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-(으)시-  The Honorific Marker

-(으)시- is added to a verb or adjective stem to show respect toward the subject of a Korean sentence.

It is commonly used when talking about teachers, customers, older family members, senior colleagues, and other people who should be treated respectfully.

  • 선생님께서 오세요.
    The teacher is coming.
  • 할머니께서는 집에 계세요.
    My grandmother is at home.
  • 아버지는 회사에 다니세요.
    My father works at a company.

The honorific marker shows respect toward the person performing the action or being described.

 

Respecting the Subject

-(으)시- is a subject honorific.

This means that it shows respect toward the subject of the sentence.

Compare:

  • 친구가 학교에 가요.
    My friend goes to school.
  • 선생님께서 학교에 가세요.
    The teacher goes to school.

The polite ending -아요/어요 makes the sentence polite to the listener.

The honorific marker -(으)시- shows respect toward the subject.

These are related but different ideas.

 

Politeness and Honorifics Are Different

A sentence can be polite without using the subject honorific marker.

  • 저는 학교에 가요.
    I go to school.

This sentence is polite because it ends in -아요/어요.

However, the speaker does not use -(으)시- to honor themselves.

  • 선생님께서 학교에 가세요.
    The teacher goes to school.

This sentence is both polite to the listener and respectful toward the teacher.

For beginners, remember:

-아요/어요 shows politeness toward the listener.

-(으)시- shows respect toward the subject.

 

Basic Formation

First, remove -다 from the dictionary form.

Then add -으시- or -시-.

In the polite present tense, these forms usually become -으세요 or -세요.

Use -으시- After Most Final Consonants

Use -으시- when the verb or adjective stem ends in a final consonant other than ㄹ.

  • 읽다 → 읽 + 으시다 → 읽으시다 → 읽으세요
    to read
  • 앉다 → 앉 + 으시다 → 앉으시다 → 앉으세요
    to sit
  • 입다 → 입 + 으시다 → 입으시다 → 입으세요
    to wear
  • 찾다 → 찾 + 으시다 → 찾으시다 → 찾으세요
    to look for

Examples:

  • 선생님께서 책을 읽으세요.
    The teacher reads a book.
  • 할아버지께서 의자에 앉으세요.
    My grandfather sits on the chair.
  • 어머니께서 새 옷을 입으세요.
    My mother wears new clothes.

Use -시- After a Vowel

Use -시- when the stem ends in a vowel.

  • 가다 → 가 + 시다 → 가시다 → 가세요
    to go
  • 오다 → 오 + 시다 → 오시다 → 오세요
    to come
  • 보다 → 보 + 시다 → 보시다 → 보세요
    to see or watch
  • 공부하다 → 공부하시다 → 공부하세요
    to study

Examples:

  • 선생님께서 교실에 가세요.
    The teacher goes to the classroom.
  • 부모님께서 한국에 오세요.
    My parents are coming to Korea.
  • 아버지께서 뉴스를 보세요.
    My father watches the news.

 

Stems Ending in ㄹ

When a stem ends in ㄹ, the ㄹ is removed before -시-.

  • 살다 → 사시다 → 사세요
    to live
  • 만들다 → 만드시다 → 만드세요
    to make
  • 알다 → 아시다 → 아세요
    to know
  • 열다 → 여시다 → 여세요
    to open

Examples:

  • 할머니께서는 서울에 사세요.
    My grandmother lives in Seoul.
  • 어머니께서 저녁을 만드세요.
    My mother makes dinner.
  • 선생님께서 제 이름을 아세요.
    The teacher knows my name.

Do not keep the ㄹ before -시-.

사세요 ✓
살으세요 ✗

만드세요 ✓
만들으세요 ✗

 

Present-Tense Forms

In polite present-tense sentences, -시어요 normally contracts to -세요.

  • 가시어요 → 가세요
  • 오시어요 → 오세요
  • 보시어요 → 보세요

After a consonant:

  • 읽으시어요 → 읽으세요
  • 앉으시어요 → 앉으세요

The contracted forms are standard in everyday Korean.

  • 선생님께서 오세요.
    The teacher is coming.
  • 할아버지께서 신문을 읽으세요.
    My grandfather reads the newspaper.

Past-Tense Forms

Use -(으)셨어요 to talk respectfully about a past action or condition.

  • 가다 → 가셨어요
    went
  • 오다 → 오셨어요
    came
  • 읽다 → 읽으셨어요
    read
  • 공부하다 → 공부하셨어요
    studied
  • 살다 → 사셨어요
    lived

Examples:

  • 선생님께서 어제 학교에 오셨어요.
    The teacher came to school yesterday.
  • 할아버지께서 신문을 읽으셨어요.
    My grandfather read the newspaper.
  • 부모님께서 부산에 사셨어요.
    My parents lived in Busan.

The honorific marker comes before the past-tense ending.

Future Forms

Use -(으)실 거예요 to talk respectfully about a future action or prediction.

  • 가다 → 가실 거예요
    will go
  • 오다 → 오실 거예요
    will come
  • 읽다 → 읽으실 거예요
    will read
  • 공부하다 → 공부하실 거예요
    will study
  • 살다 → 사실 거예요
    will live

Examples:

  • 선생님께서 내일 오실 거예요.
    The teacher will come tomorrow.
  • 부모님께서 주말에 여행하실 거예요.
    My parents are going to travel on the weekend.
  • 할머니께서 우리 집에 사실 거예요.
    My grandmother will live at our house.

 

Asking Respectful Questions

Use -(으)세요 in questions when asking respectfully about the listener or another respected person.

  • 어디에 가세요?
    Where are you going?
  • 어디에 사세요?
    Where do you live?
  • 무슨 일을 하세요?
    What kind of work do you do?
  • 한국어를 공부하세요?
    Do you study Korean?
  • 선생님께서 언제 오세요?
    When is the teacher coming?

The subject is often omitted when the listener is clearly the person being asked about.

  • 어디에 사세요?
    Where do you live?

 

-(으)세요 as a Polite Request

The form -(으)세요 can also be used to make a polite request or instruction.

  • 앉으세요.
    Please sit.
  • 들어오세요.
    Please come in.
  • 여기에 이름을 쓰세요.
    Please write your name here.
  • 천천히 말씀하세요.
    Please speak slowly.

The context determines whether -(으)세요 describes a respected person’s action or gives a polite instruction.

Compare:

  • 선생님께서 책을 읽으세요.
    The teacher reads a book.
  • 이 책을 읽으세요.
    Please read this book.

 

Honorific Subject Particles

Korean also has special particles that can show respect toward the subject.

께서

께서 is the honorific form of 이/가.

  • 선생님께서 오세요.
    The teacher is coming.
  • 할아버지께서 신문을 읽으세요.
    My grandfather reads the newspaper.
  • 어머니께서 요리하세요.
    My mother cooks.

Using 께서 and -(으)시- together clearly marks the subject as respected.

께서는

께서는 is an honorific topic form similar to 은/는.

  • 선생님께서는 교실에 계세요.
    The teacher is in the classroom.
  • 할머니께서는 부산에 사세요.
    My grandmother lives in Busan.

In everyday conversation, regular particles such as 이/가 and 은/는 may also appear with honorific verbs.

  • 선생님이 오세요.
    The teacher is coming.
  • 선생님께서 오세요.
    The teacher is coming.

The second sentence shows a higher level of respect.

께 for a Respected Recipient

께 is the honorific form of 에게 or 한테 when the recipient is respected.

  • 선생님께 질문해요.
    I ask the teacher a question.
  • 할머니께 선물을 드려요.
    I give my grandmother a gift.
  • 부모님께 전화해요.
    I call my parents.

께 marks the person who receives an action.

It is different from 께서, which marks the respected subject.

 

Special Honorific Verbs

Some common Korean verbs have special honorific forms.

These forms are often more natural than simply adding -(으)시-.

있다 → 계시다

Use 계시다 when a respected person is present or located somewhere.

  • 선생님께서 교실에 계세요.
    The teacher is in the classroom.
  • 할머니께서는 집에 계세요.
    My grandmother is at home.

Do not use 있어요 when respectfully describing the location of a person.

선생님께서 교실에 계세요. ✓
선생님께서 교실에 있어요. △

The second sentence is grammatically possible, but it does not show subject honorification.

먹다 and 마시다 → 드시다

Use 드시다 as the honorific form of 먹다 and 마시다.

  • 할아버지께서 아침을 드세요.
    My grandfather eats breakfast.
  • 선생님께서 커피를 드세요.
    The teacher drinks coffee.
  • 뭐 드세요?
    What are you eating or drinking?

자다 → 주무시다

  • 할머니께서 일찍 주무세요.
    My grandmother goes to bed early.
  • 부모님께서는 지금 주무세요.
    My parents are sleeping now.

말하다 → 말씀하시다

  • 선생님께서 천천히 말씀하세요.
    The teacher speaks slowly.
  • 할아버지께서 재미있는 이야기를 말씀하셨어요.
    My grandfather told an interesting story.

죽다 → 돌아가시다

  • 할아버지께서 작년에 돌아가셨어요.
    My grandfather passed away last year.

돌아가시다 is a respectful expression used instead of 죽다 when speaking about someone’s death.

 

Honorific Nouns

Some nouns also have special honorific forms.

이름 → 성함

  • 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
    What is your name?

나이 → 연세

  • 연세가 어떻게 되세요?
    How old are you?

생일 → 생신

  • 할머니 생신은 언제예요?
    When is your grandmother’s birthday?

집 → 댁

  • 선생님 댁은 어디예요?
    Where is the teacher’s home?

말 → 말씀

  • 선생님의 말씀을 들었어요.
    I listened to what the teacher said.

These words are commonly used when speaking respectfully.

 

Special Honorific Expressions

Some common expressions change when speaking respectfully.

  • 이름이 뭐예요?
    What is your name?
  • 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
    What is your name?
    More respectful
  • 몇 살이에요?
    How old are you?
  • 연세가 어떻게 되세요?
    How old are you?
    More respectful
  • 집이 어디예요?
    Where is your home?
  • 댁이 어디세요?
    Where is your home?
    More respectful

The appropriate expression depends on the relationship and situation.

 

Using -(으)시- with Adjectives

-(으)시- can also be added to adjectives when respectfully describing the subject.

  • 선생님께서 바쁘세요.
    The teacher is busy.
  • 할머니께서 건강하세요.
    My grandmother is healthy.
  • 아버지께서 피곤하세요.
    My father is tired.
  • 어머니께서 기분이 좋으세요.
    My mother is in a good mood.

The adjective describes a respected person, so the honorific marker is used.

 

More Examples

  • 선생님께서 한국어를 가르치세요.
    The teacher teaches Korean.
  • 아버지께서 매일 회사에 가세요.
    My father goes to work every day.
  • 어머니께서 저녁을 만드세요.
    My mother makes dinner.
  • 할머니께서 텔레비전을 보세요.
    My grandmother watches television.
  • 부모님께서 서울에 사세요.
    My parents live in Seoul.
  • 선생님께서 질문에 대답하세요.
    The teacher answers the question.
  • 할아버지께서 공원에서 운동하세요.
    My grandfather exercises in the park.
  • 사장님께서 회의에 참석하세요.
    The company president attends the meeting.
  • 교수님께서 책을 쓰셨어요.
    The professor wrote a book.
  • 부모님께서 다음 달에 한국에 오실 거예요.
    My parents will come to Korea next month.

 

Do Not Honor Yourself

Normally, do not use -(으)시- for your own actions.

  • 저는 학교에 가요. ✓
    I go to school.
  • 저는 학교에 가세요. ✗
  • 저는 한국어를 공부해요. ✓
    I study Korean.
  • 저는 한국어를 공부하세요. ✗

Honorific language raises another person, not the speaker.

 

Choosing Whom to Honor

The use of honorifics depends on the relationship and situation.

Honorific forms are commonly used for:

  • Teachers
  • Customers
  • Older family members
  • Senior colleagues
  • Managers
  • Respected guests
  • People you do not know well

They are usually not necessary when talking about:

  • Yourself
  • Close friends of the same age
  • Young children
  • Someone clearly lower in the social relationship

However, real-life honorific usage can vary depending on family, workplace, and social context.

 

Honorifics in Family Conversations

Korean speakers often use subject honorifics when talking about older family members.

  • 할아버지께서 주무세요.
    My grandfather is sleeping.
  • 어머니께서 요리하세요.
    My mother is cooking.
  • 아버지께서 회사에 가셨어요.
    My father went to work.

The English translation does not show the honorific meaning directly, but the Korean sentence expresses respect.

Honorifics in Customer Service

Honorific forms are very common in stores, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and other service situations.

  • 무엇을 찾으세요?
    What are you looking for?
  • 예약하셨어요?
    Did you make a reservation?
  • 어디가 불편하세요?
    Where do you feel discomfort?
  • 카드로 결제하세요?
    Are you paying by card?

In these situations, the customer is treated respectfully.

 

Common Mistakes

Using -(으)시- for yourself

Do not honor your own action.

저는 집에 가요. ✓
저는 집에 가세요. ✗

Thinking every polite sentence is honorific

-아요/어요 makes a sentence polite, but it does not automatically honor the subject.

친구가 와요.
My friend is coming.

선생님께서 오세요.
The teacher is coming.

Only the second sentence contains subject honorification.

Choosing the wrong form

Use -으시- after most final consonants.

읽다 → 읽으세요 ✓
읽세요 ✗

Use -시- after a vowel.

가다 → 가세요 ✓
가으세요 ✗

Forgetting the ㄹ rule

Remove ㄹ before -시-.

살다 → 사세요 ✓
살으세요 ✗

만들다 → 만드세요 ✓
만들으세요 ✗

Adding -시- to the conjugated form

Attach -(으)시- to the stem.

가세요. ✓
가요시어요. ✗

읽으세요. ✓
읽어요시어요. ✗

Using a regular verb instead of a common special honorific verb

Use special honorific verbs when appropriate.

할머니께서 주무세요. ✓
할머니께서 자세요. △

선생님께서 교실에 계세요. ✓
선생님께서 교실에 있으세요. △

할아버지께서 식사하세요. ✓
할아버지께서 드세요. ✓

Adding honorific markers twice

Use the standard honorific form without unnecessary repetition.

선생님께서 계세요. ✓
선생님께서 계시세요. ✗

할아버지께서 드세요. ✓
할아버지께서 드시세요. ✗

Confusing 께서 and 께

께서 marks a respected subject.

  • 선생님께서 오세요.
    The teacher is coming.

께 marks a respected recipient.

  • 선생님께 질문해요.
    I ask the teacher a question.

 

Quick Practice

Change each verb into the polite honorific present form.

  1. 가다
  2. 오다
  3. 읽다
  4. 앉다
  5. 공부하다
  6. 살다
  7. 만들다
  8. 보다

Answers

  1. 가다 → 가세요
  2. 오다 → 오세요
  3. 읽다 → 읽으세요
  4. 앉다 → 앉으세요
  5. 공부하다 → 공부하세요
  6. 살다 → 사세요
  7. 만들다 → 만드세요
  8. 보다 → 보세요

 

Special Verb Practice

Change each verb into its common honorific form.

  1. 있다
  2. 먹다
  3. 마시다
  4. 자다
  5. 말하다

Answers

  1. 있다 → 계시다 → 계세요
  2. 먹다 → 드시다 → 드세요
  3. 마시다 → 드시다 → 드세요
  4. 자다 → 주무시다 → 주무세요
  5. 말하다 → 말씀하시다 → 말씀하세요

 

Complete the Sentences

Complete each sentence using the appropriate honorific form.

  1. 선생님께서 학교에 __________.
    가다
  2. 할머니께서 집에 __________.
    있다
  3. 아버지께서 신문을 __________.
    읽다
  4. 어머니께서 저녁을 __________.
    만들다
  5. 할아버지께서 일찍 __________.
    자다
  6. 선생님께서 천천히 __________.
    말하다

Answers

  1. 선생님께서 학교에 가세요.
  2. 할머니께서 집에 계세요.
  3. 아버지께서 신문을 읽으세요.
  4. 어머니께서 저녁을 만드세요.
  5. 할아버지께서 일찍 주무세요.
  6. 선생님께서 천천히 말씀하세요.

 

Tense Practice

Change each sentence into the past tense.

  1. 선생님께서 학교에 가세요.
  2. 할머니께서 집에 계세요.
  3. 아버지께서 책을 읽으세요.
  4. 부모님께서 한국에 오세요.

Answers

  1. 선생님께서 학교에 가셨어요.
  2. 할머니께서 집에 계셨어요.
  3. 아버지께서 책을 읽으셨어요.
  4. 부모님께서 한국에 오셨어요.

 

Sentence Practice

Complete each sentence with information about someone you respect.

  • 제 선생님께서는 __________세요/으세요.
  • 제 부모님께서는 __________에 사세요.
  • 제 할머니께서는 __________을/를 좋아하세요.
  • 제 아버지께서는 매일 __________세요/으세요.
  • 제 어머니께서는 지금 __________고 계세요.
  • __________께서 다음 주에 오실 거예요.

 

Key Points

  • -(으)시- shows respect toward the subject of a sentence.
  • It is different from -아요/어요, which shows politeness toward the listener.
  • Use -으시- after most final consonants.
  • Use -시- after a vowel.
  • Remove ㄹ before -시-.
  • In the polite present tense, -(으)시어요 becomes -(으)세요.
  • Use -(으)셨어요 for the past.
  • Use -(으)실 거예요 for the future.
  • Do not normally use subject honorifics for yourself.
  • Use 께서 or 께서는 to mark a respected subject.
  • Use 께 for a respected recipient.
  • Common special honorific verbs include 계시다, 드시다, 주무시다, and 말씀하시다.
  • The correct honorific form depends on the subject and social context.

Continue Learning

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