Honorifics: 존댓말 System
Understand formal and polite speech levels, and the honorific ~(으)시다.
Korean honorifics (존댓말) form one of the most distinctive aspects of the language. Beyond the speech levels (formal -ㅂ니다/습니다 vs polite -아요/어요), there's a separate system of subject honorifics that elevates the grammatical subject — usually because the subject is socially superior to the speaker. The marker is -(으)시- inserted between the verb stem and the ending.
Example: 가다 (to go) → 가시다 (to go, honorific) → 가세요 (polite present, honorific). When your boss is the subject, every verb takes -(으)시-: 사장님이 어디 가세요? (where is the CEO going?). Some verbs have completely different honorific forms: 먹다 → 잡수시다, 자다 → 주무시다, 있다 → 계시다. Japanese speakers will recognise the underlying social calculation as similar to keigo, but the specific honorific verb forms are unique to Korean and need separate memorisation.
~(으)시다 — Honorific Verb Ending
Add (으)시 to the verb stem to show respect for the subject. Consonant → 으시, vowel → 시. 가다 → 가시다 → 가세요 (polite), 읽다 → 읽으시다 → 읽으세요. Used for elders, bosses, strangers.
합쇼체 vs 해요체 — Formal vs Polite
합쇼체 (formal): ~습니다/~ㅂ니다 (statements), ~습니까?/~ㅂ니까? (questions). Used in presentations, news, formal settings. 해요체 (polite): ~아/어요. Used in daily polite speech. Both are respectful, but 합쇼체 is more formal.
Cultural & Language Note
Korean honorifics are absolute rather than relative, which is the key difference from Japanese. A Korean employee tells an outside caller 사장님께서 안 계십니다, keeping the honorific for their own boss. A Japanese employee would humble the boss to an outsider. Japanese speakers who transfer their instincts here will consistently mis-select, so this is one place where the shared intuition breaks down.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Some verbs have dedicated honorific forms rather than taking 으시: 먹다 becomes 드시다, 자다 becomes 주무시다, 있다 becomes 계시다. Attaching 으시 to the plain stem instead — 먹으세요 for a respected elder — is understandable but marks you as a learner. Also, never use honorifics about yourself.