Korean Speech Levels

Commonly Korean Speech Levels

Commonly Used Korean Speech Levels

In modern-day Korea, only four styles of speech: Hasipsio-che, Haeyo-che, Haera-che, Hae-che are frequently used in everyday life. The first two styles are called polite speech (Jondanmal ) and the last two styles are called casual speech (banmal). 
Here is the summary for each speech level with example usage:
  • Formal and polite/ Hasipsio-che (하십시오체): used by TV broadcasters, to elders
  • Formal and casual/Haera-che (해라체): used in reported speech and written materials
  • Informal and polite/Haeyo-che (해요체): used between strangers, colleagues
  • Informal and casual/Hae-che (해체): used between close friends and younger people
 

Common Korean Greetings at Different Speech Levels

안녕하세요 Hello/Hi/Good morning/Good afternoon/Good evening
  • Formal and polite: 안녕하십니까? (ann-yeong-ha-sib-nik-ka?)
  • Informal and polite: 안녕하세요 (ann-yeong-ha-se-yo)
  • Informal and casual: 안녕(ann-yeong)
It is the most common greeting for any time of day. 안녕하세요 can be used almost to anyone. 안녕하십니까 may sound too formal to use in daily conversations. You need to use 안녕 carefully only to close friends or younger ones.

2. 만나서 반가워요 Glad to meet you
  • Formal and polite: 만나서 반갑습니다 (man-na-seo ban-gab-seub-ni-da)
  • Formal and casual: 만나서 반갑다 (man-na-seo ban-gab-da)
  • Informal and polite: 만나서 반가워요 (man-na-seo ban-ga-wo-yo)
  • Informal and casual: 만나서 반가워 (man-na-seo ban-ga-wo)
politeness does not equal to formality in the Korean language. 해라체, or formal form, is mostly used in written Korean, while the polite form is used to express politeness, often by adding 시 to sentences

For example,  “어머니가 만들어 주신 점심을 먹었어”
I had lunch made by my mom.

the sentence itself is not formal. However, in Korean, the word 시 was added to show respect to the mother and has no real meaning.
 
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