Verbs: Formal Politeness

01

Declarative Sentences (Statements)

To form a statement in this style, you attach a specific ending to the verb stem. The choice of ending depends on whether the verb stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.

If the verb stem ends in a vowel, add ㅂ니다 (m·ni·dam·ni·dam·ni·dam·ni·ta). The ㅂ (p) attaches directly to the bottom of the last syllable of the stem.

• 저는 학교에 갑니다.

  chŏ·nŭn hak·gyo·æ kam·ni·da.jeo·neun hak·gyo·ae gam·ni·da.chŏ·nŭn hak·gyo·ae kam·ni·da.ce·nun hak·kyo·ay kam·ni·ta.

  I go to school.

• 우리는 사과를 삽니다.

  u·ri·nŭn sa·gwa·rŭl sam·ni·da.u·ri·neun sa·gwa·reul sam·ni·da.u·ri·nŭn sa·gwa·rŭl sam·ni·da.u·li·nun sa·kwa·lul sam·ni·ta.

  We buy apples.

If the verb stem ends in a consonant, add 습니다 (sŭm·ni·daseum·ni·dasŭm·ni·dasum·ni·ta) after the stem.

• 그는 밥을 먹습니다.

  kŭ·nŭn pa·bŭl mŏk·sŭm·ni·da.geu·neun ba·beul meok·seum·ni·da.kŭ·nŭn pa·bŭl mŏk·sŭm·ni·da.ku·nun pa·pul mek·sum·ni·ta.

  He eats rice.

• 이 모자가 좋습니다.

  i mo·ja·ga cho·sŭm·ni·da.i mo·ja·ga jo·seum·ni·da.i mo·ja·ga cho·sŭm·ni·da.i mo·ca·ka co·sum·ni·ta.

  This hat is good.

02

Interrogative Sentences (Questions)

Unlike English, where intonation often indicates a question, Korean formal speech uses specific endings to mark questions.

If the verb stem ends in a vowel, add ㅂ니까? (m·ni·gga?m·ni·gga?m·ni·kka?m·ni·kka?).

• 지금 갑니까?

  chi·gŭm kam·ni·gga?ji·geum gam·ni·gga?chi·gŭm kam·ni·kka?ci·kum kam·ni·kka?

  Are you going now?

• 영어를 합니까?

  yŏng·ŏ·rŭl ham·ni·gga?yeong·eo·reul ham·ni·gga?yŏng·ŏ·rŭl ham·ni·kka?yeng·e·lul ham·ni·kka?

  Do you speak English?

If the verb stem ends in a consonant, add 습니까? (sŭm·ni·gga?seum·ni·gga?sŭm·ni·kka?sum·ni·kka?).

• 김치를 먹습니까?

  kim·chi·rŭl mŏk·sŭm·ni·gga?gim·ji·reul meok·seum·ni·gga?kim·chi·rŭl mŏk·sŭm·ni·kka?kim·ci·lul mek·sum·ni·kka?

  Do you eat kimchi?

• 시간이 있습니까?

  shi·ga·ni it·sŭm·ni·gga?shi·ga·ni it·seum·ni·gga?shi·ga·ni it·sŭm·ni·kka?shi·ka·ni it·sum·ni·kka?

  Do you have time?

03

The Verb "To Be"

The verb 이다 (i·dai·dai·dai·ta), meaning "to be", is very common in introductions. In the formal style, it becomes 입니다 (im·ni·daim·ni·daim·ni·daim·ni·ta) for statements and 입니까? (im·ni·gga?im·ni·gga?im·ni·kka?im·ni·kka?) for questions.

• 저는 학생입니다.

  chŏ·nŭn hak·sæng·im·ni·da.jeo·neun hak·saeng·im·ni·da.chŏ·nŭn hak·saeng·im·ni·da.ce·nun hak·sayng·im·ni·ta.

  I am a student.

• 의사입니까?

  ŭi·sa·im·ni·gga?ui·sa·im·ni·gga?ŭi·sa·im·ni·kka?uy·sa·im·ni·kka?

  Are you a doctor?

04

Irregular Verbs with 'ㄹ'

There is one important irregularity to remember for this level. If a verb stem ends in the consonant ㄹ (l), the ㄹ (l) drops off completely before adding the formal ending. Since the stem now ends in a vowel (after dropping the consonant), you add ㅂ니다 (m·ni·dam·ni·dam·ni·dam·ni·ta).

For example, 살다 (sal·dasal·dasal·dasal·ta) - to live loses the ㄹ (l) to become 사 (sa), and then becomes 삽니다 (sam·ni·dasam·ni·dasam·ni·dasam·ni·ta).

• 저는 서울에 삽니다.

  chŏ·nŭn sŏ·u·ræ sam·ni·da.jeo·neun seo·u·rae sam·ni·da.chŏ·nŭn sŏ·u·rae sam·ni·da.ce·nun se·u·lay sam·ni·ta.

  I live in Seoul.

• 누가 케이크를 만듭니까?

  nu·ga kæ·i·kʰŭ·rŭl man·dŭm·ni·gga?nu·ga gae·i·keu·reul man·deum·ni·gga?nu·ga kae·i·k'ŭ·rŭl man·dŭm·ni·kka?nu·ka kay·i·khu·lul man·tum·ni·kka?

  Who makes the cake?

05

Common Fixed Expressions

Many standard phrases used in everyday interactions are fixed in this formal polite style, even if the rest of the conversation is less formal.

• 만나서 반갑습니다.

  man·na·sŏ pan·gap·sŭm·ni·da.man·na·seo ban·gap·seum·ni·da.man·na·sŏ pan·gap·sŭm·ni·da.man·na·se pan·kap·sum·ni·ta.

  Nice to meet you.

• 감사합니다.

  kam·sa·ham·ni·da.gam·sa·ham·ni·da.kam·sa·ham·ni·da.kam·sa·ham·ni·ta.

  Thank you.

• 죄송합니다.

  chœ·song·ham·ni·da.joe·song·ham·ni·da.choe·song·ham·ni·da.cway·song·ham·ni·ta.

  I am sorry.