1707 words
9 minutes
-ㅂ니다/습니다: Formal Polite Ending
2024-12-09
2024-12-18
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Example Sentences#

  1. 옛날에 한 노인이 있었습니다.1
    Once upon a time, there was an old man.

    • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’.
    • is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  2. 저는 인류 전체를 사랑할수록 특정 사람을 덜 사랑하게 됩니다.2
    The more I love humanity, the less I come to love any particular person.

    • 되다 means ‘to become’.
    • -게 되다 is an expression used to indicate that something will become the state or situation mentioned in the preceding statement.
    • ㅂ니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  3. 세상에서 가장 다행스러운 것은 인간의 마음이 모든 것을 연결하지 못하는 능력이라고 생각합니다.3
    I think the most fortunate thing in the world is the human mind’s inability to connect everything.

  4. 고요한 마을에는 타로라는 성실한 돌을 다듬는 사람이 살고 있었습니다.4
    In a quiet village, there lived a diligent stone carver named Taro.

    • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’.
    • -고 있다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate a continuous or ongoing action.
    • is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  5. 어느 날 그의 말이 도망갔습니다.1
    One day, his horse ran away.

    • 도망가다 means ‘to run away’.
    • is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  6. 꿈속에서 저는 종종 인류를 위해 봉사할 계획을 세우곤 합니다.2
    In my dreams, I often make plans to serve humanity.

    • 하다 means ‘to do’.
    • ㅂ니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  7. 우리는 끝없는 검은 바다 한가운데 있는 고요한 무지의 섬에 살고 있으며, 멀리 나가는 것은 우리에게 맞지 않았습니다.3
    We live on a quiet island of ignorance in the middle of an endless black sea, and it was not meant for us to venture far.

    • 않다 is an auxiliary verb that makes the clause negative.
    • is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  8. 그는 매일 열심히 일했지만, 더 많은 힘과 부를 가진 사람들을 부러워했습니다.4
    He worked diligently every day, but envied those with more power and wealth.

    • 부러워하다 means ‘to envy’. It is derived from the adjective 부럽다 (to be envious) using the pattern -어하다, which transforms adjectives into verbs to describe the feeling or perception of an emotion from an external viewpoint.
    • is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  9. 마을 사람들은 그에게 큰 불행이라고 말했습니다.1
    The villagers said to him it was a great misfortune.

    • 말하다 means ‘to say’.
    • is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  10. 아마 실제로 십자가형을 당해야 하는 상황이 온다면, 저는 그것을 이겨낼 수 있을 것입니다.2
    Perhaps if a situation were to come where I had to actually be crucified, I would be able to overcome it.

    • is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used with modifiers to nominalize the preceding clause or phrase.
    • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
    • The pattern ᆯ 것이다 is commonly used to express future tense in Korean. In this speculative context, it translates to ‘would’ instead of ‘will’.
    • ㅂ니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  11. 과학은 각자 다른 방향으로 나아가고 있으며, 지금까지는 우리에게 큰 해를 끼치지 않았습니다.3
    Each science is progressing in different directions and has not caused us great harm until now.

    • 않다 is an auxiliary verb that makes the clause negative.
    • is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  12. 어느 저녁, 그는 오래된 나무 아래에서 쉬고 있을 때, 나뭇잎 사이로 신비한 목소리가 들려왔습니다.4
    One evening, while he was resting under an old tree, he heard a mysterious voice through the leaves.

    • 들려오다 is a compound verb consisting of 들리다 meaning ‘to be heard’ and 오다 meaning ‘to come’. Together, they mean ‘to be heard’, with the nuance that the sound is coming towards the listener.
    • is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  13. 그러나 노인은 단지 “좋을 수도 있고, 나쁠 수도 있습니다”라고 대답했습니다.1
    However, the old man just answered, “It could be good, or it could be bad.”

    • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’.
    • ㄹ 수 있다 forms a grammar pattern that expresses ability or possibility. Adding implies this possibility exists alongside others, shifting the nuance from ‘can’ to ‘might’.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
    • 라고 is a quotative marker, indicating that the phrase is being quoted or reported.
  14. 하지만 저는 다른 사람과 함께 방 안에서 이틀 동안 지내는 것조차 견딜 수 없습니다.2
    But I can’t even endure staying with other people in a room for two days.

    • 없다 means ‘to not exist’.
    • ㄹ 수 없다 forms a grammar pattern that expresses inability or impossibility.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  15. 그러나 언젠가 이 떨어져 있는 지식들이 모이면, 현실의 무서운 모습을 드러내고, 그 속에서 우리의 무서운 위치를 알게 되어 우리는 그 사실로 인해 미쳐버리거나 그 빛을 피해 새로운 어두운 시대의 평화와 안전 속으로 도망칠 것입니다.3
    However, someday, if these separate pieces of knowledge come together, they will reveal the fearful reality, and in that, we will come to know our terrifying position and either go mad or flee into the peace and safety of a new dark age, avoiding the light.

    • is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used with modifiers to nominalize the preceding clause or phrase.
    • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
    • The pattern ᆯ 것이다 is commonly used to express future tense in Korean.
    • ㅂ니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  16. 그것은 숲의 오래된 영혼의 목소리였고, 타로에게 원하는 무엇이든 변할 수 있는 힘을 주겠다고 했습니다.4
    It was the voice of an old spirit of the forest, promising Taro the power to change anything he wanted.

    • 하다 means ‘to do’ or ‘to say’ in this context.
    • is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  17. 몇 달 후 그 말이 돌아왔고, 몇 마리의 다른 말도 데리고 왔습니다.1
    A few months later, the horse returned, bringing a few other horses.

    • 오다 means ‘to come’.
    • is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  18. 경험에 따르면, 누군가 제 곁에 있으면 그 사람의 성격이 저를 방해하고 자유를 제한합니다.2
    In my experience, if someone is beside me, their personality disturbs me and restricts my freedom.

    • 제한하다 means ‘to restrict’ or ‘to limit’.
    • ㅂ니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  19. 하지만, 변할 때마다 그의 삶에서 시간이 줄어든다는 조건이 있었습니다.4
    However, there was a condition that every time he changed, time in his life would decrease.

    • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’.
    • is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
  20. 마을 사람들은 이번에는 큰 행운이라고 말했습니다.1
    The villagers said this time it was a great fortune.

    • 말하다 means ‘to say’.
    • is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.

Footnotes#

  1. Sentence from Bad Luck Good Luck Story. 2 3 4 5 6

  2. Sentence from Father Zossima Counsel Story. 2 3 4 5

  3. Sentence from The Call Of Cthulhu Opening Story. 2 3 4

  4. Sentence from The Stonecutter Journey Story. 2 3 4 5

-ㅂ니다/습니다: Formal Polite Ending
https://koreanstorylab.com/posts/grammar/-ㅂ니다-습니다-formal-polite-ending/
Author
Korean Story Lab
Published at
2024-12-09