Honorifics and Asking Age
In Korean, you use honorifics for people older than you, and knowing how to ask someone's age politely matters too.
Honorific Titles
Adding '-nim' after a name or role shows respect. For example, 'seonsaengnim' (teacher) and 'sajangnim' (boss).
| Korean | Roman | English |
|---|---|---|
| μ¬μ₯λ | sajangnim | boss, company president |
| μλ | sonnim | guest, customer |
| μμ μ¨ | ajeossi | middle-aged man (polite) |
| μμ£Όλ¨Έλ | ajumeoni | middle-aged woman (polite) |
μ¬μ₯λκ»μ μ¬λ¬΄μ€μ κ³μΈμ.
sajangnimkkeseo samusire gyeseyo.
The boss is in the office.
Asking Age
To a friend, ask 'λͺ μ΄μ΄μμ?' (myeot sarieyo?) for 'How old are you?' To an elder, ask more politely with 'μ°μΈκ° μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ?' (yeonsega eotteoke doeseyo?).
μ€λ‘μ§λ§, λͺ μ΄μ΄μμ?
sillyejiman, myeot sarieyo?
Excuse me, how old are you?
ν μλ²μ§, μ°μΈκ° μ΄λ»κ² λμΈμ?
harabeoji, yeonsega eotteoke doeseyo?
Grandfather, how old are you (honorific)?
μ λ μ€λ¬΄ μ΄μ΄μμ.
jeoneun seumu sarieyo.
I am twenty years old.
μλ, μ΄μͺ½μΌλ‘ μ€μΈμ.
sonnim, ijjogeuro oseyo.
Customer, please come this way.
μ μλκ»μ μ€μ
¨μ΄μ.
seonsaengnimkkeseo osyeosseoyo.
The teacher has arrived (honorific).
μμ£Όλ¨Έλ, μ΄κ±° μΌλ§μμ?
ajumeoni, igeo eolmayeyo?
Ma'am, how much is this?
Honorific Kinship Terms
| Korean | Roman | English |
|---|---|---|
| μλ²λ | abeonim | father (honorific/in-law) |
| μ΄λ¨Έλ | eomeonim | mother (honorific/in-law) |
| λΆλͺ¨λ | bumonim | parents (honorific) |
| νλ | hyeongnim | older brother (very polite) |
Using Honorific Verbs
For elders, add the honorific infix '-(eu)si-' to the verb. For example, 'κ°λ€' becomes 'κ°μΈμ' and 'λ¨Ήλ€' becomes 'λμΈμ' (please go, please eat).
π‘ Tip: Tip: In Korea, age shapes relationships. Once you know someone's age, you know which title to use among 'hyeong / oppa / nuna / eonni.'