Example Sentences#

1. 앨리스: “제가 미쳤다는 걸 어떻게 아세요?” 앨리스가 말했다.¹
   Alice: “How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.

   • 알다 means ‘to know’.
   • -세요 is an informal polite honorific ending formed by combining the honorific marker -시- — used to show respect toward the subject of the verb, typically when referring to or addressing someone of higher social standing, or when politely addressing the listener in requests, questions, or commands — with the informal polite ending -어요.

2. 화면에 “점프!” 하면 전부 뛰고, “앉으세요” 하면 다 같이 앉고…²
   When “Jump!” appeared on the screen, the whole crowd jumped, and when it said “Please sit”, everyone sat down together…

   • 앉다 means ‘to sit’.
   • -(으)세요 is an informal polite honorific ending formed by combining the honorific marker -(으)시- — used to show respect toward the subject of the verb, typically when referring to or addressing someone of higher social standing, or when politely addressing the listener in requests, questions, or commands — with the informal polite ending -어요.
   • The quotation marker 라고 has been omitted, as is common in casual speech when quotation marks or context make the meaning clear.

3. “그렇다면 당신은 어떻게 자신이 미쳤다는 걸 아세요?”¹
   “If so, how do you know that you are mad?”

   • 알다 means ‘to know’.
   • -세요 is an informal polite honorific ending formed by combining the honorific marker -시- — used to show respect toward the subject of the verb, typically when referring to or addressing someone of higher social standing, or when politely addressing the listener in requests, questions, or commands — with the informal polite ending -어요.