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Intermediate

The Subject Honorific -(으)시-

Honoring the subject

-(으)시- honors the subject

Inserted into the verb when the subject deserves respect.

📊 Subject honorific
Plain Honorific Meaning
가다 가시다 (가세요) (respected one) goes
먹다 드시다 / 잡수시다 eats (honorific)
있다 계시다 (respected one) is/stays
자다 주무시다 sleeps (honorific)
💬 Examples
가세요.
gaseyo.
(You/He) go(es). (honorific)
📝 가시다 → 가세요
읽으세요.
ilgeuseyo.
(You) read. (honorific)
📝 읽 + 으시 + 어요
Some verbs have special honorific forms

먹다→드시다, 자다→주무시다, 있다→계시다.

💬 Examples
할아버지께서 주무세요.
harabeojikkeseo jumuseyo.
Grandfather is sleeping. (honorific)
📝 주무시다 = honorific 'sleep'
선생님이 계세요.
seonsaengnim-i gyeseyo.
The teacher is (here). (honorific)
📝 계시다 = honorific 'be'
께서 is the honorific subject particle

It replaces 이/가 for respected subjects.

💬 Examples
어머니께서 오세요.
eomeonikkeseo oseyo.
Mother is coming. (honorific)
📝 께서 = honorific 가
사장님께서 말씀하세요.
sajangnimkkeseo malsseumhaseyo.
The boss is speaking. (honorific)
📝 말씀하시다 = honorific 'speak'