높임말 표
Korean honorifics chart — verbs, nouns, particles, titles A2
One printable chart of Korean honorifics: honorific verb swaps (드시다, 계시다, 주무시다), humble forms (드리다, 여쭙다), respectful nouns (성함, 연세, 댁), particles 께/께서, and the title system (님, 씨).
How Korean shows respect
Three separate dials: (1) the speech level ending you choose (해요 vs 합니다 vs 해), (2) subject honorifics that raise the person you are talking about (the -(으)시- infix and special verbs), and (3) humble forms that lower yourself. This chart is the reference; the honorifics lesson and speech levels explain the why.
Honorific verbs (replace the whole verb)
| Plain | Honorific | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 먹다 / 마시다 | 드시다 · 잡수시다 | eat / drink |
| 있다 | 계시다 | be (present, exist) |
| 자다 | 주무시다 | sleep |
| 말하다 | 말씀하시다 | speak |
| 죽다 | 돌아가시다 | pass away |
| 아프다 | 편찮으시다 | be ill |
| 데리고 가다 | 모시고 가다 | take (someone) along |
| any other verb | stem + (으)시 → 가시다, 오시다, 하시다 | generic honorific infix |
Humble verbs (lower yourself toward them)
| Plain | Humble | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 주다 | 드리다 | give (to a respected person) |
| 말하다 | 말씀드리다 | tell (a respected person) |
| 묻다 | 여쭙다 / 여쭈다 | ask (a respected person) |
| 보다 / 만나다 | 뵙다 / 뵈다 | see / meet (a respected person) |
| 나 / 내 | 저 / 제 | I / my |
| 우리 | 저희 | we / our |
Honorific nouns
| Plain | Honorific | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 이름 | 성함 | name |
| 나이 | 연세 | age |
| 밥 | 진지 | meal |
| 집 | 댁 | home |
| 말 | 말씀 | words / speech |
| 생일 | 생신 | birthday |
| 사람 | 분 | person |
| 아내 / 남편 | 사모님 / 남편분 | (someone’s) wife / husband |
Particles and endings
| Plain | Honorific | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 이/가 | 께서 | subject |
| 은/는 | 께서는 | topic |
| 에게 / 한테 | 께 | to (a person) |
| -아/어요 | -(으)세요 | polite → honorific present |
| -았/었어요 | -(으)셨어요 | honorific past |
| -(으)ㄹ 거예요 | -(으)실 거예요 | honorific future |
Titles: 님, 씨, and never “you”
Korean avoids 너/당신 with anyone you respect. Use the title: 선생님 (teacher / polite “sir/ma’am”), 사장님 (owner/boss), 부장님 (department head), 고객님 (customer), 기사님 (driver). 씨 after a full name is polite-neutral (김민수 씨); after a surname alone (김 씨) it is rude. 님 attaches to titles and, online, to usernames.
Speech-level matrix
| Verb | 합쇼체 (formal) | 해요체 (polite) | 해체 (casual) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 하다 | 합니다 | 해요 | 해 |
| 가다 | 갑니다 | 가요 | 가 |
| 먹다 | 먹습니다 | 먹어요 | 먹어 |
| 있다 | 있습니다 | 있어요 | 있어 |
| 이다 | 입니다 | 이에요/예요 | 이야/야 |
Pronunciation notes
- 드세요
deu-se-yo — the honorific “please eat.”
- 계세요
gye-se-yo; ㅖ after ㄱ is often [게세요] in speech.
- 말씀하셨어요
mal-sseum-ha-syeo-sseo-yo — tensed ㅆ twice.
Vocabulary set
| 드시다 | deusida | to eat (honorific) | |
| 계시다 | gyesida | to be (honorific) | |
| 주무시다 | jumusida | to sleep (honorific) | |
| 말씀하시다 | malsseumhasida | to speak (honorific) | |
| 드리다 | deurida | to give (humble) | |
| 여쭙다 | yeojjupda | to ask (humble) | |
| 뵙다 | boepda | to meet (humble) | |
| 성함 | seongham | name (honorific) | |
| 연세 | yeonse | age (honorific) | |
| 댁 | daek | home (honorific) | |
| 께서 | kkeseo | subject particle (honorific) | |
| 께 | kke | to (honorific) |
Cards are saved in this browser and scheduled with spaced repetition.
Quick drill
Common mistakes
- ✗ 제가 드셨어요 (about yourself)✓ 제가 먹었어요Never honor your own actions; honorifics are for others.
- ✗ 할머니가 자요✓ 할머니께서 주무세요Grandmother takes 께서 and the honorific verb.
- ✗ 김 씨 to your colleague Kim✓ 김민수 씨 / 김 대리님Surname + 씨 alone is condescending.
- ✗ 당신 to your boss✓ 부장님Use the title instead of any “you.”
Example sentences
FAQ
What is the difference between 존댓말 and 높임말?
존댓말 is polite speech in general (ending in 요 or 습니다). 높임말 is the honorific vocabulary and grammar that raise the person you talk about (드시다, 계시다, 께서, 성함). You can use polite speech with or without honorifics.
What does 님 mean in Korean?
An honorific suffix attached to titles and roles: 선생님, 사장님, 고객님. Online it follows usernames.
How do you make any verb honorific?
Insert -(으)시- before the ending: 가다 → 가시다 → 가세요 / 가셨어요. A few verbs have special forms instead (먹다 → 드시다, 자다 → 주무시다, 있다 → 계시다).
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