How do Korean honorifics work?
Honorifics elevate the person you are talking about, while speech levels mark the person you are talking to. These are two separate systems that operate at once. The main tool is the infix 시 added to the verb stem, plus a set of special verbs and particles used for respected subjects.
Honorifics and speech levels are different systems
You can speak politely to someone about a person who does not warrant honorifics, and casually to a friend about someone who does. Speech level is about the listener; honorifics are about the subject of the sentence.
선생님이 가세요.
seonsaengnimi gaseyo
The teacher is going.
Honorific 시 for the teacher, polite 요 for the listener.
친구가 가요.
chin-guga gayo
My friend is going.
No honorific — a friend does not take one.
The 시 infix
Insert 시 between the stem and the ending to elevate the subject. After a consonant it becomes 으시. It is the single most productive honorific device and applies to almost any verb.
가다 → 가시다 → 가세요
gada → gasida → gaseyo
to go (honorific)
읽다 → 읽으시다
ilkda → ilgeusida
to read (honorific)
으시 after a consonant.
Special honorific verbs and particles
Some very common verbs have entirely separate honorific forms rather than taking 시. The subject particle also changes, and 님 attaches to titles.
먹다 → 드시다 / 잡수시다
meokda → deusida
to eat → to eat (honorific)
자다 → 주무시다
jada → jumusida
to sleep (honorific)
이/가 → 께서
kkeseo
honorific subject particle
에게 → 께
kke
honorific dative particle
Common mistakes
저는 밥을 드세요.
저는 밥을 먹어요.
You never use honorifics about yourself. 드시다 elevates someone else.
친구가 오세요.
친구가 와요.
A friend of equal standing does not take the honorific infix; using it sounds odd or sarcastic.
선생님이 와요.
선생님께서 오세요.
A teacher warrants both the honorific particle and the 시 infix.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use honorifics as a foreigner?
You will be forgiven for missing them, but they are noticed. 시 with people clearly older or senior, and the special verbs for eating and sleeping, cover most everyday situations and are worth learning early.
What is the difference between honorifics and speech levels?
Speech level is about who you are speaking to; honorifics are about who you are speaking about. You can combine any level with any honorific, and both are running in every sentence.
Why can I not use honorifics about myself?
Because their function is to raise someone relative to you. Applying them to yourself inverts the whole system, and it is one of the errors that is immediately noticeable.