beginner
Asks someone politely to do something, or asks about them with respect: 앉으세요 (anjeuseyo), "please sit".
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- After a vowel or ㄹ (which drops): 세요 seyo. After other consonants: 으세요 euseyo.
- Same form for a request and a polite question. Your tone tells them apart.
Build it
When to use it
Polite requests
Asking or telling someone to do something.
Polite questions
Asking about the person you're talking to.
Everyday phrases
Greetings and wishes.
Watch out
Stems ending in ㄹ drop it: 사세요 saseyo.
After a consonant, add 으: 앉으세요 anjeuseyo.
In context
9 examples- 1
여기 앉으세요.
Yeogi anjeuseyo.
Please sit here.
- 2
어디 가세요?
Eodi gaseyo?
Where are you going?
- 3
맛있게 드세요.
Masitge deuseyo.
Enjoy your meal.
- 4
잠깐만 기다리세요.
Jamkkanman gidariseyo.
Please wait a moment.
- 5
이 길로 쭉 가세요.
I gillo jjuk gaseyo.
Go straight down this road.
- 6
주말 잘 보내세요.
Jumal jal bonaeseyo.
Have a good weekend.
- 7
선생님, 요즘 많이 바쁘세요?
Seonsaengnim, yojeum mani bappeuseyo?
Are you very busy these days, teacher?
- 8
안녕히 주무세요.
Annyeonghi jumuseyo.
Good night. Sleep well.
- 9
이름을 여기에 쓰세요.
Ireumeul yeogie sseuseyo.
Please write your name here.
Practice
8 questions앉다 + (으)세요
Verbs with their own polite form
A few common verbs don't just add (으)세요. They change into a different word:
| Verb | Polite form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 먹다, 마시다 (eat, drink) | 드세요 deuseyo | 맛있게 드세요. "Enjoy your meal." |
| 자다 (sleep) | 주무세요 jumuseyo | 안녕히 주무세요. "Good night." |
| 있다 (be, stay) | 계세요 gyeseyo | 안녕히 계세요. "Goodbye" (to someone staying). |
| 말하다 (say) | 말씀하세요 malsseumhaseyo | 천천히 말씀하세요. "Please speak slowly." |
Why 세요 also asks questions
(으)세요 is really two pieces stuck together: the honorific (으)시, which shows respect for the person doing the action, and the polite ending 어요 eoyo. That's why the same word can be a request, a question or a description, as long as the person doing it is someone you're being polite about:
- 앉으세요. anjeuseyo "Please sit."
- 어디 사세요? eodi saseyo "Where do you live?"
- 할머니가 부산에 사세요. halmeoniga busane saseyo "My grandmother lives in Busan."
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 으세요 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.