7 Speech Levels in Korean

7 Speech Levels in Korean

1. 하소서체 (Hasoseo Style - Highest Respect)

Formal Style: Used for gods, kings, or very formal figures.

• "부디 평안하소서 (May you be at peace)."
• "소원이 이루어지옵소서 (May your wishes come true)."
• "가호를 내리옵소서 (Grant us your blessing)."
• "용서하옵소서 (Please forgive me)."
• "진실을 밝히소서 (Reveal the truth)."

2. 하십시오체 (Hashipsiyo Style - Very Respectful)

Formal Style: Used in formal settings to show great respect.

• "어떻게 생각하십니까 (What do you think)?"
• "이 문제를 해결하겠습니다 (I will address this issue)."
• "회의가 곧 시작됩니다 (The meeting will start soon)."
• "결과를 알려주시겠습니까 (Could you let me know the result)?"
• "그곳으로 모시겠습니다 (I will escort you there)."

3. 하오체 (Hao Style - Polite Respect)

Formal Style: Used for showing respect in less formal situations.

• "이것을 아시오 (Do you know this)?"
• "무엇을 찾으시오 (What are you looking for)?"
• "이렇게 하시오 (Please do it this way)."
• "어디로 가시오 (Where are you going)?"
• "그렇게 하시겠소 (Will you do it like this)?"

4. 해요체 (Haeyo Style - Casual Respect)

Informal Style: Commonly used in daily conversations with respect.

• "지금 가요 (I’m going now)."
• "이거 알아요 (Do you know this)?"
• "뭐 먹을까요 (What shall we eat)?"
• "좋아 보여요 (That looks nice)."
• "내일 만나요 (See you tomorrow)."

5. 하게체 (Hage Style - Polite Casual)

Formal Style: Used with close or slightly younger people.

• "그렇게 하게 (Let’s do it that way)."
• "지금 출발하게 (Start now)."
• "이걸 보게 (Take a look at this)."
• "어디로 가게 (Where are you going)?"
• "한 번 생각해 보게 (Think about it once)."

6. 해라체 (Haera Style - Lowest Formal)

Formal Style: Used with subordinates or close friends.

• "지금 간다 (I’m going now)."
• "빨리 먹어라 (Eat quickly)."
• "이리 와라 (Come here)."
• "공부해라 (Study hard)."
• "잘 들어라 (Listen carefully)."

7. 해체 (Hae Style - Casual)

Informal Style: Most informal, used in close relationships.

• "지금 가 (Let’s go now)."
• "이거 봐 (Look at this)."
• "내일 만나 (See you tomorrow)."
• "그거 알아 (Do you know that)?"
• "이거 먹어 (Eat this)."

존댓말 (jondaenmal): Used when speaking to someone you want to show respect to, like elders, superiors, or people you are not close to.

반말 (banmal): Used with close friends and family members or when you want to speak very informally.

스피치 레벨 (Speech Level)	존댓말/반말 (Polite speech/Casual speech)	격식체/비격식체 (Formal/Informal Context)
하소서체 (Ha-so-seo)	존댓말 (Polite speech)	최고높임 격식체 (Highest Honorific Formal Style)
하십시오체 (Ha-ship-shi-o)	존댓말 (Polite speech)	아주높임 격식체 (Highly Polite Formal Style)
해요체 (Hae-yo)	존댓말 (Polite speech)	두루높임 비격식체 (Broadly Polite Informal Style)
하오체 (Ha-o)	존댓말 (Polite speech)	예사높임 격식체 (Ordinary Polite Formal Style)
하게체 (Ha-ge)	반말 (Casual speech)	예사낮춤 격식체 (Ordinary Casual Formal Style)
해라체 (Hae-ra)	반말 (Casual speech)	아주낮춤 격식체 (Highly Casual Formal Style)
해체 (Hae)	반말 (Casual speech)	두루낮춤 비격식체 (Broadly Casual Informal Style)