In addition to speech levels, Korean has other ways of expressing honorifics.
Adding the honorific suffix - (으)시
This suffix can be used when speaking with a person of higher position, an older person, or someone with whom one has a special relationship. It can also be used when a speaker wants to express respect for a listener.
The suffix -시 is added to the stem that ends with a vowel, and the suffix -으시 to the stem that ends with a consonant.
Examples:
가다à 갑니다 à 가십니다
선생님께서 대학교에 가십니다. "The teacher is going to the University."
있다 à 있습니다 à 있으십니다
이 책이 있으십니까? "Do you have this book?"
Using lexical expressions to express honorifics
There are a variety of words that can be used to show respect. There are also neutral words that can be used in any situation without any modal meaning.
Part of Speech |
Neutral Form |
Honorific Form |
Translation |
Noun |
말 나이 밥 집 |
말씀 연세 진지 댁 |
"speech" "age" "food" "house" |
Pronoun |
그 사람 |
그 분 |
"he"
|
Verb |
주다 자다 먹다 있다 죽다 |
드리다 주무시다 잡수시다 계시다 돌아가시다 |
"give" "sleep" "eat" "have", "exist" "die" |
Case |
-이/가 -에게 |
-께서 -께 |
Nominative case Dative case |
Special noun suffix |
-님 |
Polite suffix |
Examples:
김 선생님이 댁에 계십니까? "Is Mr. Kim at home now?"
안녕히 주무셨어요? "Good morning!"
아버님께 드리려고 꽃을 샀어요. "I bought flowers to give to my father."
See Also: