Overview
The ending -(으)십시오 is a highly formal and polite imperative form used to give commands or make requests. It expresses a strong sense of respect and deference towards the listener, making it appropriate for situations where formality and politeness are paramount.
Usage
This grammatical pattern is primarily used in formal settings, when addressing elders, superiors, or strangers, or in public announcements and written instructions. It conveys a higher degree of politeness and respect compared to the more commonly used -(으)세요. You will often encounter -(으)십시오 in contexts such as:
- Customer service interactions
- Public announcements (e.g., "안내 말씀 드리겠습니다. 문이 닫히오니 조심하십시오." - "Attention please. The doors are closing, so please be careful.")
- Formal speeches or presentations
- Written instructions or signs
- When showing utmost respect to someone of very high status.
Conjugation Rules
The conjugation of -(으)십시오 depends on the final sound of the verb stem:
-
If the verb stem ends in a vowel or the consonant ㄹ (which is treated like a vowel-ending stem for this conjugation):
- Attach -십시오.
- Example: 가다 (to go) -> 가 + 십시오 -> 가십시오 (Please go.)
- Example: 오다 (to come) -> 오 + 십시오 -> 오십시오 (Please come.)
- Example: 만들다 (to make) -> 만드 + 십시오 -> 만드십시오 (Please make.)
-
If the verb stem ends in a consonant (other than ㄹ):
- Attach -으십시오.
- Example: 읽다 (to read) -> 읽 + 으십시오 -> 읽으십시오 (Please read.)
- Example: 앉다 (to sit) -> 앉 + 으십시오 -> 앉으십시오 (Please sit.)
Knowledge Plus
- Level of Politeness: -(으)십시오 is one of the highest forms of polite imperative in Korean. It is more formal and respectful than -(으)세요, which is generally used in everyday polite conversation.
- Context: While -(으)세요 is common in daily interactions, -(으)십시오 is reserved for more formal or public situations. Using -(으)십시오 in casual settings might sound overly stiff or even sarcastic, depending on the tone.
- Corresponding Forms: This imperative form is part of the formal speech style (하십시오체). Its corresponding declarative form is -(으)ㅂ니다 and its interrogative form is -(으)ㅂ니까.
- Historical Usage: Historically, -(으)십시오 was more widely used, but in modern everyday conversation, -(으)세요 has become more prevalent for general politeness, while -(으)십시오 maintains its strong formal and respectful nuance.