Korean

Noun

하십시오체 • ‎(hasipsioche)

1. the formal, polite speech level in Korean

Usage notes

Hasipsioche is a speech level used commonly between strangers, among male co-workers, by TV announcers, and to customers. Like other speech levels, it is applied to verbs and adjectives to reflect the relationship between the speaker and the audience. It is independent from the honorific, which reflects the relationships with the referent of the subject.

Korean words inflected in this speech level are characterized by the suffix ㅂ니다 ‎(mnida) in the indicative mood. In the imperative mood, it is always used with the honorific 시 ‎(si), together characterized by the suffix 십시오 ‎(sipsio). E.g.:

• 합니다 ‎(hamnida): (formal, polite, indicative) "does"
• 하십시오 ‎(hasipsio): (formal, polite, imperative) "please do"

Synonyms

• (until 1997) 합쇼체 (hapsyoche)

See also

• 하소서체 (hasoseoche)
• 해요체 (haeyoche)
• 하게체 (hageche)
• 해라체 (haerache)
• 해요체 (haeyoche)
• 해체 (haeche)