Korean is a predicate-centered language.
Predicates(용언) include both verbs(동사) and adjectives(형용사). Even if a sentence ends with a noun(명사), it must end with "-이다." The type of sentence, tense(시제), and honorific(높임말) can be determined through the conjugation(활용) of the predicate endings.
Whether it is a declarative, interrogative, or exclamatory sentence is mainly determined by the shape of the ending(어미). The type of sentence changes when the shape of the ending is changed to "먹다(to eat), 먹었니(Did you eat), 먹었어(Have you eaten?) 먹었구나!(You must have eaten!) 먹지마(Don't eat), 먹자(Let's eat), 먹음(Eating), etc."
Whether the subject is respected or not also depends on whether the verb has "-시-" attached. The same is true of "하다/하시다". "하시다" is a respected form of the verb "하다." This is also true for the tense. For example, "하다(to do)/하였다(did)/하겠다(will do)".
Korean has a structure where the predicate comes at the end, and the sentence's meaning can change depending on the predicate. There is a saying in Korean that you have to listen to the end to understand fully what the speaker wants to say. This expression represents the characteristics of the Korean language well because the predicate is essential.
Korean is a predicate (verb/adjective) centered language, so the subject is often omitted. If you listen carefully to a conversation between Koreans, you will notice that they do not use the subject well. For example, in Korean sentences such as "고마워(Thank you)," "사랑해(I love you)," "물 줘(Give me water)," "어디 가? (Where are you going?)" you don't see the subject.
The same goes for the object. Korean say "고마워" without "I" or "you." If you say in Korean, "나는 너를 고마워 해 (I appreciate you)," this sounds too serious or awkward to them. This is because it is apparent that " I " appreciates "You." Typically, the subject and object are not mentioned unless necessary in Korean. As Korean is a verb-oriented language, nouns such as subject and object are often omitted in the sentence if speakers understand the nouns each other.
Whether it is a declarative, interrogative, or exclamatory sentence is mainly determined by the shape of the ending(어미). The type of sentence changes when the shape of the ending is changed to "먹다(to eat), 먹었니(Did you eat), 먹었어(Have you eaten?) 먹었구나!(You must have eaten!) 먹지마(Don't eat), 먹자(Let's eat), 먹음(Eating), etc."
Whether the subject is respected or not also depends on whether the verb has "-시-" attached. The same is true of "하다/하시다". "하시다" is a respected form of the verb "하다." This is also true for the tense. For example, "하다(to do)/하였다(did)/하겠다(will do)".
Korean has a structure where the predicate comes at the end, and the sentence's meaning can change depending on the predicate. There is a saying in Korean that you have to listen to the end to understand fully what the speaker wants to say. This expression represents the characteristics of the Korean language well because the predicate is essential.
Korean is a predicate (verb/adjective) centered language, so the subject is often omitted. If you listen carefully to a conversation between Koreans, you will notice that they do not use the subject well. For example, in Korean sentences such as "고마워(Thank you)," "사랑해(I love you)," "물 줘(Give me water)," "어디 가? (Where are you going?)" you don't see the subject.
The same goes for the object. Korean say "고마워" without "I" or "you." If you say in Korean, "나는 너를 고마워 해 (I appreciate you)," this sounds too serious or awkward to them. This is because it is apparent that " I " appreciates "You." Typically, the subject and object are not mentioned unless necessary in Korean. As Korean is a verb-oriented language, nouns such as subject and object are often omitted in the sentence if speakers understand the nouns each other.
7 kOREAN SPEECH LEVELS
The Korean language has a richly developed honorific system. Honorific vocabulary and grammatical morphemes, such as prefixes, endings, and particles, express the honorific. The honorific system is divided into subject honorification, which raises the subject, and listener honorification, which raises the listener. Both of these are expressed by grammatical morphemes.
The listener honorification system is a way for the speaker to honor the listener, and various endings express it. This honorific system has seven levels, including five formal levels (하소서체, 하십시오체, 하오체, 하게체, 해라체) and two informal levels (해요체, 해체). They are all named after the imperative form of "하다(to do)."
The listener honorification system is a way for the speaker to honor the listener, and various endings express it. This honorific system has seven levels, including five formal levels (하소서체, 하십시오체, 하오체, 하게체, 해라체) and two informal levels (해요체, 해체). They are all named after the imperative form of "하다(to do)."
1. Hasoseo-che (하소서체)
- The word "하소서(Hasoseo)" is a highly formal and polite imperative of "하다(Hada, to do)."
- 하소서체(Hasoseo-che) is a combined word of pure Korean "하소서" and Sino-Korean "체(體)" meaning "style of writing (or speaking)."
- In Korean, 'Hasoseo-che' is a very formal and dignified style of speech primarily found in historical drama, Church plays to God, etc. It is not used in modern Korean conversations or general writing.
- Ending '-hasoseo': Constructs sentences by adding '-hasoseo' to the end of verbs. This ending conveys a highly polite and reverential tone. Example: "말씀 하소서" (Please tell me).
- Expression of Reverence and Respect: 'Hasoseo-che' implies reverence and respect towards the listener, reflecting a courteous and humble attitude.
- Cultural Context: It is commonly found in etiquette guides and classical literature, holding significance in traditional Korean culture. For instance, it might be used in bows at temples or in prayers at churches.
- Modern Usage: In contemporary Korean, it is almost obsolete in everyday speech, where standard honorifics or plain speech are predominantly used. "Hasoseo-che" is not used in daily conversation; it is only used in historical drama or Church prayers.
- Expression of Reverence: "하느님의 가호가 함께 하소서." (May God's blessings be with you.)
- Dignified Request: "방문하고자 하시면, 부디 오시옵소서." (Please come if you intend to visit.
2. Hasipsio-che (하십시오체)
- Among the honorific expressions commonly used in modern Korean, it is the most respectful way to elevate the other person.
- "Hasipsio-che" is primarily used in formal settings such as interviews, presentations, and speeches. It is also commonly found in written texts such as instructions and problem sets. This honorific expression is more formal than "Haeyo-che," which is commonly used in spoken language. Consequently, "Hasipsio-che" is often seen in written texts in daily life, but there are not many situations where it needs to be spoken.
- Korean's most formal honorific expression, "Hasipsio-che," can come across as stiff and formal. In informal situations with people you are not close to, it's more common to use "Haeyo-che" instead of "Hasipsio-che" to avoid sounding too serious.
- Recently, there's been a growing trend in Korean to blend "Haeyo-che" and "Hasipsio-che" appropriately. This trend is especially noticeable among young speakers who use "Haeyo-che" more than "Hasipsio-che" in their spoken language.
3. Hao-che (하오체)
- Hao-che (하오체) is a relative honorific expression in Korean that is used to elevate the other person moderately. It is commonly used in dramas, historical dramas, and similar contexts but rarely used in spoken language in modern Korean. However, Hao-che can often be seen in instructions and similar situations. For example, "미시오 (misio)" (push the door) and "당기시오 (danggisio)" (pull the door) in a sentence.
4. Hage-che (하게체)
- Unlike "해라체(Haera-che)" and "해체(Hae-che)," which are strongly derogatory, "하게체(Hage-che)" is a formal speech style that moderately lowers the other person. "하게체(Hage-che)" is still sometimes used by older people to address younger people who are not close enough to be treated informally. Unlike "하오체(Hao-che)," which is an honorific expression, "하게체(Hage-che)" belongs to humble expression. Therefore, "하게체(Hage-che)" is a good way of speaking that can show authority while being formal.
5. Hara-che (해라체)
- "Haera-che(해라체)" is a speech level used when speaking to someone younger, close, or not requiring formal respect. It involves using the vocative particles (호격조사) "아/야" and the pronoun "너." This speech level is also characterized by specific final endings (종결어미).
- Let's reiterate the concept of "Haera-che (해라체)." It is a speech level almost equivalent to "Hae-che (해체), an informal speech level. To identify which endings belong to "Haera-che," you can check if the endings can be attached with "요." The endings that cannot be attached with "요" are considered "Haera-che (해라체)" endings.
6. Haeyo-che (해요체)
- "Haeyo-che(해요체)" is a speech level used when the speaker needs to respect the listener, regardless of their age or social status. In modern times, where interpersonal relationships have become more horizontal, "Haeyo-che(해요체)" has absorbed the roles of "Hao-che(하오체)." And "Hae-che(해체)" has absorbed the roles of "Hage-che(하게체). "Hao-che(하오체) and "Hage-che(하게체) are rarely used in modern Korean.
- As "Haeyo-che(해요체)" is a spoken speech level, "Hasipsio-che (하십시오체)" tends to be used in written language, such as in newspapers, rather than "Haeyo-che(해요체)."
7. Hae-che (해체)
- "Hae-che (해체)" is an informal speech level that does not elevate the listener. It is also known as "banmal (반말)" and is used between close friends or people with close relationships.
존댓말(jondaenmal) and 반말(banmal)
There are two levels of formality in the Korean language: 존댓말(jondaenmal) and 반말(banmal).
Concepts of Honorifics(존댓말) and Plain Form(반말)
Concepts of Honorifics(존댓말) and Plain Form(반말)
- Honorifics: Used to show respect, honorifics include endings like '-습니다/습니까'. They are used primarily towards elders or those in higher social positions.
- Plain Form: Used in casual conversations among friends or family, it lacks honorific endings and has a straightforward tone.
- Social hierarchy and respect: In Korean society, respecting age, position, and social status is crucial, and honorifics are a significant way to show this respect.
- Formal situations: When meeting someone for the first time, in unfamiliar situations, or when speaking to elders or superiors, honorifics are used.
- Informal situations: When talking with friends, family, or colleagues in everyday conversations, plain form is used.
- Honorifics: End verbs and adjectives with '-습니다/습니까?' or use forms like '입니다/입니까?' to end sentences.
- Example: "어디 가십니까?" (Where are you going?)
- Plain form: End verbs and adjectives with '-어/아' or '-다', and use straightforward, direct sentences.
- Example: "어디 가?" (Where are you going?)
- Lower social status: Use honorifics when speaking to someone older or in a higher social position.
- Intimate relationships: Use plain form when speaking with family, friends, or close colleagues.
fEATURES OF KOREAN
Korean nouns do not distinguish between male and female. For example, in English, actor and actress are nouns for male and female, respectively. In Korean, it is just "배우" regardless of male or female. If you want to be gender-specific, you can prefix the noun with either 남(for male) or 여(for female), such as 남배우(actor) or 여배우(actress).
In Korean language, definite and indefinite articles such as "the" and "a/an" in English, are not used. These articles are important in English for conveying precise meaning and understanding whether a noun refers to something specific or general. However, unlike English, Korean language does not use such articles. This simplifies the structure of Korean sentences compared to English.
In the Korean language, there is no need to remember different words for singular and plural forms of a noun. This is because each Korean noun has only one word that is used for both singular and plural contexts. This characteristic of the Korean language simplifies the learning process for those who wish to learn the language, since they don't have to memorize different plural forms for each noun. In many cases, plurality is implied by the context without explicit marking.
For instance, "goose" is the singular form, while "geese" is the plural form. Similarly, "apple" is the singular form, whereas "apples" is the plural form. However, Korean nouns do not have such distinctions. For example, the noun for "apple" is always the same whether it refers to one or more than one apple. For instance, "그는 사과를 먹어요" means "He eats an apple," whereas "그들은 사과를 먹어요" means "They eat apples."
For instance, "goose" is the singular form, while "geese" is the plural form. Similarly, "apple" is the singular form, whereas "apples" is the plural form. However, Korean nouns do not have such distinctions. For example, the noun for "apple" is always the same whether it refers to one or more than one apple. For instance, "그는 사과를 먹어요" means "He eats an apple," whereas "그들은 사과를 먹어요" means "They eat apples."
In Korean, endings serve the functions of sentence forms (plain, interrogative, exclamatory), tenses, prepositions, numbers, infinitives, gerunds, participles, subjunctives, conjunctions, and more in English grammar. This means that one basic form can be transformed into hundreds of variations to express various emotions and situations of the speaker. While these endings can be challenging for non-Korean speakers, the endings simplify the grammatical systems found in other languages, making the result easier. Additionally, the simplicity of Hangeul would make it easier for Korean learners to grasp the language.
In English, you have to use a singular verb if the subject is singular, and a plural verb if the subject is plural. However, in Korean, there is no such rule for matching subjects and verbs. The expression that matches the number of subjects and verbs is not developed in Korean, which means there is no need to worry about matching the agreement between the subject and the verb. Korean sentence structure differs from English in that it follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order. This means the verb always comes at the end of the sentence. For example, "I eat apple" would be translated as "나는 사과를 먹어요 (naneun(S) sagwareul(O) meogeoyo(V))" in Korean, where "na" (I), "sagwa" (apple), and "meogeoyo" (eat) appear in that order. The Korean language has speech levels depending to whom you speak to The level of speech also varies depending on the formality of the situation. Though it can be a difficult aspect to grasp when learning Korean, it is an essential part of Korean etiquette.
Korean speech styles: Formal and informal
Korean speech styles are categorized into honorific and non-honorific forms as below.
1. Korean speech styles are broadly divided into:
- 격식체 (Formal styles)
- 비격식체 (Informal styles)
2. Formal styles (격식체) are further divided based on levels of politeness:
- 하십시오체 (Hasipsio-che): Most formal and polite
- 하오체 (Hao-che): Moderately polite
- 하게체 (Hage-che): Formal but less polite
- 해라체 (Haera-che): Neutral or commanding tone
3. Informal styles (비격식체) are categorized into:
- 해요체 (Haeyo-che): Polite but informal
- 해체 (Hae-che): Casual and informal
1. Korean speech styles are broadly divided into:
- 격식체 (Formal styles)
- 비격식체 (Informal styles)
2. Formal styles (격식체) are further divided based on levels of politeness:
- 하십시오체 (Hasipsio-che): Most formal and polite
- 하오체 (Hao-che): Moderately polite
- 하게체 (Hage-che): Formal but less polite
- 해라체 (Haera-che): Neutral or commanding tone
3. Informal styles (비격식체) are categorized into:
- 해요체 (Haeyo-che): Polite but informal
- 해체 (Hae-che): Casual and informal
Banmal style
Banmal (반말) is not limited to Haeche (해체). While Haeche is one form of Banmal, Banmal can also include Haerache (해라체) depending on the context. Both forms are informal and lack honorifics, but they differ in their usage and tone.
1. Haeche (해체): The Most Common Form of Banmal
- Usage: Used in close relationships or with people you are very comfortable with.
- Characteristics: Sentences are short, casual, and light.
- Examples:
- "Did you eat?" → "밥 먹었어?"
- "Where are you going?" → "어디 가?"
- "How are you?" → "잘 지내?"
2. Haerache (해라체): Used for Commands or Narration
- Usage: Often used for commands or narrative speech. It may sound authoritative and is commonly found in writing or when someone is addressing a group.
- It can also appear in casual conversations but carries a slightly firmer tone compared to Haeche.
- Characteristics: Frequently used for statements, commands, or suggestions.
- Examples:
- "Eat your meal." → "밥 먹어라."
- "Sit there." → "거기 앉아라."
- "Study." → "공부해라."
Differences Between Haeche and Haerache
| Category | Haeche (해체) | Haerache (해라체) |
|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Tone | Friendly and casual | Firm, authoritative, or neutral |
| Context | Everyday conversations among friends, family | Commands, narratives, or storytelling |
| Examples | "Did you eat?" → "밥 먹었어?" | "Eat your meal." → "밥 먹어라." |
Summary
Banmal is a broader term that includes both Haeche (해체) and Haerache (해라체).
Haeche is more commonly used in daily conversations for casual and friendly interactions,
while Haerache is often used for commands, storytelling, or when delivering instructions.
Understanding these differences allows for more effective and appropriate use of Banmal in various situations.
1. Haeche (해체): The Most Common Form of Banmal
- Usage: Used in close relationships or with people you are very comfortable with.
- Characteristics: Sentences are short, casual, and light.
- Examples:
- "Did you eat?" → "밥 먹었어?"
- "Where are you going?" → "어디 가?"
- "How are you?" → "잘 지내?"
2. Haerache (해라체): Used for Commands or Narration
- Usage: Often used for commands or narrative speech. It may sound authoritative and is commonly found in writing or when someone is addressing a group.
- It can also appear in casual conversations but carries a slightly firmer tone compared to Haeche.
- Characteristics: Frequently used for statements, commands, or suggestions.
- Examples:
- "Eat your meal." → "밥 먹어라."
- "Sit there." → "거기 앉아라."
- "Study." → "공부해라."
Differences Between Haeche and Haerache
| Category | Haeche (해체) | Haerache (해라체) |
|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Tone | Friendly and casual | Firm, authoritative, or neutral |
| Context | Everyday conversations among friends, family | Commands, narratives, or storytelling |
| Examples | "Did you eat?" → "밥 먹었어?" | "Eat your meal." → "밥 먹어라." |
Summary
Banmal is a broader term that includes both Haeche (해체) and Haerache (해라체).
Haeche is more commonly used in daily conversations for casual and friendly interactions,
while Haerache is often used for commands, storytelling, or when delivering instructions.
Understanding these differences allows for more effective and appropriate use of Banmal in various situations.