Korean

Noun

해요체 • ‎(haeyoche)

1. the informal, polite speech level in Korean

Usage notes

해요체 ‎(haeyoche) is a speech level used mainly between strangers, especially those older or of equal age. Traditionally it was used more by women than men, but in Seoul many men currently prefer this form to 하십시오체 (hasipsioche). Like other speech levels, it is applied to verbs and adjectives to reflect the relationship between the speaker and the audience. It is used both with and without honorifics, which reflect the relationships with the referent of the subject.

Korean words inflected in this speech level are characterized by the ending -요 ‎(-yo). E.g.:

• 해요 (haeyo): (non-honorific) "does"
• 하세요 (haseyo): (honorific) "does"
• 했어요 (haesseoyo): (non-honorific) "did"

See also

• 하소서체 (hasoseoche)
• 하십시오체 (hasipsioche)
• 해요체 (haeyoche)
• 하게체 (hageche)
• 해라체 (haerache)
• 해체 (haeche)