Formal writing style in Korean uses specific grammatical structures, vocabulary, and conventions distinct from spoken language. It's essential for official documents, academic papers, business correspondence, and professional communication.
Key Characteristics
Formal writing differs from speech:
- Uses -ㅂ니다/-습니다 endings consistently
- Employs Sino-Korean vocabulary
- Avoids contractions and casual forms
- Uses complex sentence structures
- Includes formal conjunctions
Main Formal Endings
-ㅂ니다/-습니다 (Declarative)
Ends with consonant: -습니다
- 있습니다 (exists/has)
- 합습니다 (does)
- 먹습니다 (eats)
Ends with vowel: -ㅂ니다
- 가입니다 (goes)
- 보입니다 (sees)
- 주입니다 (gives)
-ㅂ니까/-습니까 (Interrogative)
Formal questions:
- 있습니까? (Is there?)
- 합니까? (Do you do?)
- 가입니까? (Do you go?)
-ㅂ시다/-읍시다 (Propositive)
Formal suggestions:
- 합시다 (Let's do)
- 가입시다 (Let's go)
- 시작합시다 (Let's begin)
Formal Conjunctions
-며 (And)
Connects actions or states:
- 공부하며 일하다 (study and work)
- 크며 강하다 (big and strong)
-거나 (Or)
Formal alternative:
- 전화하거나 이메일을 보내다 (call or send email)
- 월요일이거나 화요일 (Monday or Tuesday)
-(으)나 (But - formal)
Contrasts statements:
- 비싸나 품질이 좋다 (expensive but good quality)
- 어려우나 가능하다 (difficult but possible)
-므로 (Because/Therefore)
Formal causation:
- 중요하므로 (because it's important)
- 비가 오므로 (because it's raining)
Formal Sentence Structures
Passive Voice
More common in formal writing:
- 결정되다 (to be decided)
- 발표되다 (to be announced)
- 제출되다 (to be submitted)
- 승인되다 (to be approved)
Examples:
- 계획이 승인되었습니다 (The plan was approved)
- 결과가 발표되었습니다 (The results were announced)
Causative Voice
Formal action causation:
- 알리다 (to inform/notify)
- 보이다 (to show)
- 시키다 (to make someone do)
Examples:
- 직원에게 알렸습니다 (notified the staff)
- 자료를 보였습니다 (showed the materials)
Nominalizations
-기 / -(으)ㄴ 것:
- 읽기 (reading)
- 쓰기 (writing)
- 한 것 (what was done)
- 본 것 (what was seen)
Usage:
- 이해하기 어렵습니다 (It's difficult to understand)
- 제출한 것을 확인했습니다 (Confirmed what was submitted)
Formal Vocabulary
Sino-Korean Preference
Native Korean → Sino-Korean:
- 하다 → 실시하다 (to conduct/implement)
- 보다 → 관찰하다 (to observe)
- 만들다 → 제작하다 (to produce/create)
- 말하다 → 진술하다 (to state)
Formal Verbs
Common formal verbs:
- 제출하다 (to submit)
- 보고하다 (to report)
- 검토하다 (to review)
- 승인하다 (to approve)
- 시행하다 (to implement)
- 참석하다 (to attend)
- 확인하다 (to confirm)
Formal Nouns
Professional terminology:
- 귀사 (your company - honorific)
- 폐사 (our company - humble)
- 금번 (this time - formal)
- 차기 (next time)
- 제반 (all/various - formal)
Time Expressions
Formal Time Markers
Sino-Korean time words:
- 금일 (today)
- 명일 (tomorrow)
- 익일 (next day)
- 전일 (previous day)
- 금년 (this year)
- 명년 (next year)
Usage:
- 금일 회의가 있습니다 (There is a meeting today)
- 명일 제출하겠습니다 (Will submit tomorrow)
Common Formal Patterns
-에 대하여/대해 (Regarding)
Formal topic marker:
- 이 문제에 대하여 (regarding this issue)
- 계획에 대해 (about the plan)
-에 관하여/관해 (Concerning)
Similar to 대하여 but more formal:
- 안전에 관하여 (concerning safety)
- 규정에 관한 (related to regulations)
-(으)로써 (By means of)
Formal method/means:
- 노력으로써 (by means of effort)
- 이 방법으로써 (through this method)
-에 의하여/의해 (By/According to)
Formal passive agent or source:
- 법에 의하여 (according to law)
- 전문가에 의해 (by experts)
-(으)ㄴ/는 바와 같이 (As)
Formal comparison:
- 아시는 바와 같이 (as you know)
- 말한 바와 같이 (as mentioned)
Document Opening Phrases
Formal Greetings
Starting formal documents:
- 안녕하십니까 (How do you do - very formal)
- 귀하의 건승을 기원합니다 (Wish you good health)
- 평소 귀사의 발전을 기원합니다 (Always wish for your company's development)
Purpose Statements
Stating document purpose:
- 이에 다음과 같이 알려드립니다 (Hereby notify as follows)
- 아래와 같이 안내드립니다 (Guide as below)
- 다음과 같이 요청드립니다 (Request as follows)
Document Closing Phrases
Formal Closings
Ending formal documents:
- 감사합니다 (Thank you - formal)
- 협조 부탁드립니다 (Request your cooperation)
- 참고하시기 바랍니다 (Please refer to this)
- 검토 바랍니다 (Please review)
Signature Lines
Formal sign-offs:
- 귀하 (Respectfully yours)
- 올림 (Submitted by)
- 드림 (From - humble)
Honorific Integration
Subject Honorifics
-(으)시- in formal writing:
- 말씀하시다 (to speak - honorific)
- 계시다 (to be - honorific)
- 주무시다 (to sleep - honorific)
Usage:
- 사장님께서 말씀하셨습니다 (The president spoke)
- 고객님께서 원하시는 대로 (As the customer desires)
Object Honorifics
드리다 (give - humble):
- 보고 드립니다 (report to you)
- 말씀드립니다 (tell you)
- 안내 드립니다 (guide you)
Tense Usage
Present Formal
-ㅂ니다/-습니다:
- 진행됩니다 (proceeds)
- 계획합니다 (plans)
- 예정입니다 (is scheduled)
Past Formal
-았/었습니다:
- 완료되었습니다 (was completed)
- 실시되었습니다 (was conducted)
- 승인되었습니다 (was approved)
Future Formal
-(으)ㄹ 것입니다 / -겠습니다:
- 진행할 것입니다 (will proceed)
- 시행하겠습니다 (will implement)
- 검토하겠습니다 (will review)
Numbers in Formal Writing
Sino-Korean Numbers
Used in formal contexts:
- 일, 이, 삼, 사, 오 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
- 제일, 제이, 제삼 (first, second, third - formal)
Dates:
- 2025년 1월 15일 (January 15, 2025)
- 금년 3월 (March of this year)
Counters
Formal counting:
- 한 명 → 일 명 (one person)
- 두 개 → 이 개 (two items)
- 세 번 → 삼 번 (three times)
Negation in Formal Writing
안 Negation
Less common in very formal writing:
- 안 합니다 (doesn't do)
- 안 갑니다 (doesn't go)
-지 않다 (Preferred)
More formal negation:
- 하지 않습니다 (doesn't do)
- 가지 않습니다 (doesn't go)
- 알지 못합니다 (doesn't know)
못 Negation
Inability:
- 못 합니다 (can't do)
- 하지 못합니다 (cannot do - more formal)
Connecting Sentences
-고 (And)
Basic connection:
- 계획하고 실행합니다 (plan and execute)
-며/-으며 (And - formal)
More formal connection:
- 연구하며 발표합니다 (research and present)
-아/어서 (Because/So)
Casual causation (less formal):
- 비가 와서 취소했다 (canceled because it rained)
-므로 (Therefore - formal)
Formal causation:
- 중요하므로 신중히 검토합니다 (important, therefore carefully review)
Lists and Enumerations
Formal List Markers
첫째, 둘째, 셋째 (First, Second, Third):
- 첫째, 안전이 중요합니다 (First, safety is important)
- 둘째, 효율성을 고려합니다 (Second, consider efficiency)
- 셋째, 비용을 절감합니다 (Third, reduce costs)
Alternative Markers
하나, 둘, 셋 (One, Two, Three):
- Less formal than 첫째, 둘째
- Still acceptable in formal writing
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 해요 (in formal writing)
Too casual
✅ Correct: 합니다
Proper formal ending
❌ Incorrect: 그래서 (therefore - casual)
Informal conjunction
✅ Correct: 따라서 / 그러므로
Formal conjunctions
❌ Incorrect: 오늘 (today - casual)
In very formal contexts
✅ Correct: 금일
Formal time word
Style Guidelines
Consistency
Maintain formal register throughout:
- Don't mix -해요 and -합니다
- Use consistent vocabulary level
- Keep honorifics appropriate
Clarity
Formal ≠ Complex:
- Be clear and direct
- Avoid unnecessary jargon
- Structure logically
Objectivity
Minimize personal opinion:
- Use passive voice when appropriate
- Present facts objectively
- Avoid emotional language
Summary Table
| Category | Casual | Formal |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | 해요 | 합니다 |
| Question | 해요? | 합니까? |
| Today | 오늘 | 금일 |
| Tomorrow | 내일 | 명일 |
| Because | 그래서 | 그러므로 |
| About | ~에 대해 | ~에 대하여 |
| Company (yours) | 회사 | 귀사 |
| Company (ours) | 우리 회사 | 폐사/당사 |