B1 · Intermediate Chapter 21

Showing Humility: Humble Verbs and Actions

5 Total Rules
52 examples
5 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of humility and show deep respect to others using Korean humble verbs.

  • Replace common verbs with their humble counterparts.
  • Apply respectful language when interacting with superiors.
  • Navigate social etiquette through precise verb selection.
Speak with modesty, earn their respect.

What You'll Learn

Hey friend! Ever noticed how respectfully Koreans speak, especially when talking to elders or people in higher positions? In this chapter, you're going to learn how to weave that respect into your own speech, not just with formal endings, but with actual humble verbs unique to Korean! Here, you'll discover that when you're giving something to your professor or boss, you shouldn't just use the regular 주다; you need to use 드리다 to humbly lower your own status and show respect. Or, for instance, when you're asking a question to an elder, instead of 묻다, you'll use 여쭙다 or 여쭤보다. These aren't just words; they're essential ways to express modesty and respect that are deeply ingrained in Korean culture. Why does this matter? Because using these verbs correctly makes your conversations sound much more natural and fluent, demonstrating that you understand Korean etiquette. Imagine you're working at a Korean company and need to submit a report to your manager or ask an important question to a client. If you don't know these verbs, you might accidentally come across as disrespectful. Or perhaps you're talking about escorting your grandmother; instead of 데리다, you'll use 모시다 to maintain that proper deference. By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to confidently speak in formal settings and with superiors, ask questions, give things, or even accompany someone, all while sounding perfectly natural and respectful. Ready for more advanced Korean? Let's go!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use '드리다' (deurida) instead of '주다' (juda) when giving objects to superiors.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Use '여쭙다' (yeojjupda) to ask questions to elders.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Use '모시다' (mosida) to describe escorting someone you respect.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Welcome to a fascinating and crucial aspect of Korean grammar B1: humble verbs! If you’ve ever admired the polite and respectful way Koreans communicate, especially with elders or those in higher positions, you’re about to unlock one of their key secrets. This chapter isn't just about learning new words; it's about understanding and expressing deep cultural respect through your language. Mastering these "humble verbs" will significantly elevate your fluency and make your conversations sound much more natural and authentic.
At the B1 Korean level, you're moving beyond basic survival phrases and starting to engage in more nuanced interactions. This is where humble verbs become indispensable. They allow you to subtly lower your own status or actions when interacting with a superior, thereby elevating theirs. Think of it as a linguistic bow – a way to show deference without saying "I'm inferior." We'll focus on core verbs like 드리다 (to give), 여쭙다/여쭤보다 (to ask), and 모시다 (to take/serve), which are essential for polite communication in various contexts, from the workplace to family gatherings. Get ready to add a sophisticated layer of respect to your Korean grammar!

How This Grammar Works

In Korean, showing respect isn't just about using honorific endings; it's also embedded in specific verbs that express humility when you are the subject of the action and the action is directed towards a superior. Let's dive into the key humble verbs for this chapter.
1. 드리다 (To Give Respectfully / To Offer)
This verb is the humble equivalent of 주다 (to give). You use 드리다 when you are giving something *to* someone of a higher status (e.g., a teacher, boss, elder, or someone you wish to show deep respect to). It implies you are offering or presenting something with deference.
* 선생님께 선물을 드렸어요. (I gave a gift to the teacher.)
* 사장님께 보고서를 드릴게요. (I will submit the report to the CEO.)
* 어머니께 꽃을 드리고 싶어요. (I want to give flowers to my mother.)
2. 여쭙다 / 여쭤보다 (To Ask Respectfully)
These verbs are the humble equivalents of 묻다 (to ask). You use 여쭙다 or 여쭤보다 when you are asking a question *to* someone of higher status. While both are interchangeable in most situations, 여쭙다 can sometimes feel slightly more formal than 여쭤보다.
* 교수님께 질문을 여쭙고 싶습니다. (I would like to ask the professor a question.)
* 부장님께 의견을 여쭤봤어요. (I asked the manager for their opinion.)
* 할머니께 안부를 여쭤볼까요? (Shall I ask grandma how she's doing?)
3. 모시다 (To Take/Accompany/Serve Respectfully)
모시다 is a versatile humble verb. It can replace 데리다 (to take/accompany someone) when you are taking or accompanying someone of higher status. It also carries the nuance of "serving" or "caring for" someone respectfully, often used when referring to living with or looking after elders.
* 할머니를 병원에 모시고 갔어요. (I took my grandmother to the hospital.)
* 사장님을 회의실로 모시겠습니다. (I will escort the CEO to the meeting room.)
* 부모님을 모시고 살아요. (I live with and care for my parents.)

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 교수님께 질문을 물었어요.
✓ Correct: 교수님께 질문을 여쭤봤어요.
*Explanation:* Using 묻다 (to ask) with a professor, who is a superior, can sound impolite. 여쭤보다 (or 여쭙다) is the humble form used to show respect when asking questions to elders or superiors.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 사장님께 서류를 줬어요.
✓ Correct: 사장님께 서류를 드렸어요.
*Explanation:* When giving something to your boss (사장님), using the humble verb 드리다 instead of the regular 주다 is essential to convey respect and proper business etiquette.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 할아버지를 공원에 데리고 갔습니다.
✓ Correct: 할아버지를 공원에 모시고 갔습니다.
*Explanation:* 데리다 is typically used for taking children or peers. When accompanying or taking an elder like a grandfather, 모시다 is the appropriate humble verb to show deference and care.

Real Conversations

A

A

부장님, 이 보고서 드리겠습니다. (Manager, I will give you this report.)
B

B

네, 수고했어요. (Yes, good work.)
A

A

죄송하지만, 한 가지 여쭤봐도 될까요? (Excuse me, but may I ask you one thing?)
B

B

네, 말씀하세요. (Yes, please speak.)
A

A

할머니를 어디까지 모셔다 드릴까요? (To where shall I escort grandmother?)
B

B

저기 지하철역까지 모셔다 주세요. (Please escort her to the subway station over there.)

Quick FAQ

Q

Can I use 드리다 when giving something to a peer if I want to be extra polite?

Generally, 드리다 is reserved for superiors or elders. Using it with peers might sound overly formal or even a bit awkward, though it's not strictly "wrong." Stick to 주다 for peers.

Q

Is 여쭙다 always more formal than 여쭤보다?

While 여쭙다 is often perceived as slightly more formal, both are highly respectful humble verbs and are largely interchangeable in modern Korean. 여쭤보다 is very common in everyday polite conversation.

Q

Are there other humble verbs I should know at the B1 level?

For B1 Korean, 드리다, 여쭙다/여쭤보다, and 모시다 are the most common and crucial humble verbs. Other humble verbs exist (like 뵙다 for "to see"), but these three form the core of showing humility in actions.

Q

What if I'm unsure if someone is a "superior" or not?

When in doubt, it's generally safer and more polite to use the humble verb. It's better to be overly respectful than to accidentally cause offense. As you gain more experience, you'll develop a better sense of social hierarchy.

Cultural Context

These humble verbs are deeply rooted in Korean society's emphasis on hierarchy and respect for elders and superiors. Using them correctly isn't just about Korean grammar; it's a demonstration of cultural understanding and good manners. They are frequently used in workplaces, when talking to teachers or professors, and especially within families when addressing parents or grandparents. Mastering these verbs shows that you appreciate and honor the intricate social etiquette that underpins Korean communication.

Key Examples (8)

1

할머니께 선물을 드렸어요.

I gave a gift to my grandmother.

Humble Verbs: Giving to Superiors (드리다)
2

사장님, 커피 여기 있습니다. 드세요.

Boss, here is your coffee. Please have it.

Humble Verbs: Giving to Superiors (드리다)
3

할머니께 전화를 드렸어요.

I gave my grandmother a call.

Giving Respectfully (드리다)
4

사장님, 이 서류를 드릴까요?

Boss, shall I give you these documents?

Giving Respectfully (드리다)
5

교수님, 질문 하나만 여쭤봐도 될까요?

Professor, may I ask you just one question?

Humble Asking: How to use `여쭙다` and `여쭤보다`
6

부장님께 일정을 여쭙겠습니다.

I will ask the manager about the schedule.

Humble Asking: How to use `여쭙다` and `여쭤보다`
7

교수님께 하나만 여쭤봐도 될까요?

Professor, may I ask you just one thing?

Respectful Asking (여쭙다/여쭤보다)
8

사장님께 그 소식을 여쭤봤어요.

I asked the CEO about that news.

Respectful Asking (여쭙다/여쭤보다)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Use '께'

Always pair '드리다' with '께' for people.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Humble Verbs: Giving to Superiors (드리다)
💡

Use 께

Always use '께' instead of '에게' when using '드리다'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Respectfully (드리다)
💡

Use '께'

Always pair '여쭙다' with '께'. It is the most important marker of humility.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Humble Asking: How to use `여쭙다` and `여쭤보다`
💡

Use '께'

Always pair '여쭙다' with '께'. It's the mark of a polite speaker.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Respectful Asking (여쭙다/여쭤보다)

Key Vocabulary (6)

드리다 (deurida) to give (to a superior) 여쭙다 (yeojjupda) to ask (a superior) 모시다 (mosida) to escort/accompany (a superior) 선생님 (seonsaengnim) teacher/superior 보고서 (bogoseo) report 질문 (jilmun) question

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Meeting at the Office

Review Summary

  • Object + 에게/께 + 드리다
  • Object + 에 대해 + 여쭙다
  • Person + 을/를 + 모시다

Common Mistakes

주다 is for friends. When talking to a teacher, use the humble verb 드리다.

Wrong: 선생님께 선물을 주었어요.
Correct: 선생님께 선물을 드렸습니다.

데리다 is for friends or children. Use 모시다 when talking about elders.

Wrong: 할머니를 데리고 병원에 갔어요.
Correct: 할머니를 모시고 병원에 갔습니다.

묻다/물어보다 is casual. Use the humble form for superiors.

Wrong: 질문을 물어봐요.
Correct: 질문을 여쭤봐요.

Next Steps

You've finished the level! Your Korean skills are now truly professional-grade. Keep practicing and stay confident.

Watch a K-Drama and identify humble verbs.

Continue to: Professional Comparisons and Proportions

Quick Practice (10)

Choose the best fit.

When talking to a boss, use...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Humble verb for boss.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Respectfully (드리다)

Fill in the blank.

선생님께 선물을 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Use humble verb for teacher.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Respectfully (드리다)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 선생님을 모시고 가요.
Teachers require {모시다}.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Humble Verbs: Taking & Serving Superiors (모시다)

Fill in the blank.

선생님께 선물을 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 드려요
Use humble verb for teacher.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Humble Verbs: Giving to Superiors (드리다)

Fill in the correct verb.

사장님을 공항으로 ___ 갑니다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 모시고
Bosses require {모시다}.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Humble Verbs: Taking & Serving Superiors (모시다)

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

친구에게 여쭙고 싶어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 친구에게 물어보고 싶어요
Don't use humble verbs with friends.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Humble Asking: How to use `여쭙다` and `여쭤보다`

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

친구에게 드렸어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 친구에게 주었어요
Don't use humble with friends.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Humble Verbs: Giving to Superiors (드리다)

Choose the correct particle.

선생님 ___ 여쭙습니다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 께
Superiors require '께'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Humble Asking: How to use `여쭙다` and `여쭤보다`

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

선생님께 질문을 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 여쭤봅니다
Formal ending is required for teachers.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Respectful Asking (여쭙다/여쭤보다)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
께 + 드리다 is correct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Respectfully (드리다)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

No, '드리다' is for humans of higher status. Use '주다' for pets.
It is the honorific version of '에게'. It signals respect.
No, it's too formal. Use '주다' for friends.
Yes, when the recipient is a superior.
No, it is too formal and creates distance.
They are related, but '여쭤보다' means 'to try asking'.
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Polite Vocabulary: Honorific Nouns
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Professional Comparisons and Proportions
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