Respectful VIP Verbs (계시다, 드시다)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use '-(으)시-' to show respect to the subject of your sentence when they are older or higher in status.
- Add -시- to the verb stem: 가다 → 가시다.
- If the stem ends in a consonant, use -으시다: 먹다 → 먹으시다.
- Some verbs have special honorific forms: 자다 → 주무시다.
Overview
In Korean, showing respect extends beyond mere politeness levels; it's intricately woven into the very fabric of the language, particularly through verb choices. While the general honorific suffix -(으)시- (-(eu)si-) can be appended to most action and descriptive verbs to honor the subject, a select group of frequently used verbs are entirely replaced by distinct "special honorific verbs." These special forms are mandatory when the subject of your sentence—the person performing the action—is someone of higher social standing, age, or authority than yourself. Their use signifies a profound level of deference that a simple -(으)시- cannot fully convey.
This article focuses on two fundamental special honorific verbs: 계시다 (gyesida) and 드시다 (deusida). 계시다 serves as the honorific equivalent of 있다 (itda), meaning "to be," "to exist," or "to stay." 드시다 replaces 먹다 (meokda), meaning "to eat," and 마시다 (masida), meaning "to drink." It can also act as the honorific form of 타다 (tada, "to take/ride") and 들다 (deulda, "to take/receive") in specific contexts. Mastering these forms is crucial for B1 learners, as their correct application not only demonstrates linguistic proficiency but also a deep understanding of Korean cultural etiquette.
Misusing them, or failing to use them when appropriate, can inadvertently convey disrespect, even with otherwise polite sentence endings.
How This Grammar Works
있다 to get 계시다; you entirely substitute one word for another. This requires memorization rather than rule application, similar to irregular verbs in English.계시다 or 드시다 is determined solely by the subject's status relative to the speaker, irrespective of the listener. For instance, you would use 드시다 when talking about your boss eating, even if you are speaking to your younger sibling.계시- or 드시-), you then append the regular sentence endings that convey the desired politeness level towards your listener. This creates a "double layer" of respect: one for the subject via the verb choice, and one for the listener via the ending. For example, 아버지가 집에 계세요. (abeojiga jibe gyeseyo) shows respect to "Father" (subject) through 계시다 and politeness to the listener through the 어요 ending.선생님께서 식사하십니다. (seonsaengnimkkeseo siksahasimnida) shows respect to "Teacher" (subject) through a different honorific verb (or 드시다) and formality to the listener through the 습니다 ending.계시다 primarily conveys location or existence.할머니께서 방에 계세요.(Halmeonikkeseo bange gyeseyo.) — "Grandmother is in the room." (Subject: Grandmother, location: room).사장님은 사무실에 안 계십니다.(Sajangnimeun samusire an gyesimnida.) — "The CEO is not in the office." (Subject: CEO, negative existence: not in office).
드시다 is more versatile. Its primary uses are for "to eat" and "to drink," but it can also mean "to take" or "to receive" depending on the context.아버지가 아침을 드세요.(Abeojiga achimeul deuseyo.) — "Father is eating breakfast." (Subject: Father, action: eating).선생님께서 차를 드셨어요.(Seonsaengnimkkeseo chareul deusyeosseoyo.) — "The teacher drank tea." (Subject: Teacher, action: drinking).약 꼭 드세요.(Yak kkok deuseyo.) — "Please take your medicine." (Used as an imperative, implying "take"). Here,드시다(deusida) is the honorific equivalent of약을 먹다(yageul meokda, "to take medicine").
Formation Pattern
-(으)시- for subject honorification (e.g., 가다 → 가시다 "to go," 앉다 → 앉으시다 "to sit"), 계시다 and 드시다 are not formed through a regular pattern. They are irregular lexical replacements for their non-honorific counterparts. This means you must learn them as distinct vocabulary items. Think of it as knowing that "go" becomes "went" in the past tense; there's no predictable rule to derive "went" from "go."
있다 (itda) | 계시다 (gyesida) | to be, to exist, to stay | 할머니께서 집에 계세요. (Grandmother is home.) |
먹다 (meokda) | 드시다 (deusida) | to eat | 선생님께서 식사를 드세요. (Teacher is eating.) |
마시다 (masida) | 드시다 (deusida) | to drink | 아버지가 커피를 드셨어요. (Father drank coffee.) |
타다 (tada) | 드시다 (deusida) | to take, to ride | 택시를 드세요. (Please take a taxi.) (less common) |
들다 (deulda) | 드시다 (deusida) | to take, to receive | 선물을 드세요. (Please take the gift.) (less common) |
드시다 can theoretically replace 타다 and 들다, its usage in those contexts is less common than for eating and drinking, and often the -(으)시- form (타시다, 받으시다) is preferred or sounds more natural. For B1 learners, focus primarily on 드시다 as the honorific for "eat" and "drink." Another honorific verb for "to eat" or "to drink" is 잡수시다 (japsusida), but 드시다 is generally more common and modern in everyday conversation.
계시다 and 드시다
계시-, 드시-), you conjugate it like any other verb stem. The 시 part of 계시다 and 드시다 is inherently the honorific component, meaning you do not add another -(으)시- to them.
-어요/-아요) | Formal (-습니다/-ㅂ니다) |
계세요 (gyeseyo) | 계십니다 (gyesimnida) |
계셨어요 (gyesyeosseoyo) | 계셨습니다 (gyesyeotseumnida) |
계실 거예요 (gyesil geoyeyo) | 계실 겁니다 (gyesil geomnida) |
계세요 (gyeseyo) | 계십시오 (gyesipsio) |
드세요 (deuseyo) | 드십니다 (deusimnida) |
드셨어요 (deusyeosseoyo) | 드셨습니다 (deusyeotseumnida) |
드실 거예요 (deusil geoyeyo) | 드실 겁니다 (deusil geomnida) |
드세요 (deuseyo) | 드십시오 (deusipsio) |
이/가 (i/ga) is often replaced by 께서 (kkeseo). While 이/가 indicates the subject neutrally, 께서 explicitly marks an honorific subject.
할머니가 오셨어요. (Halmeoniga osyeosseoyo.) — "Grandmother came." (Polite, but 께서 would be more honorific).
할머니께서 오셨어요. (Halmeonikkeseo osyeosseoyo.) — "Grandmother came." (More explicitly honorific, often used with special honorific verbs).
께서 is particularly common in formal contexts or when explicitly emphasizing the subject's high status. In everyday polite speech (-어요 forms), it's not uncommon to hear 이/가 used with special honorific verbs, especially if the context already makes the honorific nature clear (e.g., 사장님이 오셨어요 is common, although 사장님께서 오셨어요 is technically more proper and formal). However, for B1 learners, using 께서 consistently with honorific subjects and verbs is a safe and recommended practice to ensure maximal respect.
When To Use It
계시다 and 드시다 hinges entirely on the social dynamic between the speaker and the sentence's subject. The core principle is simple: use these verbs when the subject holds a position of higher social standing, greater age, or superior authority compared to you, the speaker. This hierarchical consideration is paramount in Korean social interactions.- Family Members: Always use honorifics for your parents, grandparents, older aunts and uncles (
고모,이모,삼촌who are older than your parents), and anyone considered an elder in the family. For example,어머니께서 주무시고 계세요.(eomeonikkeseo jumusigo gyeseyo) "Mother is sleeping." (Note주무시다is another special honorific verb for자다, to sleep). - Teachers/Professors: In academic settings, all educators are automatically afforded honorifics.
교수님께서 점심을 드십니다.(gyosunimkkeseo jeomsimeul deusimnida) "The professor is eating lunch." - Supervisors/Senior Colleagues: In a professional environment, your boss, manager, or
선배(seonbae, senior colleague) expects honorific treatment.사장님께서 아직 회사에 계세요.(sajangnimkkeseo ajik hoesae gyeseyo) "The CEO is still at the company." - Customers/Clients: If you are in a service role (e.g., store clerk, waiter), you must use honorifics when referring to your customers or clients. This is a fundamental aspect of customer service in Korea.
손님, 무엇을 드시겠어요?(sonnim, mueoseul deusigesseoyo?) "Customer, what would you like to eat/drink?"
- Referring to someone's elder: Even if you are talking about someone who is not your direct superior but is an elder or superior to the person you are discussing (e.g., your friend's grandmother), it is often appropriate to use honorifics out of courtesy.
친구 할머니께서 병원에 계세요.(chingu halmeonikkeseo byeongwone gyeseyo) "My friend's grandmother is in the hospital." - Service Industry: When you are the customer, the service staff will use honorifics for you. This is an important cultural observation. When you order a drink, a server might ask,
무엇으로 드시겠어요?(mueoseuro deusigesseoyo?) meaning "What would you like to drink?" using드시다for you. - Formal Communication: In official letters, emails, or public announcements where the subject is a respected figure, these special honorifics are standard. For instance, an announcement about a director's whereabouts would use
계시다.이 사장님께서는 현재 출장 중이십니다.(i sajangnimkkeseoneun hyeonjae chuljang jungisipnida) "Director Lee is currently on a business trip." (Note이시-is an honorific of이다, to be).
Common Mistakes
계시다 and 드시다 are exclusively for subjects other than yourself. Using them for your own actions conveys extreme arrogance or a deliberate attempt at humor (which is rarely appropriate for learners).- Incorrect:
저는 지금 회사에 계세요.(Jeoneun jigeum hoesae gyeseyo.) — "I am currently at the office." (Sounds like "His Royal Highness is at the office.") - Correct:
저는 지금 회사에 있어요.(Jeoneun jigeum hoesae isseoyo.) — "I am currently at the office." - Incorrect:
제가 점심을 드셨어요.(Jega jeomsimeul deusyeosseoyo.) — "I ate lunch." (Sounds like "I, the esteemed one, have partaken of lunch.") - Correct:
제가 점심을 먹었어요.(Jega jeomsimeul meogeosseoyo.) — "I ate lunch."
계시다 with 있으시다있다, but their applications differ significantly.계시다(gyesida): The honorific of있다when the subject (a person) is located somewhere or exists. It answers the question "Where is X?" or "Does X exist?"할아버지께서 서재에 계세요.(Harabeojikkeseo seojaee gyeseyo.) — "Grandfather is in the study." (Location)사장님은 출장 중이셔서 지금 안 계세요.(Sajangnimeun chuljang jungisyeoseo jigeum an gyeseyo.) — "The CEO is on a business trip, so he's not here right now." (Existence)있으시다(isseusida): The honorific of있다when the subject (a person) possesses something, has an attribute, or when an object associated with them exists. This is formed by adding the general honorific suffix-(으)시-to있다's stem. It answers "Does X have Y?" or "Is there Y for X?"교수님께서는 질문이 있으세요.(Gyosunimkkeseoneun jilmuni isseuseyo.) — "The professor has a question." (Possession of a question)선생님은 차가 있으세요.(Seonsaengnimeun chaga isseuseyo.) — "The teacher has a car." (Possession of a car)할머니께서는 허리가 아프세요.(Halmeonikkeseoneun heoriga apeuseyo.) — "Grandmother's back hurts." (Literally: "Grandmother has a hurting back." -아프다is modified to아프시-+있다=아프시다which indicates a state of having pain.)
계시다 (gyesida) | 있으시다 (isseusida) |있다 | 있다 |아버지가 집에 계세요. (Father is home.) | (Not applicable for person's location) |아버지는 돈이 있으세요. (Father has money.) |-(으)시- to a verb that is already an honorific form, leading to redundancy and awkwardness. 계시다 and 드시다 already contain the honorific 시 element.- Incorrect:
사장님께서 회사에 계시세요.(Sajangnimkkeseo hoesae gyesiseyo.) - Correct:
사장님께서 회사에 계세요.(Sajangnimkkeseo hoesae gyeseyo.) — "The CEO is at the company." - Incorrect:
할머니께서 식사를 드시셨어요.(Halmeonikkeseo siksareul deusisyeosseoyo.) - Correct:
할머니께서 식사를 드셨어요.(Halmeonikkeseo siksareul deusyeosseoyo.) — "Grandmother ate a meal."
시 in 계시다 and 드시다 means they do not require an additional -(으)시-. This error highlights a failure to recognize these as unique lexical items rather than standard verbs with a suffix.께서께서 is the honorific subject marker, its usage is not always strictly mandatory in polite casual speech (-어요 forms). Native speakers often use 이/가 even for superiors if the context clearly establishes the honorific status and the verb itself is honorific.- Formal/Stricter:
교수님께서 오셨어요.(Gyosunimkkeseo osyeosseoyo.) — "The professor came." - Common Polite Casual:
교수님이 오셨어요.(Gyosunim-i osyeosseoyo.) — "The professor came."
께서 conveys a slightly higher degree of formality or emphasis on respect. For B1 learners, using 께서 consistently with honorific subjects is a safe approach.드시다 for non-respected listeners or subjects드시다 can be used as an imperative for anyone you want to politely offer food/drink to (e.g., 차 한 잔 드세요.), remember its primary function is subject honorification. Using it when speaking about a low-status person can be awkward or ironic.- Awkward:
제 남동생이 밥을 드셨어요.(Je namdongsaengi babeul deusyeosseoyo.) — "My younger brother ate rice." (Unless for irony, implies your younger brother is high-status.) - Correct:
제 남동생이 밥을 먹었어요.(Je namdongsaengi babeul meogeosseoyo.) — "My younger brother ate rice."
Real Conversations
Understanding how 계시다 and 드시다 function in structured grammar is one thing; observing their natural application in daily Korean conversation offers deeper insight. Here are some common scenarios:
Scenario 1
A
어머니는 지금 어디에 계세요? (Eomeonineun jigeum eodie gyeseyo?)"Where is your mother right now?"
B
어머니께서는 지금 시장에 계세요. (Eomeonikkeseoneun jigeum sijange gyeseyo.)"She's at the market right now."
(Here, 어머니 (mother) is the subject, thus 계시다 is used. 께서는 emphasizes the honorific subject.)*
Scenario 2
A
할머니, 배고프시죠? 빵 좀 드세요. (Halmeoni, baegopeusijyo? Ppang jom deuseyo.)"Grandma, you must be hungry, right? Please have some bread."
(드세요 is used as a polite imperative for "please eat," honoring the listener, Grandmother. It is also an honorific verb for the subject, Grandmother, in this direct address.)*
Scenario 3
Waiter
손님, 음료수는 무엇으로 드시겠습니까? (Sonnim, eumnyosuneun mueoseuro deusigesseumnikka?)"Customer, what would you like to drink?"
Customer
저는 콜라로 할게요. (Jeoneun kollaro halgeyo.)"I'll have a Coke."
(The waiter uses 드시다 to honor the customer, the subject of the implied
Honorific Verb Formation
| Base Verb | Meaning | Honorific Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
가다
|
To go
|
가시다
|
선생님께서 가십니다.
|
|
먹다
|
To eat
|
드시다
|
할머니께서 드십니다.
|
|
자다
|
To sleep
|
주무시다
|
아버님께서 주무십니다.
|
|
있다
|
To be
|
계시다
|
교수님께서 계십니다.
|
|
말하다
|
To speak
|
말씀하시다
|
사장님께서 말씀하십니다.
|
|
읽다
|
To read
|
읽으시다
|
어머니께서 읽으십니다.
|
Meanings
This grammar is used to elevate the subject of the sentence, showing respect to the person performing the action.
General Honorific
Adding respect to standard actions.
“할아버지께서 신문을 읽으십니다.”
“어머니께서 요리를 하십니다.”
Special Honorific Verbs
Verbs that change entirely to show deep respect.
“할머니께서 주무십니다.”
“선생님께서 진지를 드십니다.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Stem + (으)시 + 다
|
가십니다
|
|
Negative
|
Stem + (으)시 + 지 않다
|
안 가십니다
|
|
Question
|
Stem + (으)시 + ㅂ니까?
|
가십니까?
|
|
Past
|
Stem + (으)시 + 었/았 + 다
|
가셨습니다
|
|
Future
|
Stem + (으)시 + 겠 + 다
|
가시겠습니다
|
|
Irregular
|
Special Form
|
주무십니다
|
Formality Spectrum
선생님께서 식사하십니다. (Dining)
선생님께서 드세요. (Dining)
선생님께서 드셔. (Dining)
쌤 드심. (Dining)
Honorific Verb Hierarchy
Vowel Stem
- 가다 to go
Consonant Stem
- 읽다 to read
Special
- 먹다 to eat
Examples by Level
선생님이 가십니다.
The teacher is going.
할아버지가 주무십니다.
Grandfather is sleeping.
어머니가 드십니다.
Mother is eating.
아버지가 계십니다.
Father is here.
선생님께서 책을 읽으십니다.
The teacher is reading a book.
할머니께서 차를 마십니다.
Grandmother is drinking tea.
사장님께서 말씀하십니다.
The boss is speaking.
부모님께서 오십니다.
My parents are coming.
교수님께서 연구실에 계십니다.
The professor is in the office.
할아버지께서 진지를 드십니다.
Grandfather is eating a meal.
어머니께서 선물을 받으셨습니다.
Mother received a gift.
사장님께서 회의를 시작하십니다.
The boss is starting the meeting.
선생님께서는 어제 학교에 안 오셨습니다.
The teacher did not come to school yesterday.
할머니께서는 건강이 좋으십니다.
Grandmother is in good health.
부장님께서 벌써 퇴근하셨습니까?
Has the manager already left work?
어머님께서 직접 요리를 하셨습니다.
Mother cooked the meal herself.
선생님께서 하신 말씀은 정말 중요합니다.
What the teacher said is very important.
할아버지께서는 평생을 교육에 바치셨습니다.
Grandfather dedicated his life to education.
사장님께서 직접 결재를 하셔야 합니다.
The boss must approve it personally.
어르신께서 편찮으셔서 병원에 가셨습니다.
The elder is ill, so they went to the hospital.
선생님께서 계시지 않았다면 저는 이 자리에 없었을 것입니다.
If the teacher hadn't been there, I wouldn't be here.
할머니께서는 연세가 많으심에도 불구하고 여전히 정정하십니다.
Despite her advanced age, Grandmother is still very healthy.
부장님께서 하명하신 업무를 완수하였습니다.
I have completed the task ordered by the manager.
어머님께서 평소에 즐겨 드시던 음식을 준비했습니다.
I prepared the food that Mother usually enjoys.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up who receives the respect.
Common Mistakes
저는 가십니다.
저는 갑니다.
선생님이 가십니다.
선생님께서 가십니다.
선생님이 먹으십니다.
선생님께서 드십니다.
사장님께서 계시다.
사장님께서 계십니다.
Sentence Patterns
___께서 ___십니다.
Real World Usage
교수님께서 읽어주십시오.
할아버지, 진지 드셨어요?
사장님께서 오십니다.
선생님께서 드실 것을 주문합니다.
선생님께서 말씀하신 내용입니다.
어르신께서 가실 곳입니다.
Subject Particle
Self-Honorifics
Irregular Verbs
Social Context
Smart Tips
Always use -께서.
Use 드시다.
Use 계시다.
Use 주무시다.
Pronunciation
Linking
The 's' sound carries over to the next syllable.
Rising
가십니까? ↑
Polite question
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Si' as 'Sir'—add 'Si' to show respect to 'Sir'.
Visual Association
Imagine a crown appearing over the person's head when you add -시- to the verb.
Rhyme
When the subject is high, add -시- to the verb, don't be shy!
Story
You are at a dinner. You see your teacher. You don't say '먹다', you say '드시다'. You don't say '있다', you say '계시다'. You are a polite student.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about your family using honorific verbs.
Cultural Notes
Honorifics are essential for social harmony.
Rooted in Confucian values of respect for elders.
Conversation Starters
선생님께서 무엇을 하십니까?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
선생님께서 학교에 ___.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
할아버지가 먹습니다.
어머니가 자다.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
교수님께서 연구실에 ___.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
선생님이 읽습니다.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises선생님께서 학교에 ___.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
할아버지가 먹습니다.
어머니가 자다.
먹다 - ?
교수님께서 연구실에 ___.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
선생님이 읽습니다.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesThe teacher is sleeping.
When a CEO speaks, we use:
우리 할아버지가 다리가 좀 ___.
Match the following pairs:
집에 / 아버지는 / 계십니다 / 지금
제가 선생님께 책을 주었습니다.
Select the most respectful option:
손님, 커피 ___?
주무세요 / 안녕히 / 할머니
I will take my mother to the hospital.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Usually no, unless you want to be sarcastic or very formal.
Follow the standard rules for irregular conjugation.
It is the honorific version of -이/가.
No, honorifics are for people.
It is used for possession, but '계시다' is for people.
Yes, if the person is a superior.
Add -셨- to the stem.
It takes practice to make it natural.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Keigo
Korean uses suffixes more consistently.
Usted
Korean is verb-based.
Sie
Korean is verb-based.
Vouvoiement
Korean is verb-based.
Nin
Korean is verb-based.
Honorific titles
Korean is verb-based.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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