Korean Speech Levels — 높임말

Stage 1 · 합쇼체 (Formal) 합쇼체

Korean Speech Levels Overview 높임말 개요

Korean has a system of speech levels (높임말) that determines how formal or polite your language is. The level you choose depends on the social relationship, age, rank, and context of the conversation. The three levels you'll encounter most are: 합쇼체 (formal polite, used in presentations, military, and customer service), 해요체 (everyday polite, the default for adults talking to non-close acquaintances), and 반말 (casual speech, used with close friends and younger people). Getting the level wrong can come across as rude, cold, or over-familiar.

합쇼체 — The Formal Register 합쇼체

합쇼체 is the highest formal speech level in Korean. It is used in TV news broadcasts, military orders, formal presentations, hotel/airline staff speech, and customer service. Verb endings change to -ㅂ니다 / -습니다 for statements and -ㅂ니까? / -습니까? for questions. The vocabulary also shifts — 밥 (food) becomes 식사, 있어요 becomes 있습니다. This level signals maximum respect and professionalism.

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

You are hotel staff making an announcement to guests. Which form of the verb 있다 do you use?

Answer: 있습니다 (있어 · 있습니다 · 있어요 · 있다)

합쇼체 Verb Endings (-ㅂ니다/-습니다) -ㅂ니다/-습니다

The hallmark of 합쇼체 is the -ㅂ니다 / -습니다 ending. Use -ㅂ니다 after verb stems ending in a vowel: 가다 → 갑니다 (I go). Use -습니다 after stems ending in a consonant: 먹다 → 먹습니다 (I eat). For questions, the ending changes to -ㅂ니까? / -습니까?: 가다 → 갑니까? (Are you going?). The pronunciation note: 갑니다 is pronounced [감니다] due to nasal assimilation.

Words and phrases

Stage 2 · 해요체 (Polite) 해요체

해요체 — Everyday Polite Speech 해요체

해요체 is the speech level you will use most in daily Korean life. It is polite enough for strangers and acquaintances but warm enough to feel natural. The ending -아요 / -어요 / -해요 is added to the verb stem. 해요체 is used in shops, with coworkers you're not extremely close to, with adults you're meeting for the first time, and in most learner-to-native interactions. It is the 'default polite' of Korean.

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

A coworker you are not close to asks what you are having for lunch. Which form of 먹다 do you use?

Answer: 먹어요 (먹습니다 · 먹어요 · 먹어 · 먹는다)

-아요 / -어요 Pattern -아요/-어요 패턴

The 해요체 ending rule: add -아요 if the last vowel of the stem is ㅏ or ㅗ (bright vowels), and add -어요 for all other vowels. 하다 verbs use -해요 instead. Examples: 가다 → 가 + 아요 = 가요 (contracted). 먹다 → 먹 + 어요 = 먹어요. 공부하다 → 공부해요. In practice, 아/어 often contract with the stem's final vowel: 가 + 아요 → 가요, 오 + 아요 → 와요.

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

오다 in 해요체 (everyday polite) is…

Answer: 와요 (오아요 · 옵니다 · 와요 · 와)

Stage 3 · 반말 (Casual) 반말

반말 — Casual Speech 반말

반말 (ban-mal, literally 'half-speech') is the casual register used among close friends of similar age, with younger people, and within family. It drops the -요 from 해요체 endings: 가요 → 가, 먹어요 → 먹어, 좋아요 → 좋아. 반말 can sound rude if used with someone older or with a stranger — always start with 해요체 and switch to 반말 only if the other person initiates or explicitly suggests it. In K-dramas, characters switching from 해요체 to 반말 signals a big shift in closeness.

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

You run into a close friend your own age. How do you greet them?

Answer: 안녕 (안녕하세요 · 안녕하십니까 · 안녕 · 반갑습니다)

When to Use 반말 (and When NOT to) 반말 사용 규칙

Use 반말 with: close friends of similar age, younger siblings, younger students, or children. Do NOT use 반말 with: strangers, anyone older than you, your boss or teacher, service staff, or people you've just met (even if they seem similar in age). The mistake many Korean learners make is assuming that because someone is friendly, 반말 is appropriate. Friendliness and speech-level permission are separate — always wait for a signal.

Check your understanding

You're talking to a stranger your same age on the street. Which level should you use?

Answer: 해요체 (반말 · 합쇼체 · 해요체)

Stage 4 · Choosing a Level 레벨 선택

문어체 — Written/Formal Style 문어체

문어체 (mun-eo-che, 'written language style') is used in formal writing — academic papers, news articles, legal documents, and literature. The verb ending is -다 (the plain style: -ㄴ다/-는다 on verbs): 간다, 먹는다, 했다. It sounds unnatural in spoken conversation but appears everywhere in written Korean. Learners encounter this when reading Korean text and may wonder why it differs from what they've been taught — that's because textbooks teach spoken registers, while reading requires recognizing 문어체.

Words and phrases

Speech Level Comparison Chart 높임말 비교표

Here is how the same idea looks across speech levels. 'I eat': 먹습니다 (formal 합쇼체) → 먹어요 (polite 해요체) → 먹어 (casual 반말) → 먹는다 (written 문어체). 'Thank you': 감사합니다 (formal) → 감사해요 (polite) → 고마워 (casual). 'I go': 갑니다 (formal) → 가요 (polite) → 가 (casual) → 간다 (written). Noticing these patterns will help you identify which level a speaker is using when you watch Korean dramas or listen to native speech.

Check your understanding

You are thanking your company's CEO at a formal dinner. Which form do you use?

Answer: 감사합니다 (고마워 · 감사해요 · 감사합니다 · 고맙다)

In a job interview in Korea, which speech level should you use?

Answer: 합쇼체 (반말 · 해요체 · 합쇼체 · 문어체)

Mixing Speech Levels — A Common Mistake 높임말 혼용 주의

One of the most common learner mistakes is mixing speech levels — using 먹어요 (해요체) in one sentence and 먹습니다 (합쇼체) in the next. Native speakers notice this immediately. It sounds like mixing formal and casual in the same breath. Choose one level for the conversation and stick to it. The only exception is intentional switching for rhetorical effect (like a business email that opens formally and ends warmly), but even this follows clear patterns.

What you have learned

Speech Levels Complete! — 높임말 완료!

You've mastered the Korean speech level system — formal 합쇼체, everyday 해요체, casual 반말, and written 문어체. You're now equipped to read social situations and speak at the right level.