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아시다

A2 verb 8 min read

아시다

asida

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 아시다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 아시다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners are introduced to the concept of honorifics as a way to show respect to older people and teachers. You will learn that '아시다' is the special way to say 'to know' when you are talking about someone important. You won't be expected to conjugate it perfectly in all forms, but you should recognize '아세요?' as a polite way to ask 'Do you know?' to a teacher or a parent. The main focus here is understanding that you cannot use this word for yourself. If you say 'I know' using '아세요', it sounds very strange to Korean ears! You will practice simple sentences like '선생님, 제 이름을 아세요?' (Teacher, do you know my name?) to get used to the sound and the social context of the word.

At the A2 level, you begin to master the 'ㄹ' irregular conjugation rule. You will learn why '알다' becomes '아시다'—because the 'ㄹ' drops when it meets the 'ㅅ' of the honorific suffix. You will practice conjugating '아시다' into the informal polite form '아세요' and the formal polite form '아십니다'. You will also learn the past tense '아셨어요'. At this stage, you should be able to distinguish when to use '알아요' (for friends or yourself) and '아세요' (for superiors). You will also encounter the phrase '아시다시피' in simple reading passages, meaning 'as you know'. This level focuses on accuracy in basic social interactions and ensuring you don't accidentally use plain forms with people you should respect.

At the B1 level, you will use '아시다' in more complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses and connecting sentences. For example, you might say '아시는 분' (someone who knows) or '아시는 것처럼' (as you know). You will also learn to use '아시다' in indirect speech, like '선생님께서 그 사실을 아신다고 했어요' (The teacher said they know that fact). You will start to notice the difference between '아시다' and '알고 계시다' (the honorific progressive). '알고 계시다' is more common when referring to a continuous state of being aware of something. Your understanding of social hierarchy will become more nuanced, allowing you to use '아시다' naturally in a variety of social and semi-formal settings, such as at a part-time job or a university club.

At the B2 level, you will encounter '아시다' in professional and academic contexts. You will see it used in business emails and formal presentations. The phrase '아시다시피' becomes a vital tool for making your speech sound more sophisticated and polite. You will also learn how to use '아시다' with various endings like '-시지요' or '-실까요' to make your speech sound more suggestive or gentle. For example, '이미 아시겠지만...' (As you probably already know...) is a great way to introduce information politely. You will also be expected to use the correct honorific forms consistently throughout a long conversation without slipping back into plain forms. This level emphasizes the fluid and natural application of honorifics in sustained discourse.

At the C1 level, you will explore the subtle nuances of '아시다' in literature, news reports, and high-level debates. You will understand how the choice between '아시다', '인지하시다', and '파악하시다' can change the tone of a sentence from simple respect to intellectual or legal precision. You will study how '아시다' is used in historical texts or formal proclamations, where the honorifics are even more elevated. You will also be able to detect when a speaker is using '아시다' sarcastically or to create a certain social distance. Your mastery will include the ability to use the word in complex philosophical discussions about knowledge and awareness, while maintaining perfect honorific concord throughout the entire sentence and paragraph.

At the C2 level, your use of '아시다' is indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker. You understand the historical evolution of the word from Middle Korean and its place in the broader system of Korean honorifics. You can use '아시다' in archaic or poetic styles if needed, and you have a deep intuition for the 'ㄹ' drop rule across all possible grammatical combinations. You can navigate the most complex social hierarchies with ease, knowing exactly when '아시다' is sufficient and when a more specialized verb is required. You can also analyze the use of '아시다' in legal documents or high-stakes diplomatic communication, where every level of politeness carries significant weight. Your command of the word reflects a deep integration into Korean culture and thought.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

아시다 in 30 Seconds

Honorific form of '알다' (to know).
Used only for subjects of higher social status.
The 'ㄹ' in '알다' drops before the '-시-' suffix.
Commonly used in the phrase '아시다시피' (as you know).

The Korean verb 아시다 is the honorific form of the base verb 알다, which means 'to know'. In the Korean language, honorifics (존댓말) are not just a matter of politeness; they are a fundamental structural requirement when referring to someone of higher social status, an elder, or a person to whom you wish to show significant respect. When the subject of the sentence—the person who 'knows' something—is someone like a teacher, a grandparent, a boss, or a customer, you must use 아시다 instead of the plain 알다. This word is a prime example of the 'ㄹ' irregular conjugation, where the final 'ㄹ' of the stem '알-' is dropped before the honorific suffix '-시-'.

Honorific Subjectivity: This verb is used exclusively when the person who possesses the knowledge is someone you are exalting. You would never use 아시다 to describe your own knowledge, as that would be seen as incredibly arrogant or grammatically incorrect in a social sense.
Social Dynamics: In a professional setting, if you are asking your manager if they are aware of a specific project update, you would use the form 아십니까? or 아세요?. This acknowledges their authority and maintains the proper social distance required in Korean etiquette.

“선생님, 그 소식을 이미 아십니까?”
— Translation: "Teacher, do you already know that news?"

Beyond simple facts, 아시다 is also used in common rhetorical phrases. For instance, the phrase 아시다시피 translates to 'as you know' or 'as you are aware'. This is a very common way to transition in speeches or formal emails when you are referring to information that the audience is likely already familiar with. It is a polite way to provide context without sounding like you are lecturing the listener.

“부장님께서 저희 사정을 잘 아십니다.”
— Translation: "The department manager knows our situation well."

In summary, 아시다 is the bridge between simple communication and respectful interaction. It reflects the Korean values of hierarchy and respect for elders. Whether you are in a boardroom, a classroom, or at a family gathering, using this word correctly demonstrates your cultural competence and your mastery of Korean social nuances.

Using 아시다 requires an understanding of how to conjugate the honorific marker '-시-' into various sentence endings. Depending on the level of formality and the relationship between the speaker and the subject, the verb can take several forms. It is important to remember that while the verb is about 'knowing', the focus is on the *status* of the person who knows.

Formal Polite (Hasipsio-che): This is used in very formal situations, such as business presentations or news broadcasts. The form is 아십니다 (statement) or 아십니까? (question).
Informal Polite (Haeyo-che): This is the most common form in daily life when speaking respectfully to someone. The form is 아세요. Note that this is a contraction of '아시어요'.
Past Tense: To say someone 'knew', you add the past tense marker to the honorific stem. This results in 아셨습니다 (formal) or 아셨어요 (informal polite).

“할머니께서 제 이름을 아세요.”
— Translation: "My grandmother knows my name." (Informal Polite)

One of the most frequent uses of 아시다 is in the conjunctive form 아시다시피. This is used to link two thoughts by acknowledging the listener's existing knowledge. It is equivalent to 'As you know...' or 'As you are aware...'. This is frequently seen in formal documents or spoken by public figures during interviews.

“여러분도 잘 아시다시피, 오늘은 중요한 날입니다.”
— Translation: "As you all know well, today is an important day."

When asking a question to a superior, 아세요? is polite, but 혹시 아시나요? (Do you perhaps know?) adds an extra layer of soft politeness by using the '-나요' ending, which makes the question sound less direct and more inquisitive. This is particularly useful in service industries or when asking a teacher for help.

The word 아시다 is pervasive in Korean society, appearing in environments ranging from the corporate office to the family living room. Its presence signals the nature of the relationship between the speaker and the subject. In the media, you will hear news anchors using it when referring to public figures or the audience. In K-dramas, you will hear it when characters speak to their parents, grandparents, or superiors at work.

Workplace Communication: In a Korean office, employees often use 아시다 when discussing the boss's knowledge. If a manager is aware of a problem, an employee might say, "부장님께서도 이 문제를 아십니다" (The manager also knows about this problem).
Customer Service: When a customer calls a service center, the representative will often use 아시다 to acknowledge the customer's understanding. For example, "고객님께서 아시는 바와 같이..." (As you, the customer, know...).

“이미 아시겠지만, 결과가 나왔습니다.”
— Translation: "You probably already know, but the results are out."

Another common place to hear 아시다 is in formal speeches or lectures. A professor might start a sentence with "이미 아시다시피..." to bridge the gap between known concepts and new information. It is a rhetorical device that respects the audience's intelligence while maintaining a professional hierarchy.

“사장님, 이 기사를 아십니까?”
— Translation: "President, do you know about this article?"

Finally, in religious contexts, 아시다 is used when referring to a deity's omniscience. In prayers or sermons, phrases like "하나님께서 모든 것을 아십니다" (God knows everything) are standard, as a deity is the ultimate subject of honorific speech.

Mastering honorifics is one of the most challenging parts of learning Korean, and 아시다 is a frequent source of errors for non-native speakers. The most common mistakes involve the misuse of the 'ㄹ' drop rule, the misapplication of honorifics to oneself, and the confusion between different levels of politeness.

Self-Honorification: The absolute biggest mistake is saying "제가 아십니다" or "제가 아세요". In Korean, you never use the '-시-' marker for yourself. It is used to elevate *others*. If you want to say you know something, always use 알아요 or 압니다.
The 'ㄹ' Conjugation Error: Many learners mistakenly say "알시다" instead of 아시다. Remember the rule: when the stem ends in 'ㄹ' and meets 'ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ', the 'ㄹ' must go. Think of it as 'RSVP' without the 'V' and 'P'—the 'ㄹ' (R) drops before 'ㅅ' (S).

“부모님께서 제 마음을 알시나요?” (❌ Incorrect)
— Correct form: “부모님께서 제 마음을 아시나요?” (✅)

Another mistake is forgetting to use the honorific when it is required. If you are talking to a teacher and you use the plain form 알아요? to ask if they know something, it can sound quite rude or overly familiar. Even if you use the polite ending '-요', the lack of the '-시-' marker makes it sound like you are treating the teacher as an equal rather than a superior.

“저는 그 사실을 아십니다.” (❌ Incorrect)
— Correct form: “저는 그 사실을 압니다.” (✅)

Lastly, some learners confuse 아시다 with 알고 계시다. While both are honorific, 알고 계시다 is the honorific progressive form ('is currently knowing/is aware'). Using 아시다 for a general state of knowledge is correct, but for a continuous state of awareness, 알고 계시다 is often preferred in formal contexts.

In Korean, the concept of 'knowing' can be expressed through various verbs depending on the context, the object being known, and the level of formality. While 아시다 is the standard honorific for 'to know', understanding its alternatives will help you sound more natural and precise.

알다 (Plain Form): The base, non-honorific form. Used for oneself or when talking about people of equal or lower status. Example: "나는 그를 알아" (I know him).
알고 계시다 (Progressive Honorific): The honorific version of '알고 있다'. It emphasizes a continuous state of awareness. It is often used in very formal settings to describe a superior's understanding of a situation. Example: "사장님께서 알고 계십니다" (The president is aware).
파악하시다 (To Grasp/Understand): A more academic or professional term. It means to grasp the situation or identify the facts. It is the honorific form of '파악하다'. Example: "상황을 잘 파악하셨습니다" (You have grasped the situation well).

“선생님, 이 문제를 이해하셨나요?”
— Translation: "Teacher, did you understand this problem?" (Using 이해하다 - to understand)

When comparing 아시다 and 이해하시다 (to understand), the former is about the possession of information, while the latter is about the processing of that information. If a teacher knows your name, you use 아시다. If they understand your explanation, you use 이해하시다.

“그분은 저를 모르십니다.”
— Translation: "That person does not know me." (Honorific 'not know')

Finally, the opposite of 아시다 is 모르시다. Just as '알다' becomes '아시다', '모르다' becomes '모르시다'. It is equally important to use this honorific form when referring to a superior's lack of knowledge to maintain politeness.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The 'ㄹ' drop in '아시다' is a historical remnant of Korean phonology where 'ㄹ' was unstable before certain dental consonants like 'ㅅ', 'ㄴ', and 'ㅂ'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /a.ɕi.da/

US /ɑ.ʃi.dɑ/

In Korean, stress is generally even across syllables, but a slight emphasis may fall on the first syllable '아'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in text once you know the 'ㄹ' drop rule.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering the 'ㄹ' drop and proper honorific markers.

Speaking 4/5

Hard to remember to use it consistently for others and never for oneself.

Listening 2/5

Clearly audible in polite conversation and media.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

알다 -시- 선생님 께서 요

Learn Next

모르시다 계시다 드시다 주무시다 성함

Advanced

인지하시다 통달하시다 간파하시다 혜안

Grammar to Know

Subject Honorific Suffix -(으)시-

가다 -> 가시다, 읽다 -> 읽으시다

ㄹ-Irregular Conjugation

만들다 -> 만드시다, 살다 -> 사시다

Informal Polite Ending -세요

공부하세요, 하세요

Formal Polite Ending -(스)ㅂ니다

갑니다, 읽습니다

Conjunctive Ending -다시피

보시다시피, 듣다시피

Examples by Level

선생님, 제 이름을 아세요?

Teacher, do you know my name?

The ending -세요 is the informal polite honorific.

어머니, 이 노래를 아십니까?

Mother, do you know this song?

-십니까 is the formal polite question form.

할아버지께서 저를 아세요.

My grandfather knows me.

The subject is the grandfather, so the honorific is used.

사장님은 우리 집을 아십니다.

The boss knows my house.

-십니다 is the formal polite statement form.

혹시 제 친구를 아세요?

Do you perhaps know my friend?

혹시 (perhaps) makes the question softer.

아버지는 영어를 잘 아세요.

My father knows English well.

잘 아시다 means to know something well.

선생님은 다 아십니다.

The teacher knows everything.

다 means 'all' or 'everything'.

할머니, 이 길을 아세요?

Grandmother, do you know this road?

Asking for directions respectfully.

부장님께서 그 사실을 아셨어요.

The department manager knew that fact.

아셨어요 is the past tense honorific form.

아시다시피 저는 학생입니다.

As you know, I am a student.

아시다시피 is a common phrase meaning 'as you know'.

어떻게 제 전화번호를 아셨습니까?

How did you know my phone number?

The question is directed to someone of higher status.

교수님께서 제 리포트를 아십니다.

The professor knows about my report.

The honorific matches the status of the professor.

이미 아시겠지만, 내일은 휴일입니다.

As you probably already know, tomorrow is a holiday.

-겠지만 adds a sense of polite conjecture.

저희 부모님을 아시는 분이에요.

He is someone who knows my parents.

아시는 is the honorific adjective form.

어머니는 요리를 정말 잘 아세요.

My mother really knows cooking well.

Refers to expertise in a respectful way.

사장님, 이 서류를 아십니까?

President, do you know (are you aware of) this document?

Formal question in a business context.

선생님께서 제가 어디 사는지 아시나요?

Does the teacher know where I live?

Indirect question combined with honorifics.

아시다시피 이 문제는 해결하기 어렵습니다.

As you are aware, this problem is difficult to solve.

Formal transition in a discussion.

부장님께서 이미 알고 계시는 내용입니다.

It is content that the manager already knows.

알고 계시다 is the honorific progressive form.

그분은 한국 문화를 아주 잘 아시는 분입니다.

That person is someone who knows Korean culture very well.

Relative clause with honorific verb.

할머니께서 제 생일을 아셨다고 들었어요.

I heard that my grandmother knew my birthday.

Indirect speech with honorific past tense.

교수님께서 아시는 책을 추천해 주세요.

Please recommend a book that you (the professor) know.

Asking for a recommendation using honorifics.

아버지는 제 비밀을 다 아시는 것 같아요.

It seems like my father knows all my secrets.

-는 것 같다 (it seems) used with honorifics.

사장님께서 저희의 노력을 아실 겁니다.

The president will likely know (appreciate) our efforts.

Future conjecture with honorifics.

여러분도 잘 아시다시피, 환경 보호는 필수적입니다.

As you all know well, environmental protection is essential.

Formal public speaking phrase.

부모님께서 제 진심을 알아주시고 아셨으면 좋겠어요.

I wish my parents would recognize and know my true feelings.

-으면 좋겠다 (I wish) combined with honorifics.

이미 아시겠지만, 이번 프로젝트는 기간이 짧습니다.

As you probably know, this project's duration is short.

Softening a negative fact with honorific conjecture.

상무님께서 이 사안을 어떻게 아셨는지가 중요합니다.

How the executive director knew about this matter is important.

Noun clause as a subject with honorifics.

전문가들께서 아시는 바에 따르면 결과는 긍정적입니다.

According to what the experts know, the result is positive.

-는 바에 따르면 (according to what...) with honorifics.

그분은 제가 누구인지 전혀 모르시는 것 같았어요.

It seemed like that person didn't know who I was at all.

Contrasting with the honorific negative 모르시다.

선생님께서 아시는 지식은 정말 방대합니다.

The knowledge that the teacher possesses is truly vast.

Using '아시다' to describe intellectual depth.

사장님께서 아시는 한, 최선을 다하실 겁니다.

As far as the president knows, he will do his best.

-는 한 (as far as...) with honorifics.

귀하께서도 잘 아시다시피, 계약 조건은 변경될 수 없습니다.

As you are well aware, the terms of the contract cannot be changed.

High-level formal address (귀하).

역사가들께서 아시는 사실과 대중의 인식은 다를 수 있습니다.

The facts known by historians and public perception can differ.

Comparing academic knowledge with general belief.

그분께서 아시는 진실이 무엇인지 우리는 알 수 없습니다.

We cannot know what the truth that person knows is.

Abstract usage of honorific knowledge.

이미 아시리라 믿지만, 다시 한번 강조하겠습니다.

I believe you already know, but I will emphasize it once more.

-으리라 믿다 (believe that...) with honorifics.

부장님께서 아시는 정보는 상당히 신뢰도가 높습니다.

The information known by the manager has a high level of reliability.

Describing the quality of a superior's knowledge.

선생님께서 아시는 길은 언제나 옳았습니다.

The path the teacher knew (chose) was always right.

Metaphorical use of 'knowing a path'.

모두가 아시는 바와 같이, 평화는 소중합니다.

As everyone knows, peace is precious.

Universal subject with honorific verb.

회장님께서 아시는 인맥이 아주 넓으십니다.

The network of connections the chairman knows is very wide.

Double honorifics (아시는, 넓으십니다).

천지신명께서 아시는 바이니, 거짓을 말할 수 없습니다.

As the gods of heaven and earth know, I cannot speak a lie.

Archaic/Religious honorific usage.

현자께서 아시는 지혜는 세월이 흘러도 변치 않습니다.

The wisdom known by the sage does not change even as time flows.

Poetic and philosophical honorific usage.

아시다시피, 인간의 인지 능력은 한계가 있기 마련입니다.

As you know, human cognitive ability is bound to have limits.

Academic discourse on cognitive limits.

왕께서 아시는 백성의 고통은 이루 말할 수 없었습니다.

The suffering of the people that the King knew was beyond words.

Historical narrative honorific usage.

이미 아시겠지만서도, 다시금 상기시켜 드리고자 합니다.

Even though you likely know, I wish to remind you once again.

-겠지만서도 (even though... but still) archaic/formal.

그분께서 아시는 세상은 우리가 보는 것과는 사뭇 다릅니다.

The world that person knows is quite different from what we see.

Discussing subjective reality with honorifics.

학자들께서 아시는 바가 실생활에 적용되기는 쉽지 않습니다.

What scholars know is not easily applied to real life.

Formal critique of academic knowledge.

신께서 아시는 섭리를 인간이 어찌 다 이해하겠습니까?

How can humans understand all the providence known by God?

Rhetorical question in a theological context.

Common Collocations

잘 아시다

이미 아시다

다 아시다

비밀을 아시다

이름을 아시다

길을 아시다

방법을 아시다

소식을 아시다

사실을 아시다

마음을 아시다

Common Phrases

아시다시피

— As you know. Used to introduce information the listener is likely aware of.

아시다시피 오늘은 제 생일입니다.

잘 아시겠지만

— You probably know well, but... Used to politely introduce a known topic.

잘 아시겠지만 이번 시험은 중요합니다.

어떻게 아셨어요?

— How did you know? A polite way to express surprise at someone's knowledge.

제 생일을 어떻게 아셨어요?

아시는 분

— Someone you know (respectfully).

여기 아시는 분이 계세요?

혹시 아시나요?

— Do you perhaps know? A very soft and polite question.

혹시 화장실이 어디인지 아시나요?

이미 아시는 바와 같이

— As you already know. Very formal, used in speeches.

이미 아시는 바와 같이 계획이 변경되었습니다.

아셨으면 좋겠어요

— I wish you knew. Expressing a desire for a superior to be aware of something.

제 진심을 아셨으면 좋겠어요.

아시는 대로

— Just as you know. Used when confirming something based on the listener's knowledge.

아시는 대로 진행해 주세요.

아시는 게 많다

— To have a lot of knowledge (respectful).

할아버지는 아시는 게 정말 많으세요.

아시는 척하다

— To pretend to know (honorific version).

부장님은 다 아시는 척하셨어요.

Often Confused With

아시다 vs 알다

The plain form. Using '알다' for a superior is a major social mistake.

아시다 vs 모르시다

The honorific form of 'to not know'. Don't say '안 아시다'.

아시다 vs 알고 계시다

The progressive honorific. Often interchangeable but emphasizes 'is aware'.

Idioms & Expressions

"아는 것이 힘이다"

— Knowledge is power. While usually plain, it can be honorificized as '아시는 것이 힘입니다'.

선생님께서는 항상 아시는 것이 힘이라고 말씀하십니다.

Proverb

"잘 아시다시피"

— As you know well. A fixed expression in formal settings.

잘 아시다시피 예산이 부족합니다.

Formal

"귀신도 모르게"

— So secretly that even a ghost wouldn't know. Can be used in honorific contexts.

아무도 모르시게, 귀신도 모르시게 처리했습니다.

Idiomatic

"모르는 게 약이다"

— Ignorance is bliss. Honorific: '모르시는 게 약입니다'.

할머니께는 이 사실을 모르시는 게 약일 수도 있어요.

Proverb

"아는 길도 물어가라"

— Even if you know the way, ask. Honorific: '아시는 길도 물어가세요'.

아버지는 항상 아시는 길도 물어가라고 하십니다.

Proverb

"눈 감고도 아시다"

— To know something so well you could do it with your eyes closed.

어머니는 이 동네 길을 눈 감고도 아세요.

Colloquial Honorific

"속을 아시다"

— To know someone's inner thoughts or true intentions.

선생님은 제 속을 다 아시는 것 같아요.

Emotional

"사정을 아시다"

— To know the circumstances or the situation.

부장님이 제 사정을 잘 아십니다.

Professional

"맛을 아시다"

— To know the true taste or value of something.

할아버지는 진짜 커피 맛을 아세요.

General

"세상을 아시다"

— To know the world (to be experienced/wise).

그분은 세상을 참 많이 아시는 분입니다.

Respectful

Easily Confused

아시다 vs 이해하시다

Both involve the mind.

아시다 is about having info; 이해하시다 is about understanding the logic or meaning.

내용은 아시는데 이해는 못 하셨어요.

아시다 vs 기억하시다

Both involve knowing something.

기억하시다 is specifically about memory and recalling past info.

제 얼굴을 기억하세요?

아시다 vs 파악하시다

Both involve knowing a situation.

파악하시다 is more professional, meaning to 'grasp' or 'get a handle on' a situation.

부장님이 상황을 파악하셨습니다.

아시다 vs 인지하시다

Both involve awareness.

인지하시다 is a formal, cognitive term often used in legal or technical contexts.

그분은 위험을 인지하셨습니다.

아시다 vs 알아보시다

Both involve 'knowing'.

알아보시다 means to recognize someone/something or to look into/investigate something.

저를 알아보시겠어요?

Sentence Patterns

Subject께서 Object를 아세요?

선생님께서 제 이름을 아세요?

Subject께서 Object를 아십니다.

부장님께서 그 사실을 아십니다.

아시다시피 + Sentence

아시다시피 저는 한국 사람입니다.

Object를 아시는 Person

한국어를 잘 아시는 선생님

Subject께서 Object를 아셨다고 해요.

어머니가 제 비밀을 아셨다고 해요.

이미 아시겠지만 + Sentence

이미 아시겠지만 회의는 내일입니다.

아시는 바와 같이

이미 아시는 바와 같이 계약이 성사되었습니다.

아시는 바이니

하늘이 아시는 바이니 부끄러움이 없습니다.

Word Family

Nouns

앎 (Knowledge - plain)

지식 (Knowledge - formal)

인지 (Cognition)

Verbs

알다 (To know - plain)

알리다 (To inform)

알아보다 (To recognize/research)

알아듣다 (To understand/follow speech)

모르시다 (To not know - honorific)

계시다 (To stay/be - honorific)

말씀하시다 (To speak - honorific)

보시다 (To see - honorific)

드시다 (To eat - honorific)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in daily respectful conversation and formal writing.

Common Mistakes

제가 그 사실을 아세요. → 제가 그 사실을 알아요.
You cannot use honorifics for yourself. '아세요' should only be used for others you respect.
선생님께서 그 사실을 알세요? → 선생님께서 그 사실을 아세요?
The 'ㄹ' in '알다' must be dropped before the 'ㅅ' in '-시-'.
부장님이 이 일을 안 아세요. → 부장님이 이 일을 모르세요.
Instead of using '안' with '아시다', use the dedicated honorific verb '모르시다'.
친구야, 너 이거 아셔? → 친구야, 너 이거 알아?
Honorifics like '아시다' are not used with close friends of the same age.
아버지가 저를 알으십니다. → 아버지가 저를 아십니다.
The conjugation is '아십니다', not '알으십니다'. The 'ㄹ' drop is mandatory.

Tips

The ㄹ-Drop Rule

Always remember that the 'ㄹ' in '알다' vanishes before '-시-'. This applies to all 'ㄹ' stem verbs like '살다' (사시다) and '만들다' (만드시다). Practice saying '아시다' instead of '알시다' until it feels natural.

Nunchi and Honorifics

Using '아시다' shows you have good 'nunchi' (social sense). It acknowledges the other person's status and knowledge. Even if you are fluent, failing to use honorifics correctly can make you seem uncultured.

Softening Questions

When asking a superior a question, adding '혹시' (perhaps) before '아세요?' makes the question much softer and more polite. '혹시 아세요?' sounds better than a direct '아세요?'.

Formal Email Openers

Using '아시다시피' (As you know) or '이미 아시겠지만' (As you likely know) are great ways to reference previous conversations or shared knowledge in a business email.

Deity and Royalty

In prayers or historical dramas, you will hear very high honorifics. '아시다' is the baseline, but you might hear '아시옵니다' in very old-fashioned or religious contexts.

Intonation Matters

When saying '아세요?', make sure your voice goes up at the end. If it goes down, it sounds like a command ('Please know!'), which is very rude to a superior.

Don't say '안 아시다'

Korean has a specific honorific verb for 'to not know', which is '모르시다'. Always use '모르시다' instead of trying to make '아시다' negative with '안' or '못'.

The 'Teacher' Association

Associate '아시다' with your favorite teacher. Every time you think of them knowing something, use '선생님께서 아십니다'. This helps anchor the word to a specific person of respect.

Spotting the Subject

In Korean, the subject is often dropped. If you hear '아세요?', the speaker is almost always asking *you* (the listener) if you know, because they are using an honorific.

Plain vs. Honorific

If you are unsure, it is always safer to use '아시다' for someone older than you. It is better to be overly polite than to be accidentally rude.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Ah!' as the sound of realization. 'Ah, she (시) knows!' (아시다).

Visual Association

Imagine an elderly wise woman (시) nodding her head because she 'knows' (아) everything.

Word Web

알다 아세요 아십니다 아셨어요 아시다시피 모르시다 지식 존댓말

Challenge

Try to use '아시다시피' in a sentence today when talking to a language exchange partner to show off your formal transition skills.

Word Origin

Derived from the native Korean verb '알다' (to know) combined with the subject honorific suffix '-시-' and the dictionary ending '-다'.

Original meaning: To possess knowledge or awareness of a fact or person, in a respectful context.

Koreanic

Cultural Context

Never use '아시다' for yourself or for someone younger/lower in status than you, as it sounds sarcastic or nonsensical.

English uses 'sir' or 'ma'am' or formal titles, but Korean embeds the respect directly into the verb '아시다'.

Commonly heard in 'The King: Eternal Monarch' when addressing royalty. Used in Korean news broadcasts (KBS, MBC) when referring to the audience. Frequent in historical dramas (Sageuk) when subjects speak to the King.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At School

선생님, 이 문제를 아세요?
선생님께서 아시는 분이에요.
교수님께서 이미 아십니다.
질문이 있으시면 아시는 대로 말씀해 주세요.

At the Office

부장님, 아시다시피 예산이 부족합니다.
사장님께서 그 소식을 아셨어요.
혹시 이 서류를 아시나요?
상무님께서 알고 계시는 내용입니다.

With Family

할머니, 제 친구를 아세요?
아버지는 모든 걸 아시는 것 같아요.
어머니가 그 사실을 아시면 안 돼요.
할아버지께서 아시는 옛날 이야기 좀 해주세요.

Public Speaking

여러분도 잘 아시다시피...
이미 아시겠지만 다시 한번 강조합니다.
아시는 바와 같이 결과는 이렇습니다.
모두가 아시는 사실입니다.

Customer Service

고객님께서 아시는 것처럼...
혹시 저희 서비스를 아시나요?
이미 아시겠지만 혜택이 종료됩니다.
고객님이 아시는 정보가 맞습니다.

Conversation Starters

"혹시 이 근처에 맛있는 식당을 아세요?"

"선생님, 이 단어의 뜻을 아시나요?"

"부장님, 아시다시피 오늘 회의가 취소되었습니다."

"할머니, 옛날 노래 중에 이 노래를 아세요?"

"교수님, 제 논문 주제를 이미 아십니까?"

Journal Prompts

오늘 선생님이나 부모님께 '아세요?'라고 질문한 적이 있나요? 어떤 상황이었는지 적어보세요.

내가 존경하는 사람이 '아는 것' (지식)에 대해 honorifics를 사용하여 5문장을 써보세요.

'아시다시피'를 사용하여 한국어로 짧은 연설문을 작성해 보세요.

누군가 내 비밀을 '아셨을 때'의 기분을 honorifics를 섞어서 일기로 써보세요.

내가 아는 사람 중 가장 '아시는 게 많은' 분은 누구인가요? 그분을 묘사해 보세요.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No! This is a common mistake. Honorifics like '-시-' in '아세요' are only used to show respect to *others*. For yourself, always use the plain polite form '알아요' or the formal '압니다'.

Korean has a rule called the 'ㄹ' irregular conjugation. When a verb stem ends in 'ㄹ' and is followed by 'ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ', the 'ㄹ' drops. Since the honorific suffix starts with 'ㅅ' (-시-), the 'ㄹ' in '알-' disappears, leaving '아시다'.

Use '아세요' in daily polite conversation with people you know, like parents or teachers. Use '아십니다' in very formal situations, like business meetings, presentations, or when speaking to a high-ranking official.

'아시다' is the simple honorific for 'to know'. '알고 계시다' is the honorific progressive form ('is knowing'). In many cases, they are interchangeable, but '알고 계시다' sounds slightly more formal and emphasizes the state of awareness.

The most common way is '아세요?'. If you want to be even more polite or sound softer, you can say '아시나요?'. In a very formal setting, use '아십니까?'.

It is most common in formal speech, presentations, and writing. However, you can use it in semi-formal situations with people you respect to sound more articulate and polite.

No. You should not use honorifics for someone younger or lower in status unless you are being sarcastic or in a very specific professional role (like a teacher speaking to a student's parent about the student). Use '알다' for your brother.

The past tense is '아셨다'. In polite speech, it becomes '아셨어요' or '아셨습니다'. For example: '그 사실을 언제 아셨어요?' (When did you know that?).

It can sometimes imply understanding in context, but the primary meaning is 'to know' or 'to be aware of'. For deep understanding, '이해하시다' is a better choice.

No, '아시다' is just the regular verb '알다' with the honorific suffix '-시-'. It doesn't have a completely different word like '먹다/드시다' or '자다/주무시다'.