Korean has special honorific nouns that replace regular nouns when referring to things belonging to or about respected persons. Using these shows cultural awareness and proper respect.
Why Honorific Nouns?
Showing Complete Respect
Even possessions deserve respect when they belong to elders:
- Regular: 할아버지 이름 (grandfather's name)
- Honorific: 할아버지 성함 (grandfather's name - respectful)
Cultural Appropriateness
Using honorific nouns shows:
- Proper Korean etiquette
- Cultural understanding
- Complete respect (not just verb forms)
Common Situations
Asking about elders/superiors:
- Age, name, home, birthday
- Meals, words, health
- Family members
Essential Honorific Nouns
연세 (age)
Replaces: 나이 (age)
Usage:
- 할아버지 연세가 어떻게 되세요? (What is grandfather's age?)
- 연세가 많으세요 (You are of advanced age)
- 연세에 비해 건강하세요 (You're healthy for your age)
Note: Only for elders/respected persons
- ❌ 친구 연세 (friend's age - wrong)
- ✅ 친구 나이 (friend's age - correct)
성함 (name)
Replaces: 이름 (name)
Usage:
- 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (What is your name? - respectful)
- 성함을 여쭤봐도 될까요? (May I ask your name?)
- 성함을 좀 알려 주세요 (Please tell me your name)
Common in:
- Formal situations
- Customer service
- Meeting elders/superiors
Written form: Often asked as "성함과 연락처를 기재해 주세요" (Please write your name and contact)
댁 (house/home)
Replaces: 집 (house, home)
Usage:
- 선생님 댁에 가요 (Going to teacher's house)
- 댁이 어디세요? (Where is your home?)
- 할머니 댁에 계세요? (Are you at grandmother's house?)
Can refer to family:
- 댁에서 다 건강하세요? (Is everyone at home healthy?)
진지 (meal)
Replaces: 밥 (meal, food, rice)
Usage:
- 진지 드셨어요? (Did you eat? - respectful)
- 진지 드세요 (Please eat)
- 아침 진지 드세요 (Please eat breakfast)
Note: Used with 드시다 (honorific eat)
Less common in modern Korean than other honorific nouns, but still used with elders
말씀 (words/speech)
Replaces: 말 (words, speech)
Usage:
- 선생님 말씀을 잘 들으세요 (Listen well to teacher's words)
- 말씀 감사합니다 (Thank you for your words)
- 말씀해 주세요 (Please speak/tell)
- 좋은 말씀 감사합니다 (Thank you for the good words)
As verb: 말씀하시다 (speak - honorific)
- 천천히 말씀하세요 (Please speak slowly)
생신 (birthday)
Replaces: 생일 (birthday)
Usage:
- 할머니 생신이 언제세요? (When is grandmother's birthday?)
- 생신 축하드립니다 (Happy birthday - respectful)
- 생신 선물 (birthday present for elder)
Note: Only for respected persons
- Regular birthday: 생일 축하해요
- Elder birthday: 생신 축하드립니다
Body-Related Honorific Nouns
연세 (age - already covered)
But also refers to years of life
진지 (meal - already covered)
Food going into respected body
Less Common Body Terms
These exist but are less common:
髮 (머리카락 → 옥체): Very formal, rarely used 睡眠 (잠 → 주무시다): Use the verb instead
Generally: Use honorific verbs rather than body-part nouns
- 주무세요 (sleep - verb) rather than special noun for "sleep"
Family-Related Honorific Terms
When Asking About Someone's Family
Use honorific terms:
- 어머님 (mother - when asking about someone else's)
- 아버님 (father - when asking about someone else's)
- 할머님 (grandmother - when asking)
- 할아버님 (grandfather - when asking)
Usage:
- 어머님께서 건강하세요? (Is your mother healthy?)
- 아버님 연세가 어떻게 되세요? (What is your father's age?)
But NOT for Your Own Family (to outsiders)
Lower your family to outsiders:
- 우리 어머니 (my mother - to outsider)
- Not: 우리 어머님 (too respectful about your own family)
Exception: Among family, honor elders
- (To sibling) 어머님께서 오셨어요 (Mother came)
Location and Objects
댁 (house - already covered)
Other Objects
Generally: Korean doesn't have as many object-specific honorific nouns
Instead use:
- Honorific verbs
- Honorific possessive particles
- Respectful expressions
Example:
- 선생님의 책 (teacher's book - no special honorific noun for "book")
- Just mark possession respectfully with 의
Common Expressions with Honorific Nouns
Asking About Age
연세:
- 연세가 어떻게 되세요? (What is your age? - respectful)
- 할아버지 연세가 많으세요 (Grandfather is of advanced age)
Asking About Name
성함:
- 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (What is your name?)
- 성함을 여쭤봐도 될까요? (May I ask your name?)
- 성함 좀 알려 주시겠어요? (Could you tell me your name?)
Asking About Home
댁:
- 댁이 어디세요? (Where is your home?)
- 댁에 계세요? (Are you at home?)
Meal Greetings
진지:
- 진지 드셨어요? (Did you eat?)
- 맛있게 드세요 (Enjoy your meal - though 진지 often omitted)
Birthday Wishes
생신:
- 생신 축하드립니다 (Happy birthday - respectful)
- 생신을 진심으로 축하드립니다 (I sincerely wish you a happy birthday)
In Formal Writing
Forms and Applications
Using honorific nouns:
- 성함: (Name field)
- 연락처: (Contact - though this isn't specifically honorific)
- 주소: (Address)
Example form:
- 성함: _
- 연세: _
- 연락처: _
Business Cards
Respectful language:
- Usually just regular nouns (이름) since it's about yourself
- But when asking: 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
Combination with Honorific Verbs
Perfect Respect
Honorific noun + honorific verb:
- 할아버지 연세가 어떻게 되세요? (grandfather's age / becomes)
- 선생님 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (teacher's name / becomes)
- 어머님 댁이 어디 계세요? (mother's home / is)
With Humble Verbs
When you're asking:
- 성함을 여쭤봐도 될까요? (name / ask-humble)
- 연세를 말씀드려도 될까요? (age / tell-humble)
Comparison Table
| Regular | Honorific | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 나이 | 연세 | age |
| 이름 | 성함 | name |
| 집 | 댁 | house/home |
| 밥 | 진지 | meal |
| 말 | 말씀 | words/speech |
| 생일 | 생신 | birthday |
When NOT to Use
About Yourself
Don't honor your own things:
- ❌ 제 연세는... (My age - wrong)
- ✅ 제 나이는... (My age - correct)
About Peers/Friends
Not for equals:
- ❌ 친구 성함 (friend's name - wrong)
- ✅ 친구 이름 (friend's name - correct)
Your Family to Outsiders
Be humble:
- ❌ 우리 아버님 댁 (my father's house - to stranger)
- ✅ 우리 아버지 집 (my father's house - to stranger)
Example Sentences
With 연세
- 할아버지 연세가 아흔이세요 (Grandfather is 90 years old)
- 연세가 어떻게 되세요? (What is your age?)
- 연세에 비해 정말 건강하세요 (You're really healthy for your age)
With 성함
- 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (What is your name?)
- 성함을 여쭤봐도 될까요? (May I ask your name?)
- 고객님 성함을 확인해 주세요 (Please confirm your name, customer)
With 댁
- 선생님 댁에 초대받았어요 (I was invited to teacher's house)
- 댁이 어디세요? (Where is your home?)
- 할머니 댁에 다녀왔어요 (I visited grandmother's house)
With 진지
- 진지 드셨어요? (Did you eat?)
- 아침 진지 드세요 (Please eat breakfast)
- 진지 맛있게 드세요 (Enjoy your meal)
With 말씀
- 선생님 말씀을 잘 들었어요 (I listened well to teacher's words)
- 좋은 말씀 감사합니다 (Thank you for the good words)
- 말씀해 주세요 (Please speak/tell me)
With 생신
- 할아버지 생신이 다음 달이에요 (Grandfather's birthday is next month)
- 생신 축하드립니다 (Happy birthday - respectful)
- 생신 선물을 준비했어요 (I prepared a birthday present)
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: First Meeting (Formal)
A: 안녕하세요. 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
(Hello. What is your name?)
B: 김민수입니다.
(I'm Kim Minsu.)
A: 만나서 반갑습니다.
(Nice to meet you.)
Dialogue 2: About Grandparents
A: 할아버지 연세가 어떻게 되세요?
(What is your grandfather's age?)
B: 여든다섯이세요.
([He] is 85.)
A: 정말 건강하세요.
([He's] really healthy.)
Dialogue 3: Visiting
A: 선생님 댁이 어디세요?
(Where is teacher's house?)
B: 강남에 있어요.
([It's] in Gangnam.)
A: 댁에 초대해 주셔서 감사합니다.
(Thank you for inviting me to your home.)
Dialogue 4: Meal Time
A: 할머니, 진지 드셨어요?
(Grandmother, did you eat?)
B: 아직 안 먹었어.
(Not yet.)
A: 같이 드세요!
(Please eat together!)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 제 성함은 김민수입니다
Honoring yourself
✅ Correct: 제 이름은 김민수입니다
Use regular noun for yourself
❌ Incorrect: 친구 연세가 스물이에요
Using honorific for peer
✅ Correct: 친구 나이가 스물이에요
Use regular noun for peers
❌ Incorrect: 우리 어머님 댁 (to stranger)
Honoring your family to outsider
✅ Correct: 우리 어머니 집 (to stranger)
Be humble about your family
❌ Awkward: 할아버지 이름이 뭐예요?
Not using honorific noun
✅ Correct: 할아버지 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
Use honorific noun for respect
Quick Reference: When to Use
| Situation | Use Honorific Noun | Use Regular Noun |
|---|---|---|
| About elder/superior | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| About yourself | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| About peer/friend | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Your family (to outsider) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Your family (among family) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Customer/client | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Essential six: 연세 (age), 성함 (name), 댁 (house), 진지 (meal), 말씀 (words), 생신 (birthday)
- ✅ Most common: 연세 and 성함 in formal situations
- ✅ Use for elders: Parents, grandparents, teachers, superiors
- ✅ Don't use for yourself: Always be humble about your own things
- ✅ Don't use for peers: Regular nouns for friends and equals
- ✅ Family context matters: Honor to family members, humble to outsiders
- ✅ Combine with verbs: Honorific nouns + honorific verbs = complete respect
- ✅ Cultural awareness: Shows proper Korean etiquette
Honorific nouns complete your respectful Korean. Master the essential ones (연세, 성함, 댁) for formal situations, and remember to never use them for yourself or your own family when talking to outsiders. These special nouns show cultural understanding and proper respect in Korean society!