하오체 vs 하게체 vs 해라체: Ultimate Polite Speech Comparison

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  이 일은 내일까지 꼭 끝내시오.

  i il-eun nae-il-kka-ji kkok kkeut-nae-si-o., i il eun nae il kka ji kkok kkeut nae si o.

  Typical literary command in hao-che, appropriate for formal contexts.

• ⭕

  이 일은 내일까지 꼭 끝내게.

  i il-eun nae-il-kka-ji kkok kkeut-nae-ge., i il eun nae il kka ji kkok kkeut nae ge.

  Hage-che expression where a senior gently commands a junior.

• ⭕

  이 일은 내일까지 꼭 끝내라.

  i il-eun nae-il-kka-ji kkok kkeut-nae-ra., i il eun nae il kka ji kkok kkeut nae ra.

  Firm command in haera-che, suitable for official instructions.

• ❌

  이 일은 내일까지 꼭 끝내게요.

  i il-eun nae-il-kka-ji kkok kkeut-nae-ge-yo., i il eun nae il kka ji kkok kkeut nae ge yo.

  Adding 요 to hage-che is awkward; confuses with hao-che or haera-che.

• ❌

  이 일은 내일까지 꼭 끝내시오요.

  i il-eun nae-il-kka-ji kkok kkeut-nae-si-o-yo., i il eun nae il kka ji kkok kkeut nae si o yo.

  Attaching 요 to hao-che is grammatically incorrect and unnatural.

• ❌

  이 일은 내일까지 꼭 끝내게 하오.

  i il-eun nae-il-kka-ji kkok kkeut-nae-ge ha-o., i il eun nae il kka ji kkok kkeut nae ge ha o.

  Mixing hage-che and hao-che creates awkwardness and confusion.

• ⭕

  너는 지금 당장 이 일을 끝내게.

  neo-neun ji-geum dang-jang i il-eul kkeut-nae-ge., neo neun ji geum dang jang i il eul kkeut nae ge.

  Suitable in hage-che for friendly but commanding tone.

• ⭕

  너는 지금 당장 이 일을 끝내라.

  neo-neun ji-geum dang-jang i il-eul kkeut-nae-ra., neo neun ji geum dang jang i il eul kkeut nae ra.

  Appropriate in haera-che to express strong command.

1. Which polite speech is used when a senior gently requests a junior?

   윗사람이 아랫사람에게 부드럽게 부탁할 때 쓰는 존댓말은?(wis-sa-ram-ia-raes-sa-ram-e-gebu-deu-reop-gebu-tak-halttaesseu-neunjon-daes-mal-eun?, wissaramiaraessaramegebudeureopgebutakhalttaesseuneunjondaesmaleun?)
   • 하오체(ha-o-che, haoche)
   • 하게체(ha-ge-che, hageche)
   • 해라체(hae-ra-che, haerache)

2. Which is the classical polite speech mainly used in historical dramas?

   역사 드라마에서 주로 쓰이는 고전적 존댓말은?(yeok-sadeu-ra-ma-e-seoju-rosseu-i-neungo-jeon-jeokjon-daes-mal-eun?, yeoksadeuramaeseojurosseuineungojeonjeokjondaesmaleun?)
   • 하오체(ha-o-che, haoche)
   • 하게체(ha-ge-che, hageche)
   • 해라체(hae-ra-che, haerache)

3. Which polite speech is mainly used by military superiors giving orders?

   군대에서 상사가 부하에게 명령할 때 주로 쓰는 존댓말은?(gun-dae-e-seosang-sa-gabu-ha-e-gemyeong-ryeong-halttaeju-rosseu-neunjon-daes-mal-eun?, gundaeeseosangsagabuhaegemyeongryeonghalttaejurosseuneunjondaesmaleun?)
   • 하오체(ha-o-che, haoche)
   • 하게체(ha-ge-che, hageche)
   • 해라체(hae-ra-che, haerache)