합니다체 (hamnida-che) is the most formal polite speech level in Korean. It uses -ㅂ니다/습니다 endings and is characterized by its professional, respectful, and distant tone.
Basic Endings
Statements: -ㅂ니다/습니다
After vowel or ㄹ: -ㅂ니다 After consonant: -습니다
Examples:
- 가다 → 갑니다 (go)
- 먹다 → 먹습니다 (eat)
- 있다 → 있습니다 (exist/have)
- 공부하다 → 공부합니다 (study)
Questions: -ㅂ니까?/습니까?
After vowel or ㄹ: -ㅂ니까? After consonant: -습니까?
Examples:
- 가다 → 갑니까? (do you go?)
- 먹다 → 먹습니까? (do you eat?)
- 있다 → 있습니까? (do you have?)
- 공부하다 → 공부합니까? (do you study?)
Conjugation Rules
Vowel Stems
Remove 다, add ㅂ니다/ㅂ니까:
- 가다 (go) → 가 + ㅂ니다 → 갑니다
- 오다 (come) → 오 + ㅂ니다 → 옵니다
- 보다 (see) → 보 + ㅂ니다 → 봅니다
- 하다 (do) → 하 + ㅂ니다 → 합니다
ㄹ Stems
Treat like vowel stems (ㄹ drops before ㅂ):
- 살다 (live) → 사 + ㅂ니다 → 삽니다
- 만들다 (make) → 만드 + ㅂ니다 → 만듭니다
- 알다 (know) → 아 + ㅂ니다 → 압니다
Consonant Stems
Add 습니다/습니까:
- 먹다 (eat) → 먹 + 습니다 → 먹습니다
- 읽다 (read) → 읽 + 습니다 → 읽습니다
- 있다 (have) → 있 + 습니다 → 있습니다
- 없다 (not have) → 없 + 습니다 → 없습니다
Usage Contexts
Formal Presentations
Public speaking:
- Business presentations
- Academic lectures
- Conference speeches
- Award ceremonies
Example: "오늘 발표를 시작하겠습니다" (I will begin today's presentation)
News and Media
Broadcasting:
- News reports
- Weather forecasts
- Documentaries
- Official announcements
Example: "내일 비가 오겠습니다" (It will rain tomorrow)
Business Settings
Professional contexts:
- Job interviews
- Client meetings
- Formal emails (when spoken aloud)
- Corporate events
Example: "회의를 시작하겠습니다" (We will start the meeting)
First Encounters
Initial meetings with superiors:
- Meeting your boss
- Speaking to professors
- Formal introductions
- Official ceremonies
Example: "처음 뵙겠습니다" (Nice to meet you - formal)
Common Verb Conjugations
Present Tense
| Verb | Meaning | Statement | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 | go | 갑니다 | 갑니까? |
| 오다 | come | 옵니다 | 옵니까? |
| 먹다 | eat | 먹습니다 | 먹습니까? |
| 보다 | see | 봅니다 | 봅니까? |
| 하다 | do | 합니다 | 합니까? |
| 있다 | have/exist | 있습니다 | 있습니까? |
| 없다 | not have | 없습니다 | 없습니까? |
Past Tense: -았/었습니다
Formation: Verb stem + 았/었 + 습니다
Examples:
- 가다 → 갔습니다 (went)
- 먹다 → 먹었습니다 (ate)
- 보다 → 봤습니다 (saw)
- 하다 → 했습니다 (did)
Future/Will: -겠습니다
Formation: Verb stem + 겠습니다
Examples:
- 가다 → 가겠습니다 (will go)
- 먹다 → 먹겠습니다 (will eat)
- 하다 → 하겠습니다 (will do)
Copula (이다) Conjugations
With 이다 (to be)
After consonant: 입니다/입니까? After vowel: (이)ㅂ니다/(이)ㅂ니까? (often written as 입니다)
Examples:
- 학생입니다 (is a student)
- 선생님입니다 (is a teacher)
- 의사입니까? (are you a doctor?)
Negative: 아니다
Statement: 아닙니다 Question: 아닙니까?
Example: 학생이 아닙니다 (is not a student)
Negative Forms
-지 않습니다
Formation: Verb stem + 지 않습니다
Examples:
- 가지 않습니다 (don't go)
- 먹지 않습니다 (don't eat)
- 좋지 않습니다 (is not good)
안/못 + Verb
Can also use 안/못 with 합니다 form:
- 안 갑니다 (don't go)
- 못 갑니다 (can't go)
- 안 먹습니다 (don't eat)
Polite Requests and Commands
-십시오 (Please do)
Formation: Verb stem + (으)십시오
After vowel/ㄹ: -십시오 After consonant: -으십시오
Examples:
- 앉으십시오 (please sit)
- 기다리십시오 (please wait)
- 들어오십시오 (please come in)
-(으)시기 바랍니다
Very formal request: "I hope you will..."
Examples:
- 참석하시기 바랍니다 (We hope you will attend)
- 양해해 주시기 바랍니다 (We hope for your understanding)
Honorific Integration
-시- Insertion
When subject is honored, add -시- before ending:
Statement: -(으)십니다 Question: -(으)십니까?
Examples:
- 가시다 → 가십니다 (goes - honored)
- 먹으시다 → 드십니다 (eats - honored, special verb)
- 계시다 → 계십니다 (stays - honored)
Special Honorific Verbs
| Regular | Honorific | 합니다체 |
|---|---|---|
| 먹다 | 드시다 | 드십니다 |
| 자다 | 주무시다 | 주무십니다 |
| 있다 | 계시다 | 계십니다 |
| 죽다 | 돌아가시다 | 돌아가십니다 |
Sentence Patterns
Simple Statements
[Subject + 은/는] + [Verb + ㅂ니다/습니다]
- 저는 학생입니다 (I am a student)
- 이것은 책입니다 (This is a book)
- 날씨가 좋습니다 (The weather is good)
Questions
[Subject + 은/는] + [Verb + ㅅ니까/습니까]
- 어디에 갑니까? (Where are you going?)
- 무엇을 합니까? (What are you doing?)
- 한국어를 공부합니까? (Do you study Korean?)
Time Expressions
Past: -았/었습니다
- 어제 갔습니다 (went yesterday)
- 작년에 왔습니다 (came last year)
Future: -겠습니다
- 내일 가겠습니다 (will go tomorrow)
- 다음 주에 만나겠습니다 (will meet next week)
Transitional Phrases
Opening Statements
- 시작하겠습니다 (I will begin)
- 말씀드리겠습니다 (I will speak)
- 소개하겠습니다 (I will introduce)
Closing Statements
- 감사합니다 (thank you)
- 끝내겠습니다 (I will finish)
- 이상입니다 (that is all)
Common Expressions
Greetings
- 안녕하십니까? (How do you do? - formal)
- 처음 뵙겠습니다 (Nice to meet you)
- 만나서 반갑습니다 (Pleased to meet you)
Gratitude
- 감사합니다 (thank you)
- 고맙습니다 (thank you)
- 죄송합니다 (I'm sorry - apology)
Requests
- 도와주십시오 (please help)
- 기다려 주십시오 (please wait)
- 말씀해 주십시오 (please speak/tell)
When NOT to Use
With Close Friends
Wrong context: Using 합니다체 with friends creates distance Use instead: 해요체 or 반말
Casual Settings
Sounds too stiff: Cafes, casual shops, friendly conversations Use instead: 해요체
After Relationship Established
Initially: May use 합니다체 with boss Later: Often transitions to 해요체 for warmth
Mixing with 해요체
Common Pattern
Start formal, gradually shift to 해요체:
Meeting 1: 합니다체 (very formal) Meeting 3-4: Mix of both Established: Mainly 해요체
In Same Conversation
Can mix levels based on topic seriousness:
- Serious topic: 합니다체
- Lighter topic: 해요체
Practice Sentences
Self-Introduction
저는 김민수입니다. (I am Kim Minsu) 한국에서 왔습니다. (I came from Korea) 회사원입니다. (I am an office worker) 만나서 반갑습니다. (Nice to meet you)
Daily Activities
아침에 일어납니다. (I wake up in the morning) 회사에 갑니다. (I go to the company) 점심을 먹습니다. (I eat lunch) 저녁에 집에 돌아옵니다. (I return home in the evening)
Questions
어디에 사십니까? (Where do you live?) 무슨 일을 하십니까? (What work do you do?) 한국어를 배웁니까? (Are you learning Korean?)
Key Points
- ✅ Endings: -ㅂ니다/습니다 (statement), -ㅂ니까/습니까 (question)
- ✅ Most formal: Highest politeness level
- ✅ Usage: Presentations, news, business, first meetings
- ✅ Conjugation: Vowel stems + ㅂ니다, consonant stems + 습니다
- ✅ Honorific: Combines with -시- for honored subjects
- ✅ Tone: Professional, respectful, distant
- ✅ Transition: Can shift to 해요체 as relationship warms
합니다체 is essential for formal situations but less common in daily casual interactions. Master it for professional success, but know when to transition to warmer speech levels.