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Honorific & Humble Forms

Special vocabulary and particles

Honorific nouns & particles

분 (person), 께 (to, honorific), 께서 (subject), 드리다 (give, humble).

📊 Honorific / humble vocabulary
Plain Honorific / Humble Meaning
이름 성함 seongham name
밥 진지 jinji meal
주다 드리다 deurida give (humble)
말하다 말씀하시다 speak (honorific)
사람 분 bun person
💬 Examples
할머니께 드렸어요.
halmeonikke deuryeosseoyo.
(I) gave (it) to Grandmother. (honorific)
📝 께 = honorific 'to'; 드리다 = humble 'give'
손님 한 분
sonnim han bun
one guest (honorific)
📝 분 = honorific counter for people
Humble forms lower the speaker

드리다 (give, humbly), 뵙다 (meet/see, humbly).

💬 Examples
도와 드릴게요.
dowa deurilgeyo.
I'll help you. (humble)
📝 드리다 = humble 'give / do for'
내일 뵙겠습니다.
naeil boepgesseumnida.
I'll see you tomorrow. (humble/formal)
📝 뵙다 = humble 'meet'
Honorific + formal stack for maximum respect

Common in service and business.

💬 Examples
무엇을 도와드릴까요?
mueoseul dowadeurilkkayo?
How may I help you?
📝 Humble + polite (service speech)
사장님께서 오셨습니다.
sajangnimkkeseo osyeotseumnida.
The president has arrived. (very formal)
📝 께서 + -시- + -습니다 stacked