Students always get stumped on Korean honorifics.

It’s easy to understand why.

In English, we show respect by adding words like “sir” or “ma’am,” or by using softer phrases like “could you please…?” instead of “do this.”

In Korean, politeness is literally built into the grammar.

The end of your sentence completely changes depending on who you’re talking to.

I can assure you that honorifics are much simpler than you might think.

Think of Korean speech levels like choosing what clothes to wear. You wear comfy sweatpants with your best friends, a nice shirt when meeting someone new, and a formal suit for a job interview.

Keep reading, and I’ll break down everything you need to know about Korean politeness levels in a simple, straight-to-the-point way.

What are Korean honorifics?

In Korean, the way you speak is divided into two main categories:

• 존댓말 (Jondaetmal): Polite or formal language. You use this with people older than you, people of higher status (like a boss or teacher), and strangers.
• 반말 (Banmal): Casual, informal language. You use this with close friends, people younger than you, and children.

Using the wrong level can sound rude, which is why most Korean textbooks teach you the polite forms first.

As a beginner, always default to polite language. It’s much better to be a little too polite than to accidentally offend someone!

The three main speech levels you need to know

While Korean technically has seven distinct speech levels, you only need to worry about three for daily life.

Here’s how they work.

1. The formal polite level (하십시오체)

This is the “suit and tie” of Korean. You’ll hear this on the news, during formal presentations, in the military, or when customer service workers speak to you.

Verbs in this level end in -ㅂ니다 (-mnida) or -습니다 (-seumnida).

2. The standard polite level (해요체)

This is your “everyday nice shirt.” It’s polite, friendly, and natural. You’ll use this level 80% of the time-with coworkers, strangers on the street, and older acquaintances.

Verbs in this level almost always end in -요 (-yo). If you ever get confused, just make sure your sentence ends in “yo”!

3. The casual level (해체 / 반말)

This is your “sweatpants.” It’s very casual. Only use this with close friends of the same age, people younger than you, or family members you’re close to.

To make the casual form, you usually just drop the “요” (-yo) from the standard polite level.

Summary table of the three levels

Here’s a quick look at how the verb 하다 (to do) and 가다 (to go) change across the three levels.

Special honorific vocabulary

Sometimes, changing the end of the sentence to “-yo” or “-mnida” isn’t enough to show respect.

When you’re talking about someone highly respected (like a grandparent, a boss, or a customer), you actually have to change some of the words entirely.

For example, the regular Korean word for “age” is 나이 (nai). But if you ask an elder their age, using 나이 sounds disrespectful. Instead, you must use the honorific word, 연세 (yeonse).

Here are the most common honorific words you should memorize:

The honorific suffix -시- (-si-)

In addition to special vocabulary, Korean uses a grammar trick to show respect to the subject of a sentence.

By inserting -시- (-si-) into the middle of a verb, you instantly elevate the person you’re talking about.

• 가다 (to go) becomes 가시다
• 하다 (to do) becomes 하시다

When conjugated into the polite “-yo” level, this -시- turns into -세요 (-seyo).

A quick tip: You only use this to elevate other people. You never use -시- or honorific vocabulary to talk about yourself!

Regional variations in politeness

If you travel outside of Seoul, you might hear local dialects, known as 사투리 (Satoori).

While the core rules of honorifics apply everywhere in Korea, the specific endings can sound completely different depending on the region.

For example, in the Gyeongsang region (cities like Busan and Daegu), the polite standard “-yo” ending is often replaced by -예 (-ye) or -교 (-gyo).

On Jeju Island, the traditional dialect has entirely different honorific systems. Many older Jeju residents use a polite ending that sounds like -수다 (-suda) instead of -습니다.

Don’t worry about memorizing regional honorifics if you’re a beginner. Standard Korean is understood perfectly everywhere in the country. Just stick to your standard “-yo” and “-mnida” forms!

Making mistakes is normal

It takes time to get used to honorifics. You might accidentally use casual language with a cashier, or use an honorific word to describe yourself.

That’s completely normal. Even native Korean children take years to learn how to use honorifics properly.

Listen to native speakers, pay attention to how they address different people, and practice using the polite “-yo” form.