jaejun(him) a call.”

당신 is a mutual title of address used mainly between husband and wife, and therefore it is not used to address anyone other than one’s spouse. Similarly, 너 is a mutual title used only among close friends.

· 여보, 아까 당신이 나한테 전화했어요? Dear, did you call me?

· 너는 오늘 뭐 하니? What are you going to do today?

2. Special expressions such as 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (What is your name?) and 연세가 어떻게 되세요? (How old are you?) are used when asking the name or age of someone you don’t know or when the person you are asking is older or has a higher social status than you.

· 할아버지, 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (O) Sir (elderly), may I ask your name?

할아버지, 이름이 뭐예요? (X)

· 사장님 연세가 어떻게 되세요? (O) Mr. President (of a company), may I

ask your age?

사장닌 나이가 몇 살이에요? (X)

3. In most cases, the word 살 is not used to refer to age of someone older than the speaker.

A 캐럴 씨, 할아버지 연세가 어떻게 되세요? Carol, how old is your grandfather.

B 올해 일흔 다섯이세요. (O) He will be 75 years old this year.

올해 익흔다섯 살이세요. (X)

4. The two honorific forms of 주다 are 드라다 and 주시다.

When the giver is younger than the receiver, then 드리다 is used, but when the actor is older than the recipient of the action, 주시다 is used.

· 나는 선물을 어머니께 드렸어요. I gave a present to Mom.

· 어머니께서 나에게 선물을 주셨어요. Mom gave a present to me.

· 너는 동생에게 선물을 주었어요. I gave a present to my little brother/sister.

source courtesy of: Korean grammar in use ^^