2 · 40 words

Honorific words

The second, respectful word for eating, sleeping, a name, an age and a home.

Adding -시- to a verb shows respect, but a handful of everyday words go further and change completely: an elder does not 먹다 but 드시다, has no 나이 but a 연세. A second set works the other way round and lowers the speaker: you 드리다 a gift to your grandmother and 뵙다 your teacher. The honorific is never used about yourself, and the humble words never about the person you respect.

The words

Verb (14)

계시다to be, stay (honorific)Verb2

사장님은 지금 사무실에 계세요.The boss is in the office at the moment.

Honorific of 있다 for a place; for having something, 있으시다: 시간 있으세요?

드시다to eat; to drink (honorific)Verb2

할머니, 점심 드셨어요?Grandma, have you had lunch?

Honorific of 먹다 and 마시다.

잡수시다to eat (very respectful)Verb2

할아버지께서는 아침을 일찍 잡수세요.Grandfather has his breakfast early.

More deferential than 드시다, used mostly for the very old.

주무시다to sleep (honorific)Verb2

아버지는 지금 주무세요.Father is asleep at the moment.

Honorific of 자다; good night to an elder is 안녕히 주무세요.

돌아가시다to pass away (honorific)Verb2

할아버지는 작년에 돌아가셨어요.My grandfather passed away last year.

The respectful word for 죽다; literally “to go back”.

주시다to give (honorific)Verb2

선생님께서 책을 주셨어요.The teacher gave me a book.

The honorific of 주다; the request 주세요 is this verb.

드리다to give (to someone respected)Verb2

어머니께 꽃을 드렸어요.I gave my mother flowers.

주시다 raises the giver; 드리다 raises the one who receives.

모시다to take, accompany; to look after (an elder)Verb2

주말에 부모님을 모시고 바다에 갔어요.At the weekend I took my parents to the seaside.

Used where 데리고 가다 would be used for a child or a friend.

뵙다to see, meet (humble)Verb2

내일 사장님을 뵙기로 했어요.I am meeting the boss tomorrow.

Humble form of 보다 and 만나다; 내일 봬요, “see you tomorrow”, comes from the related 뵈다.

찾아뵙다to visit, call on (someone respected)Verb2

설날에 선생님을 찾아뵙고 인사를 드렸어요.At the New Year I called on my teacher to pay my respects.

여쭙다to ask (humble)Verb2

선생님께 여쭙고 싶은 게 있어요.There is something I would like to ask the teacher.

Humble form of 묻다; in speech mostly 여쭤보다.

말씀하시다to say, speak (honorific)Verb2

할머니께서 천천히 말씀하셨어요.Grandmother spoke slowly.

말씀드리다to tell, say (humble)Verb2

제가 부모님께 먼저 말씀드릴게요.I will tell my parents first.

연락드리다to get in touch (humble)Verb2

내일 다시 연락드리겠습니다.I will get back to you tomorrow.

This list belongs to Greetings, politeness and conversation — seven lists and 279 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.