높임 어휘 (드시다, 계시다)

Some verbs and nouns have special honorific words for people you respect (elders, teachers, customers), and some humble words for what you do for them.

문장 끝·말투Endings & speech style

Han: 자다 has its own honorific verb, 주무시다; adding 시 to 자다 sounds wrong.

Examples

처음 뵙겠습니다. 아르툠입니다.Pleased to meet you. I’m Artyom.

할머니 생신에 선물을 드렸어요.I gave my grandmother a present for her birthday.

성함이 어떻게 되세요?May I have your name, please?

선생님, 점심 드셨어요?Have you had lunch, teacher?

Don’t mix up

높임 어휘 (드시다, 계시다)vs-(으)시--(으)시- is the general honorific for most verbs (가세요, 읽으세요); the words above are the exceptions that replace it.

높임 어휘 (드시다, 계시다)vs말씀말씀 is honorific for an elder’s words (선생님 말씀) but also humble for your own words to them (말씀드릴게요 'let me tell you').

How to build it

honorific: 먹다/마시다 → 드시다, 자다 → 주무시다, 있다 → 계시다, 말하다 → 말씀하시다 · humble: 주다 → 드리다, 보다/만나다 → 뵙다, 묻다 → 여쭤보다 · nouns: 집 → 댁, 나이 → 연세, 이름 → 성함, 밥 → 진지, 생일 → 생신

할머니께서 진지를 드세요. 선생님께 꽃을 드렸어요.

The honorific word replaces the verb; you don’t just add 시 to the plain verb: 할아버지가 주무세요 (not 자세요), 어머니께서 드세요 (not 먹으세요). 잡수시다 is an even more respectful 'eat'.
있다 has two honorifics: 'be somewhere' → 계시다 (사장님은 사무실에 계세요); 'have' → 있으시다 (시간 있으세요?). Likewise 아프다 → 편찮으시다 'be unwell', 죽다 → 돌아가시다 'pass away'.
Humble verbs lower yourself when your action goes to a respected person: 드리다 'give', 여쭤보다 'ask', 뵙다 'see, meet' (처음 뵙겠습니다). Never use honorific words about yourself: 저는 밥을 먹어요, not 드세요.
Honorific nouns and particles go with them: 댁, 연세, 성함, 진지, 생신, 말씀; 이/가 → 께서, 에게 → 께.

Classic mistake

Wrong: ~~할머니가 지금 자세요.~~

Right: 할머니께서 지금 주무세요.

자다 has its own honorific verb, 주무시다; adding 시 to 자다 sounds wrong.

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