Example Sentences#

1. 앨리스: “여기서 어느 쪽으로 가야 할지 말씀해 주시겠어요?”¹
   Alice: “Would you please tell me which way I should go from here?”

   • 주다 means ‘to give’.
   • -여 주다 is a grammar pattern where 주다 is used as an auxiliary verb to indicate that the action is done for someone else’s benefit.
   • -시- is an honorific marker 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.
   • -겠 is a suffix indicating an indirect polite proposal with some degree of future supposition.
   • 어요 is a polite ending used in informal polite speech.

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. 그런데 왜 그렇게 생각하시나요?”³
   Why do you think so?”

   • 생각하다 means ‘to think’.
   • -시- is an honorific marker 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.
   • 나요 is a polite ending used in questions, conveying curiosity or softening the tone to make the inquiry less direct.

4. “스님, 우리는 여자를 만지지 않기로 했는데, 어떻게 그 여자를 들어 건너셨습니까?”⁴
   “We promised not to touch a woman. How could you carry her across the river?”

   • 건너다 means ‘to cross’.
   • -시- is an honorific marker 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.
   • 었 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니까 is a question ending in formal speech.

5. 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.

6. “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.