해요체 (haeyo-che) is the most commonly used polite speech level in Korean. It's less formal than 합니다체 but still respectful, making it perfect for daily interactions with strangers, acquaintances, and most social situations.
Basic Endings
Core Pattern: -아요/어요/여요
Bright vowels (ㅏ, ㅗ): -아요 Dark vowels (all others): -어요 하다 verbs: -여요 (contracted to 해요)
Conjugation Rules
아요 (Bright Vowel Stems)
Stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ:
- 가다 (go) → 가 + 아요 → 가요
- 오다 (come) → 오 + 아요 → 와요 (contraction)
- 보다 (see) → 보 + 아요 → 봐요 (contraction)
- 찾다 (find) → 찾 + 아요 → 찾아요
어요 (Dark Vowel Stems)
All other vowels:
- 먹다 (eat) → 먹 + 어요 → 먹어요
- 서다 (stand) → 서 + 어요 → 서요 (contraction)
- 읽다 (read) → 읽 + 어요 → 읽어요
- 있다 (have) → 있 + 어요 → 있어요
해요 (하다 Verbs)
하다 → 하 + 여요 → 해요 (contraction):
- 공부하다 (study) → 공부해요
- 일하다 (work) → 일해요
- 사랑하다 (love) → 사랑해요
- 좋아하다 (like) → 좋아해요
Vowel Contractions
ㅏ + 아 → ㅏ
- 가다: 가 + 아요 → 가요 (not 가아요)
ㅗ + 아 → ㅘ
- 오다: 오 + 아요 → 와요
- 보다: 보 + 아요 → 봐요
ㅜ + 어 → ㅝ
- 배우다: 배우 + 어요 → 배워요
- 주다: 주 + 어요 → 줘요
ㅓ + 어 → ㅓ
- 서다: 서 + 어요 → 서요 (not 서어요)
ㅣ + 어 → ㅕ
- 마시다: 마시 + 어요 → 마셔요
ㅐ/ㅔ + 어 → ㅐ/ㅔ
- 세다: 세 + 어요 → 세요
- 내다: 내 + 어요 → 내요
Common Verb Conjugations
| Verb | Meaning | 해요 Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 | go | 가요 | ㅏ stem |
| 오다 | come | 와요 | contraction |
| 먹다 | eat | 먹어요 | consonant stem |
| 마시다 | drink | 마셔요 | ㅣ + 어 → ㅕ |
| 자다 | sleep | 자요 | ㅏ stem |
| 보다 | see | 봐요 | contraction |
| 듣다 | listen | 들어요 | ㄷ irregular |
| 만들다 | make | 만들어요 | ㄹ stem |
| 있다 | have | 있어요 | consonant stem |
| 없다 | not have | 없어요 | consonant stem |
Past Tense: -았어요/었어요
Same vowel harmony rules:
Bright vowels: -았어요
- 가다 → 갔어요 (went)
- 오다 → 왔어요 (came)
- 보다 → 봤어요 (saw)
Dark vowels: -었어요
- 먹다 → 먹었어요 (ate)
- 읽다 → 읽었어요 (read)
- 있다 → 있었어요 (had)
하다: 했어요
- 공부하다 → 공부했어요 (studied)
Future/Will: -(으)ㄹ 거예요
After vowel or ㄹ: -ㄹ 거예요 After consonant: -을 거예요
Examples:
- 가다 → 갈 거예요 (will go)
- 먹다 → 먹을 거예요 (will eat)
- 공부하다 → 공부할 거예요 (will study)
Alternative: -겠어요 (for intentions)
- 가겠어요 (I will go)
Copula (이다): -이에요/예요
After consonant: -이에요 After vowel: -예요
Examples:
- 학생이에요 (is a student)
- 선생님이에요 (is a teacher)
- 의사예요 (is a doctor)
- 가수예요 (is a singer)
Past: -이었어요/였어요
- 학생이었어요 (was a student)
- 의사였어요 (was a doctor)
Negative Forms
-지 않아요
Pattern: Verb stem + 지 않아요
Examples:
- 가지 않아요 (don't go)
- 먹지 않아요 (don't eat)
- 좋지 않아요 (is not good)
안/못 + Verb
안 (don't): Choice not to do
- 안 가요 (don't go)
- 안 먹어요 (don't eat)
못 (can't): Unable to do
- 못 가요 (can't go)
- 못 먹어요 (can't eat)
Questions
Same form as statements, intonation rises:
Statement: 가요 ↓ (I go / goes) Question: 가요? ↑ (Do you go?)
Examples:
- 밥 먹어요? (Do you eat rice?)
- 학교에 가요? (Do you go to school?)
- 한국 사람이에요? (Are you Korean?)
Polite Requests
-(으)세요
After vowel or ㄹ: -세요 After consonant: -으세요
Examples:
- 앉다 → 앉으세요 (please sit)
- 가다 → 가세요 (please go)
- 먹다 → 드세요 (please eat - honorific)
- 주다 → 주세요 (please give)
-아/어 주세요
Softer request: "Please do for me"
Examples:
- 도와주세요 (please help me)
- 기다려 주세요 (please wait)
- 말해 주세요 (please tell me)
Usage Contexts
Daily Interactions
Perfect for:
- Ordering at restaurants
- Shopping
- Asking directions
- Small talk with strangers
Example:
- 커피 한 잔 주세요 (One coffee, please)
- 이거 얼마예요? (How much is this?)
Casual Relationships
Use with:
- New acquaintances
- Classmates (when respectful)
- Colleagues (appropriate level)
- Service staff
Example:
- 오늘 뭐 해요? (What are you doing today?)
Polite but Friendly
Maintains respect without formality:
- Neighbors
- Parents of friends
- Distant relatives
- Older acquaintances
Honorific Integration
-(으)세요 Form
When subject is honored:
- 가다 → 가세요 (goes - honored)
- 먹다 → 드세요 (eats - honored special verb)
- 자다 → 주무세요 (sleeps - honored)
- 있다 → 계세요 (stays - honored)
Special Honorific Verbs
| Regular | Honorific | 해요 Form |
|---|---|---|
| 먹다 | 드시다 | 드세요 |
| 자다 | 주무시다 | 주무세요 |
| 있다 | 계시다 | 계세요 |
| 말하다 | 말씀하시다 | 말씀하세요 |
Common Expressions
Greetings
- 안녕하세요 (hello)
- 만나서 반가워요 (nice to meet you)
- 잘 지내요? (How are you?)
Thanks and Apologies
- 고마워요 (thank you)
- 감사해요 (thank you)
- 미안해요 (sorry)
- 죄송해요 (sorry - more formal)
Daily Phrases
- 잘 먹겠어요 (I will eat well)
- 잘 먹었어요 (I ate well)
- 수고하세요 (good work / take care)
- 조심하세요 (be careful)
Sentence Patterns
Statement Pattern
[Subject] + [Object] + [Verb-아/어요]
- 저는 밥을 먹어요 (I eat rice)
- 친구가 학교에 가요 (Friend goes to school)
- 날씨가 좋아요 (The weather is good)
Question Pattern
[Question word] + [Verb-아/어요?]
- 뭐 해요? (What are you doing?)
- 어디 가요? (Where are you going?)
- 언제 와요? (When are you coming?)
Request Pattern
[Verb-(으)세요]
- 앉으세요 (Please sit)
- 들어오세요 (Please come in)
- 천천히 말씀해 주세요 (Please speak slowly)
Adjective Conjugations
Same rules as verbs:
| Adjective | Meaning | 해요 Form |
|---|---|---|
| 좋다 | good | 좋아요 |
| 크다 | big | 커요 |
| 작다 | small | 작아요 |
| 많다 | many | 많아요 |
| 적다 | few | 적어요 |
| 예쁘다 | pretty | 예뻐요 |
| 맛있다 | delicious | 맛있어요 |
Irregular Verbs
ㄷ Irregular
ㄷ → ㄹ before vowel:
- 듣다 (listen) → 들어요
- 걷다 (walk) → 걸어요
- 묻다 (ask) → 물어요
ㅂ Irregular
ㅂ → 우 before vowel:
- 돕다 (help) → 도와요
- 춥다 (cold) → 추워요
- 아름답다 (beautiful) → 아름다워요
ㄹ Irregular
ㄹ drops before consonant:
- 만들다 (make) → 만들어요 (ㄹ stays before 어)
- 살다 (live) → 살아요
르 Irregular
르 → 라/러:
- 모르다 (not know) → 몰라요
- 부르다 (call) → 불러요
- 빠르다 (fast) → 빨라요
Mixing Politeness
Can Mix with 합니다체
In same conversation:
- Start: 합니다체 (very formal)
- Warm up: 해요체 (friendly polite)
Cannot Mix with 반말
Wrong: 가요 + 먹어 (mixing levels) Right: 가요 + 먹어요 (consistent 해요체)
When to Use
Best Choice For
✅ Most daily situations ✅ Strangers (casual settings) ✅ New relationships ✅ Appropriate distance with respect ✅ Service interactions ✅ Social gatherings
Too Formal For
❌ Very close friends (use 반말) ❌ Young children (use 반말)
Not Formal Enough For
❌ Official presentations (use 합니다체) ❌ News broadcasts (use 합니다체) ❌ Very first meeting with high superiors (start with 합니다체)
Key Points
- ✅ Pattern: -아요/어요 (vowel harmony)
- ✅ Most versatile: Perfect for daily polite conversation
- ✅ Contractions: Common and natural (가아요 → 가요)
- ✅ Questions: Same as statements with rising intonation
- ✅ Honorific: Combines with -(으)세요 for requests
- ✅ Safest choice: When unsure, use 해요체
- ✅ Natural tone: Friendly yet respectful
해요체 is the workhorse of Korean politeness. Master this level first, as it covers 80% of your daily polite interactions and provides a comfortable middle ground between formal distance and casual intimacy.