다니시다

§ What does 다니시다 mean and when do people use it?

You're learning Korean, and you've probably come across many different ways to say 'to go' or 'to come.' While words like 가다 (to go) and 오다 (to come) are fundamental, Korean has a rich system of honorifics. This is where 다니시다 comes in. It's an honorific verb that's crucial for showing respect in your conversations.

DEFINITION

다니시다 is the honorific form of 다니다. It means 'to attend,' 'to go regularly,' or 'to commute,' but it's used when the subject of the action is someone you need to show respect to. Think of it as a respectful way to say someone regularly goes to a place like work, school, or church.

The base verb 다니다 implies a regular or repeated action of going somewhere. When you add the honorific suffix -시- to 다니다, it becomes 다니시다. The -시- suffix is a common way to make verbs honorific in Korean, indicating that the person performing the action deserves respect. This respect can be due to age, social status, or the context of your relationship with them.

So, when exactly do you use 다니시다? You use it when you are talking about an older person, a superior at work, a teacher, or anyone else you would naturally address with honorifics. It shows that you acknowledge their status and are being polite. It's not just about 'going' but about 'respectfully going' or 'respectfully attending.'

In this example, '할머니' (grandmother) is a respectful term, so using 다니십니다 is appropriate. If you were talking about yourself, you would simply say '다닙니다.'

Here, '선생님' (teacher) is a figure of respect, so 다니십니다 is used. You wouldn't use this form if you were talking about a friend or a younger sibling going to school.

Let's look at another common scenario: work.

'사장님' (CEO/boss) is a superior, so 다니십니다 is the correct choice. Using 다니다 here would sound impolite and disrespectful.

Consider the distinction carefully. You wouldn't say, '저는 회사에 다니십니다' (I attend work), because you don't use honorifics for yourself in this context. Instead, you'd say '저는 회사에 다닙니다.'

• When talking about your parents or grandparents.
• When referring to your boss, manager, or senior colleagues.
• When speaking about teachers or professors.
• When discussing religious figures or community elders.

Understanding honorifics is a big step in becoming more fluent and culturally appropriate in Korean. 다니시다 is a great example of how these subtle linguistic differences convey important social cues. By practicing its use, you'll sound more natural and respectful to native speakers.

§ What is 다니시다?

Korean Word

다니시다

Word Type

Verb

Meaning

To attend, to go (honorific)

CEFR Level

A2

다니시다 (danisida) is the honorific form of 다니다 (danida). It means "to attend" or "to go somewhere regularly" like a school, church, or workplace. You use 다니시다 when you are talking about someone older or in a higher social position than you.

§ Basic Sentence Structure with 다니시다

When using 다니시다, you often use the particle -에 (e) to indicate the place where someone regularly attends or goes. The structure is usually: Subject + Place + 에 + 다니시다.

Translation Hint

Grandmother attends church.

Translation Hint

The professor goes to the university.

§ Using -고 계시다 with 다니시다

You can combine 다니시다 with the honorific progressive ending -고 계시다 (-go gyesida) to say that someone is currently attending or going somewhere regularly. This emphasizes that the action is ongoing.

Translation Hint

My father is currently going to work (attending his company).

§ Expressing Duration with 다니시다

To talk about how long someone has been attending or going somewhere regularly, you can use expressions of time followed by 동안 (dongan), meaning "during" or "for," and then 다니시다.

Translation Hint

The teacher attended this school for 10 years.

You can also use 부터 (buteo) meaning "from" to indicate a starting point.

Translation Hint

My mother has been attending the yoga academy since last year.

§ Common Prepositions and Particles with 다니시다

Here are some common particles and prepositions you'll use with 다니시다:

• -에 (e)

  Indicates the destination or place of attendance.

• -에서 (eseo)

  Can be used to indicate where the action of attending is taking place, especially if there's an active process happening there, though -에 is more common for simple attendance.

• -부터 (buteo)

  Means "from" or "since," used to indicate a starting point in time.

• -동안 (dongan)

  Means "during" or "for (a period of time)."

§ Practice Sentences with 다니시다

Let's look at more examples to help you get comfortable with 다니시다.

Translation Hint

My aunt goes to the library every week.

Translation Hint

Grandfather is still going to work.

Translation Hint

The CEO often goes to the golf course.

Remember, the key to using 다니시다 correctly is to always consider who you are talking about. When in doubt, it's safer to use the honorific form to show respect.

§ Using 다니시다 when regular attendance isn't implied

Many learners mistakenly use 다니시다 for a one-time visit or a temporary stay. Remember, 다니시다 implies regular attendance or going to a place repeatedly. If someone just visited a place once, you wouldn't use 다니시다. You'd use a different verb like 가시다 (to go, honorific) or 오시다 (to come, honorific).

§ Forgetting the honorific aspect

다니시다 is an honorific verb, meaning it's used when talking about someone older or of higher status. A common mistake is using it for oneself or for someone to whom you wouldn't normally use honorifics. Always remember to use honorifics appropriately in Korean culture.

Incorrect Usage

저는 학교에 다니십니다. (I attend school. - Incorrect because you wouldn't use honorifics for yourself)

§ Confusing 다니시다 with 가시다 or 오시다

While both 다니시다 and 가시다/오시다 are honorific verbs related to movement, their meanings are distinct. 가시다 (to go) and 오시다 (to come) refer to a single instance of going or coming, whereas 다니시다 implies regular, habitual movement to a place. Don't use 다니시다 if the action is not a recurring one.

Example of 다니시다

할머니께서는 교회에 다니십니다. (Grandmother attends church regularly.)

Example of 가시다

할머니께서는 어제 병원에 가셨습니다. (Grandmother went to the hospital yesterday - a one-time event.)

§ Using 다니시다 with inanimate objects or abstract concepts

다니시다 is used for people going to or attending places. It's not used for objects moving or for abstract concepts like 'time passing.' This might seem obvious, but sometimes learners, especially those translating directly from English, might make this error.

§ Overusing 다니시다 in contexts where a simpler verb suffices

While it's good to use honorifics, sometimes a simpler honorific verb or construction might be more natural. If the context doesn't strongly emphasize regular attendance, other honorifics might be more appropriate. For example, if you're just asking where someone is, you might not need 다니시다.

Instead of something like: 선생님, 어디에 다니십니까? (Teacher, where do you attend? - which sounds a bit unnatural if you're just asking about their current location).

Mastering honorifics like 다니시다 takes practice. Pay attention to the context, the status of the person you're referring to, and whether regular attendance is truly implied. You'll get there!