Hello guys,
Today I will post about proper way of using honorifics
I will refer to 'Language and Culture' 1.5~1.6 lessons to clarify some things, so please check the lesson when you are reading this post.
First I want to address 씨 and 님 (Mr/Mrs)
In the lesson, there is an example 김씨 (Mr.Kim)
However, this is actually quite wrong way to do it. Unlike western culture, Koreans do not address people with Mr.(Last Name) rule. It is actually used to address someone who is similar or lower rank than you are. If you address your boss as 김씨, it would be very inappropriate.
Proper way to use this is to use it with full name. 김00씨. However, this is still not very used in work place or situation where you have to address higher rank person. It is in fact not very polite to address person who is higher rank than you with names. You would rather address them with their title with 님.
ex: 김장군님 (General Kim), 김사장님 (President Kim)
Next I will talk about situations where you have to avoid honorifics.
This is a very tricky one. You have to understand when to use honorifics. If you are meeting people for the first time professionally (ex:business), it is best to use honorifics or respectable form no matter their age.
In the professional world, just because they are younger than you, it is not right to address them impolitely.
For example, two people are meeting for the first time for business purpose.
A: 반갑습니다. (Nice to meet you)
B: 네, 반갑습니다. 성함이 어떻게 되시죠(yes, Nice to meet you, what is your name (Hon).
Now, 성함 is honorific form of name(이름).
However, you do not use honorifics just because you meet people for the first time. If you are meeting someone socially for the first time, wrong use of honorifics can be very awkward thing.
For example, your friend is introducing another friend to you. One should be polite by using 요 form of honorifics(해요체) and nothing higher than that(unless the person you are being introduced to is a lot older than you). If you use higher honorifics, it might seem like you are uncomfortable with the person or person seems very old.
Please let me know if you are confused about this, I will clarify it more if you need it!!
Today I will post about proper way of using honorifics
I will refer to 'Language and Culture' 1.5~1.6 lessons to clarify some things, so please check the lesson when you are reading this post.
First I want to address 씨 and 님 (Mr/Mrs)
In the lesson, there is an example 김씨 (Mr.Kim)
However, this is actually quite wrong way to do it. Unlike western culture, Koreans do not address people with Mr.(Last Name) rule. It is actually used to address someone who is similar or lower rank than you are. If you address your boss as 김씨, it would be very inappropriate.
Proper way to use this is to use it with full name. 김00씨. However, this is still not very used in work place or situation where you have to address higher rank person. It is in fact not very polite to address person who is higher rank than you with names. You would rather address them with their title with 님.
ex: 김장군님 (General Kim), 김사장님 (President Kim)
Next I will talk about situations where you have to avoid honorifics.
This is a very tricky one. You have to understand when to use honorifics. If you are meeting people for the first time professionally (ex:business), it is best to use honorifics or respectable form no matter their age.
In the professional world, just because they are younger than you, it is not right to address them impolitely.
For example, two people are meeting for the first time for business purpose.
A: 반갑습니다. (Nice to meet you)
B: 네, 반갑습니다. 성함이 어떻게 되시죠(yes, Nice to meet you, what is your name (Hon).
Now, 성함 is honorific form of name(이름).
However, you do not use honorifics just because you meet people for the first time. If you are meeting someone socially for the first time, wrong use of honorifics can be very awkward thing.
For example, your friend is introducing another friend to you. One should be polite by using 요 form of honorifics(해요체) and nothing higher than that(unless the person you are being introduced to is a lot older than you). If you use higher honorifics, it might seem like you are uncomfortable with the person or person seems very old.
Please let me know if you are confused about this, I will clarify it more if you need it!!