Korean Speech Levels and Politeness: Practice Exercises

Mastering Korean speech levels and politeness is essential for effective communication and cultural understanding. Korean, unlike English, incorporates various speech levels that reflect the relationship between speakers, their social status, and the context of the conversation. These levels range from highly formal to very informal, and knowing when and how to use them correctly can significantly influence how you are perceived in both casual and formal settings. Whether you're speaking to a close friend, a colleague, or an elder, using the appropriate speech level is crucial for maintaining respect and harmony in your interactions. Our practice exercises are designed to help you navigate these complexities with confidence. Through targeted drills and real-life scenarios, you will gain a deeper understanding of when to use honorifics, how to adjust your speech based on social hierarchies, and the subtleties that differentiate formal and informal language. These exercises aim to reinforce your knowledge and improve your fluency, enabling you to engage more naturally in conversations with native speakers. Dive in and start practicing to enhance your command of Korean speech levels and politeness.

Exercise 1

1. 저는 오늘 친구와 *만납니다* (formal polite form of the verb "to meet").

2. 어머니께서 저에게 선물을 *주셨습니다* (formal honorific form of the verb "to give").

3. 이 책을 *읽어요* (standard polite form of the verb "to read").

4. 아버지는 매일 아침 일찍 *일어나십니다* (formal honorific form of the verb "to wake up").

5. 주말에 우리는 영화를 *봤어요* (standard polite form of the verb "to watch").

6. 선생님께서 수업을 *가르치십니다* (formal honorific form of the verb "to teach").

7. 나는 학교에 *갑니다* (formal polite form of the verb "to go").

8. 친구가 저에게 편지를 *보냈어요* (standard polite form of the verb "to send").

9. 할머니께서 음식을 *만드셨어요* (formal honorific form of the verb "to make").

10. 그는 한국어를 *배워요* (standard polite form of the verb "to learn").

Exercise 2

1. 나는 내일 친구를 *만나요* (verb for meeting someone).

2. 어머니께서 요리를 *하십니다* (verb for cooking, honorific form).

3. 그는 매일 아침에 커피를 *마셔요* (verb for drinking).

4. 저녁에 우리는 영화를 *봅니다* (verb for watching, formal polite).

5. 학생들이 교실에서 열심히 *공부합니다* (verb for studying, formal polite).

6. 선생님께서 학생들에게 질문을 *묻습니다* (verb for asking a question, formal polite).

7. 그녀는 매주 일요일에 교회에 *갑니다* (verb for going, formal polite).

8. 나는 음악을 *들어요* (verb for listening).

9. 그는 도서관에서 책을 *읽습니다* (verb for reading, formal polite).

10. 우리는 공원에서 자주 *산책해요* (verb for strolling).

Exercise 3

1. 나는 내일 학교에 *갑니다* (formal polite verb for going).

2. 이 책은 아주 *재미있어요* (informal polite expression for interesting).

3. 할머니, 오늘 기분이 *좋으세요*? (formal honorific expression for good mood).

4. 친구와 함께 영화를 *봤어요* (informal polite past tense verb for watching).

5. 어제 뭐 *했습니까*? (formal polite past tense verb for doing).

6. 저는 커피를 *마셔요* (informal polite verb for drinking).

7. 선생님, 이 문제를 *알려주세요* (formal polite request for telling).

8. 이 식당 음식이 정말 *맛있습니다* (formal polite expression for delicious).

9. 나 지금 집에 *있어* (informal casual verb for being).

10. 부모님께서는 서울에 *계십니다* (formal honorific verb for being, staying).