Korean speech choices communicate a relationship as well as information. Beginners often learn polite endings first because they are useful in many everyday interactions. That does not make one ending suitable for every sentence or situation.
This guide compares a few common patterns. It is a practical introduction, not a complete account of speech levels, honorific grammar or every workplace convention.
Separate the listener from the subject
Sentence endings can express the speaker’s stance toward the listener. Subject honorifics concern the person being discussed. Vocabulary, titles and the content of a request add further choices; these are related but separate layers.
The NIKL entry for 해요체 identifies it as a nonformal polite speech style. “Nonformal” here does not mean the same thing as intimate casual speech.
Compare complete examples
| Style | Constructed example and meaning |
|---|---|
| Everyday polite | 지금 가요. — I am going now. |
| Formal polite | 지금 갑니다. — I am going now. |
| Casual | 지금 가. — I am going now. |
The shared verb helps show the ending contrast. The translation does not capture every social nuance. With different intonation or context, a short Korean form may function differently, so learn it within a complete exchange.
Use context before switching
With a new acquaintance, teacher, customer or unfamiliar colleague, begin with an appropriately polite form and observe the setting. Age alone is not a mechanical rule for deciding how to address someone.
Among close friends, casual speech may be mutually comfortable. Do not assume that someone’s casual speech gives automatic permission to mirror it, especially where roles or expectations differ. You can ask what form of address feels comfortable.
Practice requests as requests
Compare 물 주세요, meaning “Please give me water,” with 물 줘 in a casual relationship. These are constructed examples for comparison, not interchangeable service scripts. Tone, setting and the request itself still matter.
Avoid treating politeness as simply attaching 요 to any English-shaped sentence. Learn a complete useful phrase, check its grammar and meaning, and ask for feedback on the actual situation where you plan to use it.
Keep messages consistent
For a short message to a new contact, state who you are, why you are writing and what response you need. A clear request and realistic deadline can matter as much as the ending.
Read the whole message for abrupt switches between styles or unnecessary familiarity. A product, workplace or institution may have its own writing conventions; ask a competent reviewer rather than assuming a universal business template.
Keep a practical message in one appropriate speech level
For a constructed scheduling message, begin with “내일 세 시에 만날까요?” to suggest meeting tomorrow at three. Compare how a teacher would adapt the message for an established close friend versus an unfamiliar colleague. The task stays the same while the relationship changes.
Write the speaker, recipient and purpose above the sentence before asking for correction. This helps a reviewer explain the choice rather than merely adding a polite ending. Do not switch to casual speech solely because the other person is younger.
| Focus | What to check |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Suggestion, request, information or another speech act? |
| Relationship | Who speaks to whom in which setting? |
| Consistency | Do the wording and endings fit the same intended tone? |
A reader question: Does one casual expression make the whole relationship informal?
No. Context and agreement matter, and people may use different styles in different settings. If unsure, keep a courteous style and ask how the person prefers to be addressed rather than inferring a permanent rule from one utterance.
Correct a slip and continue
If you accidentally use a casual form, a brief apology and a restated polite sentence usually communicate your intention more clearly than a long explanation of your learning history. The response still depends on the relationship.
Keep practice notes with the listener, setting, original sentence and corrected version. Rehearse a new situation so the form becomes a choice you understand, rather than a memorized rule about everyone of a particular age.
Editorial revision: October 20, 2026. Verify current provider terms and official requirements where relevant. Examples marked as constructed are not quotes or research findings.