Explanation at your level:
You use ~세요 to be polite. If you want to say 'Please sit', you say 'An-jeu-se-yo'. Use it with your teacher or new friends to be nice!
At this level, you will use this for basic requests. 'Please give me water' becomes 'Mul juseyo'. Remember the rule: vowel ending vs. consonant ending.
You can now use this for complex requests. It is the standard for service encounters. You will notice it everywhere in Korea, from subway announcements to shop greetings.
At this level, you understand the nuance. While it is polite, it is not the *most* formal. For high-level business, you might use even more formal endings, but ~세요 remains the workhorse of polite speech.
You appreciate the social implications. Using this suffix correctly is a sign of cultural competence. You know when to use it to soften a command and when to avoid it if you need to be extremely deferential.
You see the historical evolution of honorifics. You understand how this suffix bridges the gap between casual speech and formal written language. It is a fundamental tool for navigating Korean social hierarchy with ease.
Palabra en 30 segundos
- Polite command suffix.
- Use ~세요 for vowel stems.
- Use ~으세요 for consonant stems.
- Essential for polite Korean.
When you want to tell someone to do something in Korean, you can't just use the base verb. That would sound rude! Instead, you add ~세요 or ~으세요 to the end. Think of it as the polite version of a command, like saying 'Please do this' or 'Would you kindly do this?'
It is the most common way to make requests in daily life. Whether you are at a restaurant asking for water or telling a friend to 'come here,' this suffix makes your sentence sound respectful and kind. It is essential for anyone learning Korean to master this early on.
The suffix ~세요 is a contraction of the honorific suffix -si- (시) and the polite sentence ending -eoyo (어요). Historically, -si- was used to show deep respect for the subject of the sentence, often royalty or elders.
Over time, as the Korean language evolved to prioritize social harmony, this combination became the standard 'polite' form. It reflects the deep-seated cultural values of hierarchy and politeness in Korea. It is fascinating how a simple grammatical ending can carry so much cultural weight regarding how we treat others.
You use ~세요 when the verb stem ends in a vowel or the consonant 'ㄹ'. You use ~으세요 when the verb stem ends in any other consonant. This is a classic example of Korean euphonic rules designed to make speech flow smoothly.
It is used in almost every context: asking for directions, ordering food, or giving instructions to a classmate. It is not used for yourself, as you cannot command yourself politely! It is strictly for interacting with others in a way that maintains social grace.
1. 어서 오세요 (Welcome): Literally 'come in politely.' Used to greet customers.
2. 안녕히 가세요 (Goodbye): Used when the other person is leaving. It means 'Go in peace.'
3. 앉으세요 (Please sit): A standard polite invitation to sit down.
4. 드세요 (Please eat): Used to invite someone to eat or drink.
5. 기다리세요 (Please wait): A polite way to ask someone to pause for a moment.
The grammar rule is simple: if the verb stem ends in a vowel, add -세요. If it ends in a consonant, add -으세요. For example, gada (to go) becomes gaseyo, while molda (to read) becomes ilgeuseyo.
Pronunciation-wise, ensure the 's' sound is crisp. In American English, it sounds like 'seh-yo'. There is no plural form because it is a verb ending, not a noun. It is the backbone of polite Korean communication.
Fun Fact
It combines an honorific infix with a polite sentence ending.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'seh-yo'
Sounds like 'seh-yo'
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing 'eu' sound
- Dropping the 'yo' sound
- Incorrect stress
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
Moderate
Moderate
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanzado
Grammar to Know
Honorifics
선생님께서 가세요.
Verb Conjugation
가다 -> 가세요
Negative Imperative
하지 마세요
Examples by Level
오세요.
Come.
Vowel stem.
보세요.
Look.
Vowel stem.
주세요.
Give.
Vowel stem.
읽으세요.
Read.
Consonant stem.
먹으세요.
Eat.
Consonant stem.
앉으세요.
Sit.
Consonant stem.
가세요.
Go.
Vowel stem.
하세요.
Do.
Vowel stem.
커피 주세요.
여기에 쓰세요.
천천히 말하세요.
조용히 하세요.
책을 펴세요.
문제를 푸세요.
사진을 찍으세요.
다시 말하세요.
내일 다시 오세요.
이것을 읽어 보세요.
도와주세요.
먼저 드세요.
조금만 기다리세요.
안전벨트를 매세요.
질문을 하세요.
창문을 여세요.
부디 이해해 주세요.
제안을 검토해 보세요.
상황을 설명해 주세요.
결정을 내려 주세요.
회의에 참석하세요.
자료를 준비하세요.
메일을 보내세요.
시간을 지키세요.
이 점을 고려해 주세요.
의견을 말씀해 주세요.
신중하게 판단하세요.
적극적으로 참여하세요.
문제를 해결해 보세요.
계획을 수정하세요.
결과를 확인하세요.
협조해 주세요.
본인의 의사를 밝히세요.
상세히 기술해 주세요.
관점을 전환해 보세요.
심도 있게 연구하세요.
논리적으로 서술하세요.
요점을 정리하세요.
사례를 제시하세요.
맥락을 파악하세요.
Colocaciones comunes
Idioms & Expressions
"어서 오세요"
Welcome
식당에 어서 오세요.
polite"안녕히 가세요"
Goodbye (to someone leaving)
안녕히 가세요!
polite"조심하세요"
Be careful
길이 미끄러우니 조심하세요.
polite"힘내세요"
Cheer up / Stay strong
시험 잘 보세요, 힘내세요!
polite"수고하세요"
Keep up the good work
오늘도 수고하세요.
polite"알아보세요"
Look into it / Find out
직접 알아보세요.
politeEasily Confused
Spelling
One is correct, one is not.
하세요 vs 하셔요
Politeness
Formal vs Polite.
가세요 vs 가십시오
Command
Polite vs Casual.
가세요 vs 가자
Command
Polite vs Blunt.
가세요 vs 가라
Sentence Patterns
Subject + Object + Verb+세요
커피를 마시세요.
Place + Verb+세요
여기에 앉으세요.
Time + Verb+세요
내일 오세요.
Adverb + Verb+세요
빨리 가세요.
Object + Please + Verb+세요
책을 읽어 주세요.
Familia de palabras
Nouns
Verbs
Relacionado
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Errores comunes
You don't command yourself politely.
Using ~세요 after a consonant.
Can sound bossy if used too much.
Too casual for a speech.
Confusing ~세요 and ~세오.
Tips
Memory Trick
Say it like 'Say-yo'.
Native Speakers
Used in shops.
Politeness
Key to Korean culture.
Rule
Consonant? Add 'eu'.
Clear Speech
Don't mumble.
Mistake
Don't use for self.
History
Ancient honorifics.
Practice
Use it daily.
Shortcut
Check the last letter.
Context
Great for travel.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Say 'Say-yo' to be polite!
Visual Association
A waiter bowing and saying 'Please'.
Word Web
Desafío
Use it 5 times today.
Origen de la palabra
Korean
Original meaning: Polite command
Contexto cultural
Always use with respect.
Similar to 'Please' + imperative.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Restaurant
- 물 주세요
- 메뉴 주세요
- 여기 보세요
School
- 책을 펴세요
- 읽으세요
- 쓰세요
Travel
- 도와주세요
- 기다리세요
- 가세요
Work
- 확인하세요
- 보내세요
- 준비하세요
Conversation Starters
"How do you say 'please sit'?"
"When do you use ~으세요?"
"Is ~세요 formal?"
"Can you use ~세요 for yourself?"
"What is the polite form of 'eat'?"
Journal Prompts
Write 5 commands you give a friend.
Describe a shop interaction.
Why is politeness important?
Translate 'Please help me'.
Preguntas frecuentes
8 preguntasAfter a consonant.
Mostly for people you don't know well.
Yes, it is polite.
It can be with a rising tone.
Use ~세요.
It is polite, not formal.
Yes, in polite letters.
No, very consistent.
Ponte a prueba
물 ___ (give).
Polite request.
Which is correct?
Consonant stem rule.
Can I use ~세요 for myself?
It is for others.
Word
Significado
Verb stems.
Natural order.
Puntuación: /5
Summary
Add ~세요 to be polite when asking others to do things!
- Polite command suffix.
- Use ~세요 for vowel stems.
- Use ~으세요 for consonant stems.
- Essential for polite Korean.
Memory Trick
Say it like 'Say-yo'.
Native Speakers
Used in shops.
Politeness
Key to Korean culture.
Rule
Consonant? Add 'eu'.
Ejemplo
어서 오세요.
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