Lesson/8
존된말
I can't introduce 반말 without introducing 존된말. 존된말 is polite speech. It is what you use between acquaintances or in a business relationship. It is also what you use when speaking to a senior intimately and informally.
The levels of speech in Korean are more complicated than what I am presenting here, but this will suffice for 90% of what you will need to say or do.
The news is that 존된말 is super easy. All you need to do is take the 반말 and add the final ending -요.
- -어요: (final ending) Polite form statement, question, or command.
Practice:
- 있어요
- 가요
- 해요
- 와요
Polite, Formal Speech
Although Koreans generally don't give this form a name, you're going to hear it a lot.
This form has two endings:
- -(ㅂ,습)니다. : (final ending) Statement of fact.
- -(ㅂ,습)니까? : (final ending) Question.
Note that there are two ways to attach this. The first is when you have a verb or verb + ending that ends with a vowel. The second is when you have a verb or verb + ending that ends with a consonant.
This form is always formal and always polite. You would use it when you spoke to someone in a position of authority on official business. Even if you knew them well, when doing official business, you use this form. If you are speaking in front of a crowd in an official capacity, you would use this form too. That's why news reporters use it when delivering reports.
Now, if the situation is more informal, say, an interview or a discussion, then you would use either 존된말 or 반말, depending on the level of familiarity and seniority.
Practice:
- 있읍니다. : "(It) is (there)" or "(I) have (it)."
- 갑니다. : "(he) goes."
- 합니까? : "Do (you do it?)"
Past Tense
Past tense in Korean is ridiculously easy to apply.
- -었: (ending) Past tense.
This is simply glue plus ㅆ on the bottom.
This is not a final ending, so you'll either need to apply the 반말 or the 존된말 ending after it.
- 있었어. (Informal, not polite)
- 있었어요. (Polite.)
- 있었습니다. (Polite, formal).
- 갔어.
- 왔어요.
Practice
Practice watching your favorite Korean drama. Whenever someone speaks, listen for a final 요. If it's there, then they are speaking 존된말. If it's missing, it's 반말.
See if you can pick up some of the verb stems they are using by hearing them in their full form.
