Politeness in Korean

Korean culture places great importance on politeness and respect in language. Understanding and using the appropriate levels of politeness is crucial for effective communication in Korea, whether you're engaging in daily conversations or professional settings. In this blog post, we explore the art of linguistic etiquette in Korean and dive into the world of honorifics and speech levels.

Korean has an intricate system of honorifics, with various levels of politeness to show respect or familiarity. The most common honorifics involve changing the verb endings and using different expressions when addressing someone with respect. For example, the polite suffix "-요" (“-yo”) is often added to verbs when speaking politely.

In Korean, there are two main speech levels: 존댓말 (jondaetmal) and 반말 (banmal). 존댓말, also known as polite speech, is used when addressing those you should show respect to, such as elders, superiors, or strangers. 반말, on the other hand, is informal speech used with friends, family, or those younger than you.

Understanding when to switch between speech levels is a nuanced aspect of Korean language and culture. It's not solely based on age but also on social status, familiarity, and the context of the conversation. Even within 존댓말, there are varying levels of politeness to further refine your speech based on the situation.

Korean workplaces often have strict hierarchies and use 존댓말 to maintain respect and professionalism. Using the correct speech level is vital in professional settings, and making an error can lead to misunderstandings and discomfort among colleagues.

Moreover, when visiting someone's home, it is common courtesy to remove your shoes. This is a show of respect and cleanliness to the host of the area. Normally, if you are at a location other than home where you are expected to take your shoes off, there will be a place for you to leave your shoes before entering.

Finally, dining is another situation where you must pay special attention to being respectful. When eating with others, it is often necessary to wait for the eldest or most senior person to start eating before you can start. In addition, it is polite to show appreciation for the food made by saying 잘 먹겠습니다, which means “I will eat well,” and once done eating, 잘 먹었습니다, meaning “I ate well.”