The Honorific Particle -께
Showing Respect to the Recipient
In Korean, you show respect not only to the subject of a sentence but also to the object or recipient of an action. This is called 객체 높임법 .
The first key component is the particle -께 . It's the honorific version of -에게 (formal 'to') and -한테 (casual 'to'). You use -께 when the person receiving an action is someone of higher status or someone you need to show respect to, like a teacher, parent, or boss.
Neutral Form · Honorific Form
친구 에게 (to a friend) · 선생님 께 (to the teacher)
동생 한테 (to a younger sibling) · 할머니 께 (to grandmother)
Examples:
선생님 께 질문이 있어요.
부모님 께 편지를 썼어요.
Key takeaway: Use -께 when the recipient of your action is someone you respect. It attaches directly to the noun representing that person.
The Humble Verb 드리다
Giving with Respect
The second key component of object honorifics is using special "humble" verbs. The most common one is 드리다 , which means 'to give'.
You use 드리다 instead of the neutral verb 주다 when you are giving something to a person of higher status. By using a humble verb, you are subtly lowering your own position to elevate the person you are interacting with. It's a sign of respect.
Action · Recipient is... · Verb to use
Giving · Friend, younger person · 주다
Giving · Parent, teacher, elder, customer · 드리다
The verb 드리다 is very often used together with the particle -께 .
할머니 께 선물을 드렸어요 . (I gave a gift to grandmother.)
제가 짐을 들어 드릴게요 . (I'll carry the bags for you.)
Other Common Humble Verbs
Expanding Your Polite Vocabulary
Besides 드리다 , there are several other common humble verbs that you should learn. Using them correctly will make your Korean sound much more fluent and polite in situations that require respect.
Neutral Verb · Humble Verb · English Meaning
말하다 · 말씀드리다 · to say, to tell
물어보다 · 여쭙다 / 여쭈다 · to ask
만나다 / 보다 · 뵙다 · to meet, to see
Here are some examples:
제가 나중에 사장님께 말씀드릴게요 . (I will tell the boss later.)
교수님께 질문을 여쭤봐도 될까요? (May I ask the professor a question?)
내일 오후에 뵙겠습니다 . (I will see you tomorrow afternoon.)
Mastering these takes practice, but they are essential for navigating social and professional situations in Korea.