하십시오체

Korean

Etymology

From 하십시오 (hasipsio), formal and polite imperative of 하— (ha-, “to do”) + 체 (che, “style”)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key)[ha̠ɕʰipɕ͈io̞t͡ɕʰe̞]
Phonetic Hangul[하십씨오체]

Revised Romanization^?	hasipsioche
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	hasibsioche
McCune–Reischauer^?	hasipsioch'e
Yale Romanization^?	hasipqsiochey

Noun

하십시오체 • (hasipsioche)

The formal, polite speech level in Korean.

Usage notes

하십시오체 (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 —ᆸ니다 (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)