haru Korean › Grammar › Level 1B › N께서(는)
N께서(는) — the honorific subject particle — 이/가 → 께서 · 은/는 → 께서는
The honorific subject particle — 이/가 → 께서 · 은/는 → 께서는. Korean grammar for beginner learners — Level 1B, lesson 1: 이분이 우리 할아버지세요 (This is my grandfather — family and honorifics).
What it means
께서 is the polite form of the subject particle 이/가, and 께서는 the polite form of 은/는. Use them for a person you respect, such as a grandparent, a parent or a teacher. They are the same with or without 받침: 할아버지께서, 선생님께서는. The verb must show respect too, so 께서 always comes with -(으)세요 or -(으)셨어요: 할아버지께서 책을 읽으세요. 께서 is very polite: you hear it most about grandparents and teachers, and in speeches, the news and writing. When you talk about your own parents, 아버지는 … -(으)세요 is fine too. Never use 께서 for yourself, a friend or a younger person.
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| N께서 · N께서는 | 이/가 → 께서 · 은/는 → 께서는 | 할아버지 + 께서 → 할아버지께서 |
Key points
- 께서 replaces 이/가 and 께서는 replaces 은/는 for a person you respect: 할아버지께서 · 선생님께서는
- The verb always takes -(으)세요 too: 할아버지께서 책을 읽으세요 (not 읽어요)
Examples
- 할아버지가 → 할아버지께서. 할머니는 → 할머니께서는.
- 할아버지께서 책을 읽으세요.
- 선생님께서는 한국 사람이세요.
- 어머니께서 어제 시장에 가셨어요.
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 1B, lesson 9; Yonsei University Korean 1-2, lesson 12; Hanyang University Korean 2-1, lesson 1.
Also in this lesson
- A/V-(으)세요 · N(이)세요 — honorific -(으)시- — speaking politely about older people
- N의 N — possession — 'N's N': 안나 씨의 가방 · 제 가방
- N을/를 잘하다 · 못하다 — good at, bad at — 'I'm good at …' · 'I'm not good at …'