What are Relative Honorifics?
In Korean, the way you end your sentences changes depending on who you are talking to. This system is called 상대 높임 , or 'relative honorifics', because the speech level is relative to the listener.
The two main polite styles you'll encounter are:
격식체 : The Formal Polite style.
비격식체 : The Informal Polite style.
Choosing the right one is important for sounding natural and respectful. It all depends on the social context, the setting, and your relationship with the person you're speaking to.
Formal Polite Style: -(스)ㅂ니다
The formal polite style, ending in -(스)ㅂ니다 for statements and -(스)ㅂ니까? for questions, is used in official, public, or formal settings. You'll hear it often in:
News broadcasts
Company presentations and meetings
Official announcements
The military
It creates a sense of distance, professionalism, and high respect.
Conjugation Rules
Stem Type · Statement · Question
Ends in a vowel (e.g., 가다) · -ㅂ니다 (갑니다) · -ㅂ니까? (갑니까?)
Ends in a consonant (e.g., 먹다) · -습니다 (먹습니다) · -습니까? (먹습니까?)
Informal Polite Style: -아요/어요
The informal polite style, ending in -아요/어요 , is the standard polite form for most everyday conversations. It's friendly and soft, but still respectful.
This is your go-to style when talking to:
Coworkers you are friendly with
Store clerks and restaurant staff
People older than you whom you know casually
Anyone you've just met in a non-formal setting
A key feature of this style is that statements and questions often use the same form. Your rising intonation at the end of the sentence is what turns it into a question.
Statement: 커피 마셔요. (I'm drinking coffee.)