Overview
Korean is famous for its elaborate system of speech levels (높임법). The way you end a sentence changes depending on your relationship with the listener -- their age, social status, and your level of closeness.
Korean has 7 traditional speech levels, but in modern daily life, 4 are commonly used:
| Level | Name | Category | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 합쇼체 (格式体) | 존댓말 (polite) | Formal polite -- business, news, military |
| 2 | 해요체 | 존댓말 (polite) | Informal polite -- daily conversation |
| 3 | 해체 | 반말 (casual) | Casual -- close friends, younger people |
| 4 | 해라체 | 반말 (casual) | Plain -- writing, quotes, older-to-younger |
The other 3 levels (하소서체, 하게체, 하오체) are archaic and rarely used in modern conversation.
The Two Big Categories: 존댓말 vs. 반말
Before understanding the individual levels, know the two broad categories:
| Category | Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 존댓말 | 존댓말 | Polite/formal speech | Strangers, elders, superiors, formal situations |
| 반말 | 반말 | Casual speech | Close friends, younger people, children |
Using 반말 to someone who expects 존댓말 is considered rude. Using 존댓말 to a close friend can feel distant or cold. Getting the level right is critical in Korean culture.
The 4 Modern Speech Levels in Detail
Level 1: 합쇼체 (Formal Polite)
The most formal level used in daily life.
| Sentence type | Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | ~ㅂ니다/습니다 | 갑니다 (I go) |
| Question | ~ㅂ니까/습니까? | 갑니까? (Do you go?) |
| Command | ~(으)십시오 | 가십시오 (Please go) |
| Suggestion | ~(으)ㅂ시다 | 갑시다 (Let's go) |
When to use: - News broadcasts and public announcements - Business meetings and presentations - Military and police - Job interviews - Formal ceremonies (weddings, funerals) - First meeting with someone significantly older
Level 2: 해요체 (Informal Polite)
The most commonly used level in everyday life. Polite but warm.
| Sentence type | Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | ~아/어요 | 가요 (I go) |
| Question | ~아/어요? | 가요? (Do you go?) |
| Command | ~(으)세요 | 가세요 (Please go) |
| Suggestion | ~아/어요, ~ㄹ까요? | 가요, 갈까요? (Shall we go?) |
When to use: - Daily conversation with most people - Talking to strangers - Service interactions (shops, restaurants) - Speaking to parents, teachers, coworkers - When in doubt, use this level
Level 3: 해체 (Casual / 반말)
Casual speech used between people of equal status who are close.
| Sentence type | Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | ~아/어 | 가 (I go) |
| Question | ~아/어? | 가? (You go?) |
| Command | ~아/어 | 가 (Go) |
| Suggestion | ~자 | 가자 (Let's go) |
When to use: - Between close friends of similar age - Speaking to younger siblings or children - Between couples (after becoming close) - Among classmates of the same year - In casual texting with close friends
Level 4: 해라체 (Plain / Declarative)
Used in writing, reported speech, and by elders to much younger people.
| Sentence type | Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | ~(느)ㄴ다/다 | 간다 (goes), 먹는다 (eats) |
| Question | ~(으)냐? / ~니? | 가냐? / 가니? (Do you go?) |
| Command | ~(아/어)라 | 가라 (Go!) |
| Suggestion | ~자 | 가자 (Let's go) |
When to use: - Newspaper articles and book narration - Diary entries - Academic writing - Proverbs and sayings - Parents/grandparents to young children - Quoting someone's speech
The 3 Archaic Levels
These levels are rarely used today but may appear in historical dramas, old literature, or very specific contexts:
| Level | Name | Example | Where you might hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 하소서체 | 가옵소서 (Please go, Your Majesty) | Historical dramas, prayers |
| 6 | 하오체 | 가오 (I go, sir) | Old-fashioned speech, some elderly speakers |
| 7 | 하게체 | 가게 (Please go) | Between older men, professor to student (rare) |
You do not need to learn to produce these, but recognizing them can help when watching Korean media.
How to Choose the Right Level
Decision flowchart
| Situation | Level |
|---|---|
| Stranger, elder, superior | 해요체 (safe default) |
| Very formal setting (presentation, news) | 합쇼체 |
| Close friend, same age | 해체 (반말) |
| Writing (article, book, diary) | 해라체 |
| Unsure about the relationship | 해요체 (always safe) |
Age and relationship matrix
| Relationship | Level |
|---|---|
| To your boss | 해요체 or 합쇼체 |
| To your teacher | 해요체 or 합쇼체 |
| To your parents | 해요체 |
| To a stranger (any age) | 해요체 |
| To a close friend (same age) | 해체 |
| To a much younger person | 해체 or 해요체 |
| In a job interview | 합쇼체 |
| Texting your partner | 해체 |
Switching Between Levels
반말 허락 (Permission for 반말)
In Korean culture, you don't just start using 반말 with someone. There is often a moment where one person says:
- 우리 반말 할까요? (Shall we speak casually?)
- 말 놓으세요. (Please speak casually.)
- 편하게 말해. (Speak comfortably.)
The older person typically initiates this switch. It is considered rude for a younger person to start using 반말 without permission.
Mixing levels
Koreans sometimes mix levels in the same conversation: - Starting formal (합쇼체) and gradually shifting to polite (해요체) as comfort grows - Using 해요체 in conversation but switching to 합쇼체 for emphasis or seriousness - Close friends using mostly 반말 but switching to 해요체 for politeness in certain moments
Honorific System (존경어)
Speech levels (높임법) work together with the honorific system (존경어), which includes:
| Component | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Speech level endings | Politeness to listener | ~습니다, ~아/어요 |
| Subject honorifics | Respect for subject | 가시다 (go, honorific of 가다) |
| Humble forms | Humbling yourself | 드리다 (give, humble of 주다) |
| Honorific vocabulary | Special words | 드시다 (eat, honorific of 먹다) |
These will be covered in detail in other grammar topics.
Comparing the 4 Levels
| Feature | 합쇼체 | 해요체 | 해체 | 해라체 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "I go" | 갑니다 | 가요 | 가 | 간다 |
| "I eat" | 먹습니다 | 먹어요 | 먹어 | 먹는다 |
| "It's good" | 좋습니다 | 좋아요 | 좋아 | 좋다 |
| "I do" | 합니다 | 해요 | 해 | 한다 |
| "I went" | 갔습니다 | 갔어요 | 갔어 | 갔다 |
| "Let's go" | 갑시다 | 가요/갈까요? | 가자 | 가자 |
| "Please go" | 가십시오 | 가세요 | 가 | 가라 |
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Issue | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Using 반말 to strangers | Very rude | Default to 해요체 |
| Using 합쇼체 with close friends | Feels cold/distant | Switch to 해체 when appropriate |
| Mixing levels inconsistently | Confusing and awkward | Stick to one level per conversation |
| Younger person initiating 반말 | Culturally inappropriate | Wait for the older person to suggest it |
Summary
- Korean has 7 speech levels, but 4 are commonly used today.
- The two broad categories are 존댓말 (polite) and 반말 (casual).
- 해요체 is the safest default -- polite but warm, appropriate for most situations.
- 합쇼체 is reserved for very formal situations (business, news, military).
- 해체 (반말) is for close relationships only -- never use with strangers or elders without permission.
- 해라체 is for writing, narration, and quotes.
- When in doubt, always choose the more polite level.