한국어 문법 - 존댓말 Korean grammar - formal form

Korean is one of the few languages where honorifics exist, and it is very important to know what it is.

There's a formal form that you use for people have higher social class and an informal form that you use for people of the same or lower social class.
Social class refers to age, rank, etc.

The special thing about Korean is that you can lower yourself.
According to it, there are forms that raise the opponent and lower yourself(하십시오체), form that only raise the opponent(하오체), and form that showing respect to everyone(해요체) and informal forms.
In most cases, Korean people use a third one so I recommend people to learn it.

Formal form

1. High-formal - 하십시오체

In 하십시오체 you have to raise the opponent and lower yourself.
This form, which usually ends with -습니다, is used in formal situation like Interviews, presentations, speeches and gives a hard, dry feeling.

Example

Normal -(스)ㅂ니다

저는 밥을 먹습니다. - I eat rice.

하십시오체 is form that lower yourself therefore we use 저 instead of 나.

Question -(스)ㅂ니까

당신은 밥을 먹습니까? - Do you eat rice?

하십시오체 is form that lower yourself therefore we use 당신 instead of 너.

Imperative -(으)십시오

밥을 드십시오. - Eat rice.

하십시오체 is form that raise opponent therefore we use 드시다 instead of 먹다.

2. Middle-formal - 하오체

In 하오체 you have to raise the opponent but you don't have to lower yourself
This form is almost everything ends with -오/소 and it's disappearing in modern Korean
It's hard to see this form in real life these days.

Example

Normal -오/소

나는 밥을 먹소. - I eat rice.

하오체 is form that doesn't lower yourself therefore we use 나

Question -오/소

당신은 밥을 먹소? - Do you eat rice?

하오체 is form that lower yourself therefore we use 당신 instead of 너.

Imperative -오

밥을 드시오. - Eat rice.

당기시오 - pull, 미시오 - push <-These are 70% of 하오체

하오체 is form that raise opponent therefore we use 드시다 instead of 먹다.

3. Common-formal - 해요체

해요체 is the most common form in Korean now days.
In 해요체 you have to raise the opponent and lower yourself like 하십시오체 but 해요체 gives a softer and more comfortable feeling than 하십시오체.
It's free to use in any situations.
If you want to be more formal you can mix 해요체 with 하십시오체.

Example

Normal -요,-이에요/예요

저는 밥을 먹어요. - I eat rice.

당신은 바보예요. - You are babo.

해요체 is form that lower yourself therefore we use 저, 당신 instead of 나, 너.

Question = Normal just add a question mark!

당신은 밥을 먹어요? - Do you eat rice?

당신은 바보예요? - Are you babo?

해요체 is form that lower yourself therefore we use 저, 당신 instead of 나, 너.

Imperative -(으)세요

밥을 드세요. - Eat rice.

해요체 is form that lower yourself therefore we use 드시다 instead of 먹다.

Informal form

1. Less lower-informal - 하게체

In 하게체 you have to treat the other person slightly while lowering them to normal.
하게체 is disappearing like 하오체 too.

Example

Normal -네, -(ㄴ/는)다네, -(이)라네, -(으)ㄹ세

나는 밥을 먹는다네. - I eat rice.

Question -나, -(으/느)ㄴ가, -(으/느)ㄴ감

자네는 밥을 먹나? - Do you eat rice?

Imperative -게 -게나

밥을 먹게 - Eat rice.

2. More Lower-informal - 해라체

In 해라체 you have to lower them a lot therefore you have to use it between close friends or people will think you are rude
But if you use it to write a thesis or an explanation, It shows objectivity and neutrality

Example

Normal -(ㄴ/는)다, -(ㄴ/는)단다, -(이)란다, -더라

나는 밥을 먹는다. - I eat rice.

Question -냐, -니

너 밥 먹냐? - Do you eat rice?

Imperative -(으)라, -도록

밥을 먹도록. - Eat rice.

3. Common-informal - 해체

In 해체 you have to lower them and if you add -요 end of 해체 it becomes 해요체.

해체 is the most common form of informal form It's normal to use to friends and lower person.

Example

Normal -어, -(이)야, -지, -거든, -데, -고

나는 밥을 먹어. - I eat rice.

너는 바보야. - You are babo.

Question -어, -(이)야, -게, -(으)ㄹ까

너는 밥을 먹어? - Do you eat rice?

너 바보야? - Are you babo?

Imperative -어, -지, -(으)라고

밥을 먹어 - Eat rice.