HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · INTERMEDIATE 31 · LESSON 116
특수 높임말 · 뵙다·여쭙다·드리다Honorific and humble vocabulary
Some Korean words have special polite versions. Honorific words raise the senior person who does the action (할머니께서 주무세요). Humble words lower you when you do something for or toward a senior (선생님을 뵙다, 여쭤보다, 드리다).
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A situation you already know
You email your professor to ask for a short meeting.
Professor, I’d like to see you briefly tomorrow; there’s something I’d like to ask you.
뵙다 (humble 만나다) and 여쭤보다 (humble 물어보다) lower you and show respect to the professor.
Build the form
- 먹다 → 드시다 / 잡수시다Complete expression
- 자다 → 주무시다Complete expression
- 있다 (사람이) → 계시다Complete expression
- 만나다 → 뵙다Complete expression
- 묻다 → 여쭙다 / 여쭤보다Complete expression
- 주다 → 드리다Complete expression
- Honorific (a senior does it): 먹다 → 드시다, 자다 → 주무시다, 있다 (be somewhere) → 계시다, 말하다 → 말씀하시다, 아프다 → 편찮으시다.
- Humble (you act toward a senior): 주다 → 드리다, 만나다 → 뵙다, 묻다 → 여쭙다 / 여쭤보다, 데리고 가다 → 모시고 가다, 말하다 → 말씀드리다.
- Honorific nouns: 이름 → 성함, 나이 → 연세, 집 → 댁, 밥 → 진지, 생일 → 생신.
- Honorific particles: 이/가 → 께서, 에게 → 께.
- For “have,” use 있으시다, not 계시다: 시간 있으세요?
- Never raise yourself: ✗제가 드셨어요 → 제가 먹었어요.
Think in Korean · an English-speaker’s guide
- English shows respect with polite phrasing (“May I ask…?”). Korean changes the words themselves.
- 말씀 works in both directions: 선생님 말씀 (honorific: the teacher’s words) and 말씀드리다 (humble: I tell you).
- Use these with grandparents, teachers, bosses and customers. Among friends they sound overly formal or like a joke.
Six examples in context
Grandma is sleeping in her room now.
Father, please have your meal.
Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Jisu.
I gave flowers to my teacher.
Excuse me, may I have your name?
There’s something I don’t understand, so I’d like to ask you.
Compare with related patterns
-(으)시-
선생님이 가세요.The regular honorific ending works with most verbs (Lesson 41). Special words replace some verbs completely.
-아/어 드리다
가방을 들어 드릴게요.“I’ll carry your bag for you.” The humble form of -아/어 주다 (Lesson 69).
께서 / 께
할머니께서 선물을 주셨어요.Honorific particles for 이/가 and 에게 (Lesson 41).
| Pattern | Choose it when… |
|---|---|
| 드시다 · 주무시다 · 계시다 | a senior does the action (honorific) |
| 드리다 · 뵙다 · 여쭙다 | you act toward a senior (humble) |
| 성함 · 연세 · 댁 · 진지 | honorific nouns for a senior’s things |
| -(으)시- | the regular honorific for other verbs |
Common mistakes
Use the special words: 께서, 진지, 드시다.
Asking a senior → 여쭤보다.
For “have,” use 있으시다; 계시다 means “be somewhere.”
Never use honorifics for yourself.
Mini practice · six questions
Try each one before opening the answer. Translation answers are models; other natural wording is possible.
- Choose the natural form할아버지께서 지금 (주무세요 / 자세요).
Check answer
주무세요
A senior sleeps → 주무시다.
- Choose the natural form선생님, 이 선물 (주세요 / 드릴게요).
Check answer
드릴게요
You give to a senior → 드리다.
- Fill in the blank질문이 있어서 교수님께 ______. (묻다 · 과거)
Check answer
질문이 있어서 교수님께 여쭤봤어요.
Humble form of 묻다 → 여쭤보다.
- Fill in the blank할머니, ______ 어떻게 되세요? (나이)
Check answer
할머니, 연세가 어떻게 되세요?
Honorific noun for 나이 → 연세.
- Fix the mistake사장님이 지금 사무실에 있으세요.
Check answer
사장님께서 지금 사무실에 계세요.
Being somewhere → 계시다 (and 께서).
- Say it in KoreanNice to meet you. (formal, first meeting)
Check answer
처음 뵙겠습니다.
뵙다 is the humble 만나다.
Today’s key point
Honorific (a senior does it): 드시다, 주무시다, 계시다, 말씀하시다. Humble (you toward a senior): 드리다, 뵙다, 여쭙다, 말씀드리다. Nouns: 성함, 연세, 댁, 진지. Never for yourself.
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