Korean Honorifics Explained: Speech Levels, Suffixes, and Titles
Korean honorifics are a system of grammar choices that raise or lower the politeness of what you say based on who you're talking to and who you're talking about. This guide explains the three layers — speech levels, honorific suffixes, and kinship titles — in plain English.
Korean honorifics are a system of grammar and vocabulary choices you make based on (a) who you are speaking TO and (b) who you are speaking ABOUT. English handles politeness with extra words ("would you mind…"). Korean handles it by changing verb endings, adding honorific suffixes, and swapping in different titles. There are three layers, and they work together.
Layer 1 — Speech levels (verb endings)
The ending of the Korean verb changes depending on formality:
- 하십시오-체 (hasipsio-che) — very formal, used in news, announcements, and the military


