Korean Honorific Verbs 드시다 주무시다 계시다: Meaning, Rules and Examples

What you'll learn

• Replace 먹다, 자다, 있다, 말하다 and 죽다 with their honorific verbs.
• Conjugate 드시다, 주무시다 and 계시다 in the polite, formal and past forms.
• Choose 계시다 or 있으시다 correctly.
• Recognise three set phrases: 안녕히 계세요, 안녕히 주무세요 and 맛있게 드세요.

Before you start: you should know honorific -(으)시- and Korean honorific nouns such as 진지 and 댁. Time: about 30 minutes.

What Do the Korean Honorific Verbs 드시다 주무시다 계시다 Mean?

The Korean honorific verbs 드시다, 주무시다 and 계시다 mean "eat", "sleep" and "be (somewhere)" when a respected person does the action. They carry the same meaning as 먹다, 자다 and 있다. The difference is social: they show that the subject is older or senior.

Most Korean verbs become honorific by adding -(으)시-: 가다 → 가시다, 읽다 → 읽으시다. A handful of very common verbs instead switch to a completely different word. Linguists call this replacement suppletion, and Korean grammar lists these words as special honorific vocabulary (존경어 or 특수 어휘). English has a few cases of suppletion too, such as "go" and "went".

The first row is regular. In the other rows, the regular form is either avoided or reserved for another meaning, and the special verb takes its place.

A First Example

Listen to each sentence at normal speed, then slowly.

1. 할아버지께서 주무세요. (harabeojikkeseo jumuseyo) "Grandfather is sleeping."

Pronunciation: [하라버지께서 주무세요]. The ㄹ of 할 links to the next vowel. 주무시 + 어요 becomes 주무세요, the same contraction as 가시 + 어요 → 가세요.

2. 점심 드셨어요? (jeomsim deusyeosseoyo) "Have you had lunch?"

Pronunciation: [점심 드셔써요]. The past marker 었 merges with 시 into 셨. Koreans often use this question as a friendly greeting to a senior around midday, much like "How are you?" The subject (you) is left out, but the verb still honours it.

Both sentences avoid 자다 and 먹다 because the subject deserves respect. The next section lists the verbs and shows how they conjugate.

How Do the Korean Honorific Verbs 드시다 주무시다 계시다 Work?

The Korean honorific verbs 드시다 주무시다 계시다 work like any verb whose stem already ends in 시. You do not add another 시. You attach the normal endings, and the same contractions apply: 시 + 어요 → 세요, 시 + 었 → 셨, 시 + ㅂ니다 → 십니다.

1. Identify the plain verb. 먹다, 자다, 있다 and the others in the list below.
2. Swap it for the honorific verb. 먹다 → 드시다.
3. Add the ending to the stem 드시. Polite present 드세요, formal 드십니다, past 드셨어요.

Pattern Table

Three pronunciation notes help with the spoken column. 계 is usually pronounced [게], as the 국립국어원 standard pronunciation rules (Article 5) allow. The ㅎ inside the final consonant pair ㄶ of 편찮 is silent before a vowel (Article 12), so 편찮으세요 is [편차느세요]. Finally, 잡수 is spoken with a tense [쑤].

Verbs That Stay Regular

Most verbs are regular and simply add -(으)시-. 오다 → 오세요, 보다 → 보세요, 주다 → 주세요, 일하다 → 일하세요. Do not invent special forms for them. The special list is short, and the table above covers almost everything an A2 learner meets. The Korean verb conjugator shows the honorific form of any verb when you are unsure. The worked example below builds one sentence from start to finish.

Worked Example, Step by Step

To say "Grandfather is sleeping" with respect, start from the plain sentence and replace two words. Follow the steps.

1. Write the plain sentence. 할아버지가 자요. It is grammatical and polite to the listener, but it treats your grandfather like a friend.
2. Check the subject. 할아버지 is an elder, so the verb must be honorific.
3. Swap the verb. 자다 is on the special list, so it becomes 주무시다. Do not write 자세요 or 주무시세요.
4. Add the ending. 주무시 + 어요 → 주무세요.
5. Upgrade the particle (optional). 이/가 becomes 께서: 할아버지께서 주무세요. In family conversation 할아버지 주무세요, with no particle, is also natural.

You'll know it worked when the sentence has a senior subject and exactly one 시 or 세 in the verb. Common mistake at this step: stacking two honorific markers, as in 주무시세요. The 시 is already inside 주무시다.

The same steps give 할머니께서 진지를 드세요 ("Grandmother is having her meal"). Here the noun 밥 (meal) also changes to its honorific form 진지, a change taught in Korean honorific nouns. The particle 께서 is explained in honorific subject particle 께서.

Special verbs raise the subject. The next section compares them with humble verbs, which work the other way.

How Are Honorific Verbs Different from Similar Forms?

Honorific verbs raise a respected subject, while humble verbs lower the speaker in front of a respected person. 드시다 says "the elder eats", and 드리다 says "I give to the elder". Korean grammar names the two sets 존경어 (honorific words) and 겸양어 (humble words).

The fourth row shows the difference in action. 제가 할머니께 드릴게요 means "I will give it to Grandmother": you act, so the verb is humble, and the receiver is honoured. The humble set is taught in Korean humble forms 드리다 뵙다.

One noun crosses both sets. 말씀 means "words" of a respected person in 선생님 말씀 ("the teacher's words") and 말씀하시다, but it also forms the humble verb 말씀드리다 ("I tell you", to a senior). The verb that follows tells you which way the respect flows. The next section covers where these verbs fit in daily life.

When Do You Use It, and When Not?

Use honorific verbs whenever a respected person is the subject of 먹다, 자다, 있다, 말하다, 죽다 or 아프다. Skip them when you, a child or a close friend your age is the subject.

Daily Set Phrases

Four everyday phrases are built from honorific verbs, and every learner needs them.

계시다 or 있으시다?

The verb 있다 splits into two honorific verbs, and choosing the right one is the most common A2 difficulty.

• 계시다: a respected person is in a place. 선생님은 지금 교실에 계세요. ("The teacher is in the classroom now.")
• 있으시다: a respected person has something. 선생님은 차가 있으세요. ("The teacher has a car.") 시간 있으세요? ("Do you have time?")

The test is simple. If you can say "is in" or "is at", use 계시다. If you can say "has", use 있으시다. The plain verb is described in the 있다 verb dictionary entry, and the honorific one in the 계시다 entry.

Answering a Question Asked with an Honorific Verb

Answer with the plain verb, because in the answer you are the subject. A senior asks 점심 드셨어요? ("Have you had lunch?"), and you reply 네, 먹었어요 ("Yes, I have"). The question honours you, but you cannot honour yourself back. The same rule turns 어제 잘 주무셨어요? ("Did you sleep well last night?") into the answer 네, 잘 잤어요.

The pattern flips when you ask about a third person. If a colleague asks 부장님 계세요? ("Is the department head in?"), the answer keeps the honorific verb because the subject is still the department head: 지금 회의 중이세요, or simply 안 계세요.

Speech, Writing and Formal Settings

Honorific verbs appear in speech, messages, letters and formal announcements. An airline might say 손님 여러분, 좌석에 앉아 계십시오 ("Passengers, please stay seated"), using 계시다 as a helper verb. Obituaries and formal letters use 돌아가시다 or the more formal 별세하시다. In casual speech about your own family to a friend, Koreans still use the honorific verb for the elder: 우리 할머니 주무셔. The next section lists the errors to avoid.

What Mistakes Do Learners Make?

Learners make five predictable mistakes with Korean honorific verbs. Most come from treating the special verbs as "polite words" rather than words that respect the subject.

1. Using 드시다 for yourself. Learners often assume 드셨어요 is just the polite way to say "ate", so they say 저는 밥을 드셨어요. Actually it honours the eater, who is you. Say 저는 밥을 먹었어요.
2. Adding a second 시. 드시세요, 주무시세요 and 계시세요 double the marker and are not standard, even though 드시세요 is often heard. Each verb already contains 시, so the forms are 드세요, 주무세요 and 계세요.
3. Using 계시다 for things. 질문이 계세요? honours the question. Say 질문 있으세요?
4. Mixing up the two goodbyes. 안녕히 계세요 goes to the person who stays; 안녕히 가세요 goes to the person who leaves.
5. Using 먹으세요 to an elder. It is understood, but it sounds like a learner. Say 드세요.

The same mistakes, plus others from across the honorific system, are collected in Korean honorific mistakes. The 드시다 page in the verb dictionary has more example sentences: 드시다 (deusida). Now test yourself.

Practice and Answers

Try all four items before you read the answers. Each answer has audio, normal and slow.

1. Choose the form. 할머니께서 방에 (있으세요 / 계세요). ("Grandmother is in her room.")
2. Fix the error. 저는 아침을 드셨어요. (The speaker means "I had breakfast.")
3. Translate. "The teacher is not in the office." Use 사무실 (office).
4. Write your own. Write one sentence about an elder eating, drinking or sleeping.

Answer Key

1. 할머니께서 방에 계세요. (halmeonikkeseo bange gyeseyo) Pronounced [할머니께서 방에 게세요]. Grandmother is in a place, so the verb is 계시다.

2. 저는 아침을 먹었어요. (jeoneun achimeul meogeosseoyo) Pronounced [저는 아치믈 머거써요]. You are the subject, so use the plain verb 먹다.

3. 선생님은 사무실에 안 계세요. (seonsaengnimeun samusire an gyeseyo) Pronounced [선생니믄 사무시레 안 게세요]. The negative of 계시다 is 안 계시다, not 없으세요.

4. Sample answer: 할머니께서 차를 드세요. (halmeonikkeseo chareul deuseyo) "Grandmother is drinking tea." Pronounced [할머니께서 차를 드세요]. Any sentence with a senior subject and 드시다, 주무시다 or 계시다 is right.

If you used a special verb about yourself, go back to the subject test: honorific verbs are only for a respected subject. Then continue with the next lessons.

What This Lesson Does Not Cover

The honorific verbs lesson covers the special verbs an A2 learner needs. It does not cover the rare literary forms used in prayers and old letters, or the full list of honorific nouns, which live in Korean honorific nouns. Humble verbs, where you are the subject, are in the next lesson.

Next Lessons and Where to Go from Here

After the Korean honorific verbs 드시다 주무시다 계시다, the natural next lesson is Korean humble forms 드리다 뵙다, which completes the picture with verbs for your own actions. To review the regular marker these verbs contain, revisit honorific -(으)시-. The set overview, Korean honorifics, lists every lesson in learning order.

This page uses Revised Romanization only as a learning aid; the Hangul is the reference. To remember the idea in one line: the Korean honorific verbs 드시다 주무시다 계시다 replace 먹다, 자다 and 있다 for a respected subject, already contain 시, and are never used about yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 잡수시다 the Same as 드시다?

Both are honorific forms of 먹다. 드시다 is the everyday choice and also covers drinking. 잡수시다 is more respectful and a little old-fashioned, so you hear it mostly with grandparents: 할아버지, 진지 잡수세요. If you learn only one, learn 드시다, which fits every senior and every meal or drink.

Why Do People Say 맛있게 드세요?

맛있게 드세요 means "Enjoy your meal", literally "Eat it deliciously". Restaurant staff and hosts say it because the listener is the one eating, and that person deserves respect, so 먹다 becomes 드시다. A friend your age hears the casual 맛있게 먹어. The reply in both cases is often 잘 먹겠습니다.

Does 계시다 Work for Things as Well as People?

No. 계시다 means that a respected person is in a place, so it needs a human subject: 할머니가 집에 계세요. For things that a respected person has, use 있으시다: 선생님, 질문 있으세요? Saying 질문이 계세요 honours the question, which native speakers hear as an error.

How Do I Say Goodbye with 계시다?

Say 안녕히 계세요 to someone who stays while you leave. It literally means "Stay in peace", using 계시다 because the listener remains in the place. Say 안녕히 가세요 to someone who is leaving. If both of you leave, 안녕히 가세요 is the usual choice.

Are There Honorific Verbs for Adjectives?

A few. 아프다 (to be sick) becomes 편찮으시다 when an elder is unwell: 할머니가 편찮으세요. For pain in one body part, 아프시다 is still used: 다리가 아프세요? 배고프다 has the older form 시장하시다, but most people now just say 배고프세요. Other adjectives take -(으)시- regularly.