-으세요

Korean

Alternative forms

  • -세요 (-seyo)after vowels and (l)
  • -시어요 (-sieoyo)expanded form
  • -셔요 (-syeoyo)alternative spelling form

Etymology

Contraction of -시어요 (-sieoyo), which is -시- (-si-, honorific suffix) + (-eo-yo, informal polite style sentence final).

Pronunciation

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?euseyo
Revised Romanization (translit.)?euseyo
McCune–Reischauer?ŭseyo
Yale Romanization?useyyo

Suffix

-으세요 • (-euseyo)

  1. A non-past honorific informal polite style suffix expressing declarative, interrogative, imperative, and suggestive moods depending on context.
    어머니께서 지금 세요.
    Eomeoni-kkeseo jigeum jib-e an gyeseyo.
    Mother is not home right now.
    안녕하세요?
    annyeonghaseyo?
    Hello.
    (literally, “Have you been in peace?”)
    여기 담배 피우지 세요.
    Yeogi-seo-neun dambae piuji maseyo.
    Do not smoke here, please.

Usage notes

  • As the suffix starts with , it causes the root to elide, e.g. 우세요 (useyo) from 울다 (ulda)
  • Sometimes to avoid confusion with imperative mood, -셔요 (-syeoyo) can be used instead.

Derived terms