How to use 께서 in Korean

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  아버지께서 집에 계세요.

  a-beo-ji-kke-seo jip-e gye-se-yo., a beo ji kke seo jip e gye se yo.

  '께서' appropriately honors the subject 'father'.

• ⭕

  선생님께서 말씀하셨어요.

  seon-saeng-nim-kke-seo mal-sseum-ha-syeoss-eo-yo., seon saeng nim kke seo mal sseum ha syeoss eo yo.

  '께서' correctly honors the teacher as the subject.

• ❌

  할아버지가 시장에 가셨어요.

  hal-a-beo-ji-ga si-jang-e ga-syeoss-eo-yo., hal a beo ji ga si jang e ga syeoss eo yo.

  '가' is informal; use '께서' to honor grandfather.

• ❌

  어머니가 요리하세요.

  eo-meo-ni-ga yo-ri-ha-se-yo., eo meo ni ga yo ri ha se yo.

  '가' is informal; '께서' is needed to show respect.

• ⭕

  사장님께서 회의에 참석하셨습니다.

  sa-jang-nim-kke-seo hoe-ui-e cham-seok-ha-syeoss-seup-ni-da., sa jang nim kke seo hoe ui e cham seok ha syeoss seup ni da.

  Formal and respectful use of '께서' for the boss.

• ❌

  친구께서 도와줬어요.

  chin-gu-kke-seo do-wa-jwoss-eo-yo., chin gu kke seo do wa jwoss eo yo.

  '께서' is for honorifics; not used for casual friends.

1. What kind of particle is '께서'?

   '께서'는 어떤 조사인가요?('kke-seo'neuneo-tteonjo-sa-in-ga-yo?, 'kkeseo'neuneotteonjosaingayo?)
   • 주격 조사(ju-gyeokjo-sa, jugyeokjosa)
   • 목적격 조사(mok-jeok-gyeokjo-sa, mokjeokgyeokjosa)
   • 부사(bu-sa, busa)
   • 접속사(jeop-sok-sa, jeopsoksa)

2. Which is the honorific expression? '어머니께서' or '어머니가'?

   '어머니께서'와 '어머니가' 중 존댓말 표현은?('eo-meo-ni-kke-seo'wa'eo-meo-ni-ga'jungjon-daes-malpyo-hyeon-eun?, 'eomeonikkeseo'wa'eomeoniga'jungjondaesmalpyohyeoneun?)
   • 어머니께서(eo-meo-ni-kke-seo, eomeonikkeseo)
   • 어머니가(eo-meo-ni-ga, eomeoniga)
   • 둘 다(dulda)
   • 없음(eop-eum, eopeum)

3. When should you use '께서'?

   다음 중 '께서'를 써야 하는 경우는?(da-eumjung'kke-seo'reulsseo-yaha-neungyeong-u-neun?, daeumjung'kkeseo'reulsseoyahaneungyeonguneun?)
   • 친구가 왔어요(chin-gu-gawass-eo-yo, chingugawasseoyo)
   • 아버지께서 오셨어요(a-beo-ji-kke-seoo-syeoss-eo-yo, abeojikkeseoosyeosseoyo)
   • 고양이가 자요(go-yang-i-gaja-yo, goyangigajayo)
   • 책이 있습니다(chaek-iiss-seup-ni-da, chaekiissseupnida)