Why Politeness Matters So Much in Korean
In Korean, the way you speak changes completely depending on who you're talking to. It's not just about formal vs. informal — it's a 7-level system that affects how verbs are conjugated.
But don't panic: in everyday life, 3 levels are enough.
Standard Polite Style: -아/어요
This is the level you'll use 90% of the time. Polite but not overly formal.
| Verb | -요 Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 (to go) | 가요 | I go |
| 먹다 (to eat) | 먹어요 | I eat |
| 하다 (to do) | 해요 | I do |
| 마시다 (to drink) | 마셔요 | I drink |
💡 Use this style with: colleagues, shopkeepers, people you just met, teachers in a relaxed setting.
Formal Style: -ㅂ니다/습니다
The formal level is used in official situations: presentations, speeches, customer service, TV news.
| Verb | -ㅂ니다 Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 | 갑니다 | I go |
| 먹다 | 먹습니다 | I eat |
| 하다 | 합니다 | I do |
| 감사하다 | 감사합니다 | thank you |
💡 When in doubt, the formal style is never rude. It's the safe choice.
Casual Style: No Suffix
Between close friends of the same age or younger, people use banmal (반말) — casual speech.
| Verb | Banmal | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 | 가 | go |
| 먹다 | 먹어 | eat |
| 하다 | 해 | do |
| 사랑하다 | 사랑해 | I love you |
⚠️ Warning: using banmal with someone older or a stranger is very poorly received in Korea. It's a major social faux pas.
How to Choose the Right Level?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Is the person older than me? → Polite minimum (-요)
- Is it a professional or official context? → Formal (-ㅂ니다)
- Is it a close friend of the same age? → Casual (반말)
- Not sure? → Polite (-요), you can't go wrong
K-Pop and Politeness Levels
K-pop songs often use banmal to create an intimate atmosphere. That's why you often hear 사랑해 (saranghae) rather than 사랑합니다 (saranghamnida) in lyrics.
It's also an excellent way to learn casual speech naturally!