Honorific Case Markers — Korean Grammar

To show respect to people of higher social status, such as elders, teachers, parents, or bosses, standard case markers are replaced with honorific versions. These markers indicate that the person being spoken about deserves deference.

The Honorific Subject Marker 께서 (gge·sŏ)

When a respected person is the subject of the sentence (the one doing the action), the standard subject particles (i) and (gagagaka) are replaced by (gge·sŏgge·seokke·sŏkkey·se). This is often used in formal settings or when speaking about someone significantly older.

Whenever (gge·sŏgge·seokke·sŏkkey·se) is used, the verb ending must also change to its honorific form, usually by adding the suffix (-(ŭ)si-).

할아버지께서 오셨어요.
hal·a·bŏ·ji·gge·sŏ o·syŏss·ŏ·yo.hal·a·beo·ji·gge·seo o·syeoss·eo·yo.hal·a·bŏ·ji·kke·sŏ o·syŏss·ŏ·yo.hal·a·pe·ci·kkey·se o·syess·e·yo.
Grandfather came.
선생님께서 한국어를 가르치세요.
sŏn·sæng·nim·gge·sŏ han·gu·gŏ·rŭl ga·rŭ·chʰi·se·yo.seon·saeng·nim·gge·seo han·gu·geo·reul ga·reu·chi·se·yo.sŏn·saeng·nim·kke·sŏ han·gu·gŏ·rŭl ga·rŭ·ch'i·se·yo.sen·sayng·nim·kkey·se han·ku·ke·lul ka·lu·chi·sey·yo.
The teacher teaches Korean.

The Honorific Topic Marker 께서는 (gge·sŏ·nŭn)

If the respected person is the main topic of the sentence (what the sentence is "about"), the standard topic particles (ŭneunŭnun) and (nŭnneunnŭnnun) become (gge·sŏ·nŭngge·seo·neunkke·sŏ·nŭnkkey·se·nun). This is a combination of the subject marker (gge·sŏgge·seokke·sŏkkey·se) and the topic marker (nŭnneunnŭnnun).

어머니께서는 요리를 좋아하세요.
ŏ·mŏ·ni·gge·sŏ·nŭn yo·ri·rŭl jo·a·ha·se·yo.eo·meo·ni·gge·seo·neun yo·ri·reul jo·a·ha·se·yo.ŏ·mŏ·ni·kke·sŏ·nŭn yo·ri·rŭl jo·a·ha·se·yo.e·me·ni·kkey·se·nun yo·li·lul co·a·ha·sey·yo.
(As for) mother, she likes cooking.
사장님께서는 지금 바쁘세요.
sa·jang·nim·gge·sŏ·nŭn ji·gŭm ba·bbŭ·se·yo.sa·jang·nim·gge·seo·neun ji·geum ba·bbeu·se·yo.sa·jang·nim·kke·sŏ·nŭn ji·gŭm ba·ppŭ·se·yo.sa·cang·nim·kkey·se·nun ci·kum pa·ppu·sey·yo.
The boss is busy right now.

The Honorific Dative Marker 께 (gge)

When a respected person is the receiver of an action (equivalent to "to" in English), the standard particles (e·gee·gee·geey·key) (written) and (han·tʰehan·tehan·t'ehan·they) (spoken) are replaced by (ggeggekkekkey).

Unlike the subject marker, (ggeggekkekkey) does not necessarily require the verb to have the (-(ŭ)si-) suffix, unless the subject of the sentence is also a respected person. However, it often triggers the use of "humble verbs" (verbs that lower the speaker to show respect to the receiver), such as using (dŭ·ri·dadeu·ri·dadŭ·ri·datu·li·ta) (to give) instead of (ju·daju·daju·dacu·ta).

부모님께 편지를 썼어요.
pu·mo·nim·gge pʰyŏn·ji·rŭl ssŏss·ŏ·yo.bu·mo·nim·gge pyeon·ji·reul sseoss·eo·yo.pu·mo·nim·kke p'yŏn·ji·rŭl ssŏss·ŏ·yo.pu·mo·nim·kkey phyen·ci·lul ssess·e·yo.
I wrote a letter to my parents.
할머니께 선물을 드렸어요.
hal·mŏ·ni·gge sŏn·mul·ŭl dŭ·ryŏss·ŏ·yo.hal·meo·ni·gge seon·mul·eul deu·ryeoss·eo·yo.hal·mŏ·ni·kke sŏn·mul·ŭl dŭ·ryŏss·ŏ·yo.hal·me·ni·kkey sen·mul·ul tu·lyess·e·yo.
I gave a present to grandmother.
선생님께 물어보세요.
sŏn·sæng·nim·gge mu·rŏ·bo·se·yo.seon·saeng·nim·gge mu·reo·bo·se·yo.sŏn·saeng·nim·kke mu·rŏ·bo·se·yo.sen·sayng·nim·kkey mu·le·po·sey·yo.
Please ask the teacher.

Summary of Changes

Subject (who does it): (i/ga) becomes (gge·sŏgge·seokke·sŏkkey·se).
Topic (as for...): (ŭn/nŭneun/nŭnŭn/nŭnun/nŭn) becomes (gge·sŏ·nŭngge·seo·neunkke·sŏ·nŭnkkey·se·nun).
Recipient (to whom): (e·ge/han·tʰee·ge/han·tee·ge/han·t'eey·key/han·they) becomes (ggeggekkekkey).

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Korean course

4 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 181. A few of them, with the words “Honorific Case Markers” is about in bold:

아버지는 어머니께 드릴 선물을 사셨어요.
a·bŏ·ji·nŭn ŏ·mŏ·ni kke dŭ·ril sŏn·mur·ŭl sa·syŏss·ŏ·yo.a·beo·ji·neun eo·meo·ni gge deu·ril seon·mur·eul sa·syeoss·eo·yo.a·bŏ·ji·nŭn ŏ·mŏ·ni kke dŭ·ril sŏn·mur·ŭl sa·syŏss·ŏ·yo.a·pe·ci·nun e·me·ni kkey tu·lil sen·mur·ul sa·syess·e·yo.
My father bought a present for my mother.
Lesson 225

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