Korean Speech Levels — 높임말
Read the lesson, then practise at your own pace. All explanations and examples are on this page.
합쇼체 (Formal)
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 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
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 입니다 | im-ni-da | is / am / are — formal statement ending |
| 감사합니다 | gam-sa-ham-ni-da | Thank you (formal) |
| 안녕하십니까 | an-nyeong-ha-sim-ni-kka | Hello? / How do you do? (formal greeting, question form) |
Check your understanding
합쇼체 Verb Endings (-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
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 먹습니다 | meok-seum-ni-da | I eat / am eating (formal) |
| 갑니다 | gam-ni-da | I go / am going (formal) — pronounced 감니다 |
해요체 (Polite)
해요체 — Everyday Polite Speech
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
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요 | an-nyeong-ha-se-yo | Hello / Good day (polite, everyday greeting) |
| 감사해요 | gam-sa-hae-yo | Thank you (polite, less formal than 감사합니다) |
| 먹어요 | meo-geo-yo | I eat / am eating (polite) |
| 가요 | ga-yo | I go / am going (polite) |
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-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
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 좋아요 | jo-a-yo | It's good / I like it (polite present) |
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반말 (Casual)
반말 — Casual Speech
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
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕 | an-nyeong | Hi / Bye (casual greeting and farewell) |
| 고마워 | go-ma-wo | Thanks (casual) |
| 먹어 | meo-geo | eat / I eat (casual) |
| 가 | ga | go / I go (casual) |
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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.
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Choosing a Level 레벨 선택
문어체 — Written/Formal Style
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
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 이다 | i-da | to be (copula, written/dictionary form) |
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.
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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.