A2
(으)시 — speaking about someone senior
How the Korean honorific infix (으)시 works, why it is separate from the 해요 politeness level, and the verbs that replace themselves entirely.
Korean politeness runs on two independent axes. The 요 ending respects the person you are talking to. 시 respects the person you are talking about. They can be used separately, and a sentence often needs both.
선생님이 오세요.
Seonsaengnimi oseyo.
The teacher is coming.
어디 가세요?
Eodi gaseyo?
Where are you going?
세요 is 시 plus the 요 ending, contracted. After a consonant it is 으세요: 읽다 → 읽으세요.
아버지가 신문을 읽으세요.
Abeojiga sinmuneul ilgeuseyo.
My father is reading the paper.
Never about yourself
This is the rule that matters. 시 raises its subject, so using it of yourself raises you — which is the opposite of polite.
저는 밥을 드세요.
저는 밥을 먹어요.
드시다 is the honorific of 먹다 and belongs to someone else. About yourself the plain verb is correct however polite you are being.
Some verbs are replaced outright
| 먹다 → 드시다 | eat |
| 자다 → 주무시다 | sleep |
| 있다 → 계시다 | be, stay |
| 말하다 → 말씀하시다 | speak |
| 죽다 → 돌아가시다 | die |
할머니께서 진지를 드세요.
Halmeonikkeseo jinjireul deuseyo.
My grandmother is eating.
께서 is the honorific replacement for 이/가, and 진지 the honorific word for meal. Korean can raise the subject, the particle and the noun all at once.
Not the same as being formal
합니다 is a formal level; 세요 is respect for a third party. You can be casual and honorific at once — 할머니 오셔? — which sounds odd described but is entirely ordinary in a family.