Overview of Korean Formalities

One thing about Korean many people struggle with is the dynamics between people and speech. For native English speakers; especially if English if your only language, honorifics/formalities is something that doesn’t exist to a quarter of the extent as in Korean. Korean is a culture based highly around respect and knowing or understanding you position and others.

For beginners I would typically recommend just sticking with the polite 요 form as that is safe and pretty easy to understand but to truly speak with Koreans and integrate you need to understand the levels of Korean formalities and how, when, and where to use them.

^{Art by pikisuperstar / Freepik, Design by koreanling}

Quick Breakdown of Korean Formalities

I want to breakdown my image above for everyone really quick, it shows 4 levels between an elder, adult, teen, and kid and how each will communicate with each other! The ages are approximate, but this is generally how people speak for the 4 main age groups (also not just women of course! just the look I went with).

Elders (65+)

Between other people on the older generation they can be either formal or informal depending on the relationship but when an 할머니/할아버지 speaks to anyone younger it’s unlikely they will use anything other than 반말. More than age it would depend on someone’s position; such as a politician, or other well respected person they might use 존댓말 to be humble or they might not. Many Korean elders don’t care about someone’s position and will talk to anyone younger the same though haha.

Adults (30-65)

Adults will use a mix of formal and informal language, with other adults same as any other age group it can depend on position, age (even a year or two older or younger will change how people speak) and how close they are. People will use 존댓말 more than elderly people, especially in relation to work; someone higher in their company or field, or with more experience could warrant 하십시오체 usage. While with teenagers and kids of course they will keep it informal.

Teenagers/Young Adults (13-30)

Teens match with adults pretty well; using 해요체 form or 하십시오체 with people older, mix of 존댓말 and 반말 with their peers, and 반말 with children. They will use 존댓말 more often though; with seniors on school or university, teachers, boss at a part-time job, etc. Young adults are more likely to use 해요체 throughout daily life because its a more popular speech form for them as compared to older adults.

Kids (13-)

Kids are a special case, depending on their age they might mess up or ignore formality and honorific rules at all. Many young kids will use 반말 with their parents or other family members and then grow out of it as they learn more Korean and grow older. Old enough kids will typically keep to 해요체 form with people older but could use 하십시오체 potentially depending on the child.