#speech levels

In Korean, there is a hierarchical system known as "존대" (which refers to the act of showing respect or deference towards someone) or "speech levels" that reflects the social status and relationship between the speaker and the listener. This hierarchy is an important aspect of Korean language and culture. But if you’re not used to it, it’s quite the challenge to learn... so let’s have a look!

Formal speech levels:

존댓말 refers to the formal speech style used to show respect and politeness. Within 존댓말, there are different speech levels that vary in formality and are used in different social contexts. The three main speech levels within 존댓말 are as follows:

하십시오체: This is the highest and most formal speech level used in formal settings, official documents, or when speaking to individuals of higher social status. It employs honorific language and polite expressions. Example: 드십시오  - Please eat (honorific form).

합쇼체: This speech level is still formal but slightly less polite than 하십시오체. It is used in formal situations and when addressing elders or individuals of higher social status. Example: 드세요 - Please eat (polite form).

해요체 : This is the polite speech level used in everyday conversations. It is appropriate for speaking to strangers, peers, or individuals of similar or lower status. Example: 먹어요 - Eat (polite form).

Informal speech levels:

In Korean, 반말 refers to the informal speech style used among friends, family members, or individuals of the same age or lower social status. Within 반말, there are different speech levels that vary in casualness and familiarity. 

해체: This speech level is informal and used among friends, family, or individuals of the same age or lower status. It is considered casual and relaxed. Example: 먹어 - Eat (casual form).

하게체: This speech level is considered extremely informal and somewhat rude. It is typically used for intimate or disrespectful speech. It is important to exercise caution when using this level as it can be impolite or offensive in most situations.

Other speech levels:

하오체: This is an archaic speech level that was used in classical Korean literature. It is no longer commonly used in contemporary spoken language.

한글 / 한국말 / 한국어

한글 - Korean alphabet/written language

한국말 - Korean spoken language

한국어 - Korean language in general

*Note: 한국말 and 한국어 can be used interchangeably and you'll be understood just fine. However, 한국어 is used more commonly.

말체 - speech levels

합쇼체 - formal polite language, used when speaking to someone of higher status or age

part of a larger category called 존댓말

words ending in -니다 fall under this level

해요체 - informal polite language, kind of like a middle ground between extremely formal and extremely casual, safest choice to use with strangers

also part of 존댓말

words ending in -요 fall under this level

반말 - informal/casual language, used when speaking to someone of equal or lower status or age

words without a suffix like -니다 or -요 fall under this level

존댓말

polite formal 합쇼체

most common and safe speech form, can be used with everyone

especially used with clients, business partners, customers, etc

news broadcasts and reporters

~ㅂ니다

ex; 합니다, 하십니다

polite informal 해요체

most common and safe speech, used with everyone as well

tv show hosts use it

more common with younger generations

~아요/여요/어요

ex; 해요, 하세요

반말

impolite formal 해라체

used with friends, family, people of lower status, or younger than you

sort of plain text used in magazines, books, newspapers, songs, etc.

~다/ㄴ다/는다

ex; 한다, 하신다

impolite informal 해체

between friends and children

ex; 해, 하셔

Theres also other speech forms but they are mostly unused so you can get away with ignoring them 

하소서체 - for royalty and religious contexts, you might see it in churches or bibles and some historical dramas but thats it

하오체 - old casual form, might see it in historical dramas as well and for a period it was used online? like 해요체 you stick 오 at the end

하소서체 (wiseinit.com) 하소서체 is more polite than 합쇼체/합시다체 and was used a long time ago when talking to gods and kings. Now this form can only be found in prayers in churches and Bible verses or in some historical dramas.

Declarative: 나이다 (Future form is -리이다)

당신의 종이 여기에서 일하고 있었던 것을 아시나이다. = You know that your servant worked here. 내일 이곳에서 기다리이다. = I'll wait for you here.

Interrogative: -나이까?

여기에서 무엇을 하시나이까? - What are you doing here? 주여, 어디로 가시나이까? - Lord, where are you going?

Imperative: -소서 (sounds more pleading than commanding)

내가 주의 법규들을 지키오리니 오 나를 아주 버리지 마옵소서. = I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. (Psalms 119:8) 전하, 통촉하여 주시옵소서. = Your Majesty, please stop.

Let’s: -사이다

Korean Speech Levels

한국어의 어역 (문체)

Korea retained much of Ancient China’s customs and culture. When addressing people of a higher, lower or equivalent status, a different speech level should be used, i.e. a different set of conjugations. These speech levels are referred to as 어역・語域 or 문체・文體. There are, in fact, 7 distinct speech levels in Korean. The most elevated one, 하소서체, became obsolete in real life, since it’s only used when addressing the Emperor, royal family members and important governors.

First, 나, 나는, 내가, and 네가 (colloquially pronounced or informally written as 니가) are all informal, while 저요 and 저는 are both formal/humble.

To understand the rest of the explanations, I suggest reading this short post about particles.

나 means “I/me.” 나는 is a combination of 나 and the topic particle -는. 내가 is a combination of 나 and the subject particle -가.

To explain 니가, I will give you a little bit of background information first. The informal word for “you” is 너. 너 combined with the subject particle -가 creates 네가, which you can think of as the “you” equivalent of 내가. However, the pronunciations of 네가 and 내가 sound almost the same. To avoid confusion, people often pronounce 네가 as 니가 in speech or write it that way in informal writing (like texting). 네가 is technically correct, but 니가 is commonly used in speech instead.

저는 is the combination of 저 (”I/me,” formal/humble word) and the topic particle -는. You can think of it as the formal/polite/humble equivalent of 나는.

저요 is simply a polite way of saying “I/me” as a single phrase (not within a sentence). -요 is a polite ending that can be attached to the end of an utterance or a noun. So 저요 is the combination of 저 (polite “I/me”) and the polite ending -요. I will give a few examples below to show how 저요 can be used, with only the necessary part in Korean so that you can fully understand the example.

A: Who ate the last piece of cake?B: 저요. (Me.)

A: Who is the project manager?B: 저요. (Me.)

Informal and Formal Usage

Informal speech (also called 반말) should only be used when speaking to children, childhood friends, very close friends, yourself, or people who have given you permission to speak informally. Thus, it is a good idea to make polite speech your “default” form of speech so as not to accidentally speak informally to someone older, a stranger, or an authority.

Polite speech typically uses the humble words for “I” and “we,” 저 and 저희, respectively. Also, sentences should end in -요, the polite speech marker. This level of speech can be used with most strangers, teachers, peers, colleagues, acquaintances, and friends.

저 and 저희 are humble/polite/formal in the sense that they are showing that the person you are speaking to is above you and you are below them. It is, in general, very important to use these in polite speech, but the informal words 나(I/me), 너 (you), and 우리 (we) can also be used with the polite speech marker -요.

Finally, the deferential form is a form of speech that is more extreme than polite speech and also shows that the listener is at a higher level than you. It is used when speaking to someone who is your senior in rank or who is much older, respected, or honored. You would use deferential speech with teachers, professors, your boss, and the elderly. It is also used when addressing an audience or group (including on television in news broadcasts) to be polite. 저 and 저희 (not 나 or 우리) must be used in the deferential form. You may have already seen or heard the verb endings that characterize the deferential form: -습니다, -ㅂ니다, -습니까, and -ㅂ니까.

That's a good question! I am a beginner so I honestly have no clue how this would be said. I tried researching this, but I couldn't really find anything. You might want to try asking this on an app like HelloTalk that allows you to speak with native speakers of your target language. Sorry I couldn't be of help with this one!

~게 = Imperative in 하게체 

(familiar speech level, neutral politeness. Used by older people addressing younger people, friends, or relatives. 

상대 높임법의 하나. 보통으로 낮추면서 약간 대우하여 주는 종결형으로, 어느 정도 나이가 든 화자가 나이가 든 손아랫사람이나 같은 연배의 친숙한 사이에 쓴다. ‘김 군. 이것 좀 연구해 보게. 혼자 할 수 있겠나?’ 따위이다.)