Korean Honorifics: Formality Levels Explained
The 3 levels you actually need
Korean has more than 3 levels in textbooks, but in real life you mostly use 3:
- 반말 (banmal) — intimate. Friends, family, close peers, anyone clearly younger when you have established rapport. Verb ending: -아/어. Example: "어디 가?" (Where are you going?)
- 해요체 (haeyo-che) — polite. Default for adults to other adults. Strangers, shopkeepers, casual coworkers. Verb ending: -아/어요. Example: "어디 가요?"
- 합쇼체 (hapsho-che) — formal. Business, news, presentations, very senior elders. Verb ending: -ㅂ/습니다. Example: "어디 가십니까?"
The honorific marker -시-
Separate from formality level: the -시- (-shi-) marker shows respect to the subject of the sentence — usually someone older or higher in status.
- 가다 (to go) → 가요 (you go, polite)
- → 가세요 (-시- inserted: respected person goes, polite)
- → 가십니다 (most respectful + most formal)
See formality levels in real K-pop lyric contextBiasly Pro shows which level each lyric uses + why.
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When to use which — quick map
| Situation | Level |
|---|---|
| Talking to a stranger in a café | 해요체 + -시- |
| Friend your age you met today | 해요체 (then drop to 반말 with permission) |
| Friend your age, known for years | 반말 |
| Boss in a meeting | 합쇼체 + -시- |
| Parent | 해요체 + -시- (some families use 반말) |
| Child / dog | 반말 |
| News broadcast / public speech | 합쇼체 |
How to "downgrade" politely
If you've been using 해요체 with someone close in age and want to shift to 반말, ask:
"우리 말 놓을까요?" Uri mal nohulkkayo?
Literally "shall we drop the speech (down)?" — i.e. switch to casual. They'll either agree or politely defer.
Common visitor mistakes
- Using 반말 with a stranger (rude, even if friendly intent)
- Using 합쇼체 with everyone (sounds stiff and overly formal in casual contexts)
- Forgetting -시- when talking ABOUT a respected third party
- Mixing levels mid-sentence (sounds careless)
Default to 해요체 + -시- when in doubt. It is rarely wrong.