Korean language has special grammar system, honorifics. It reflects the relationship between speakers and audience. Originally, the honorifics were used to differentiate the social status between people, but nowadays, people are more likely to use in formal or informal in social events.
We can use honorifics in nouns, verbs and in forms of address. When talking to someone in superior status such as older relative, employer, teacher, customer and strangers, we always use honorifics. Today it is most commonly to use honorifics in most formal of situations like business meetings. Using wrong levels is likely to be considered as disrespect and insulting. You can always use honorifics ,but it will be weird if you talk to close friends or someone who is younger than you.
So there are three categories of speaking. The first one is the deferential polite/formal way of speaking. People use this form in formal speech and also when they talk to older people. This form ends in "in minda" (ㅂ니다). The second form is the standard polite/informal form. It ends in yo (요). The last form is the common/informal style. When talk to younger people or close friends, using this informal speaking style.
Here is an example, when we say "Hello", we can have three ways:
1. Deferential Polite/Formal : 안녕하십니까 (annyeong haseumnikka)
2. Standard Polite/Informal: 안녕하세요 (annyeong haseyo)
3. Common/Informal: Common/Informal: 안녕 (annyeong)
Understanding the culture is the first step to learn a new language. Korean is not very easy to master, but hopefully it has a system to study.
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