Korean grammar · Level 1 · 1급
께서 · 께
Respectful particles
For someone you respect, the particles can change too: 이/가 becomes 께서, 은/는 becomes 께서는, and 에게 (to) becomes 께. In everyday speech 께서 is often left out (할머니가 주무세요 is normal) — the -(으)시- on the verb does most of the work. In writing and formal speech, use 께서.
| When | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| subject 이/가 | 께서 | 할머니께서 |
| topic 은/는 | 께서는 | 아버지께서는 |
| to someone (에게 · 한테) | 께 | 할머니께 드려요 |
Examples
할머니께서 호떡을 드세요.
Grandma is eating hotteok.
아버지께서는 지금 주무세요.
Father is sleeping now.
어머니께 편지를 썼어요.
I wrote a letter to my mother.
Practise it in context · Level 1, Unit 10
Let me introduce my family
A dialogue with audio, practice that checks itself, Hoya’s mistakes, a reading and a writing task.
Open the unit →