When to Use Which

Knowing the levels is half the skill; the other half is reading the moment. Korean politeness isn't about a rulebook — it's about relationship. Here's how to read it safely.

존댓말 vs 반말

Two words sum up the choice: 존댓말 (jondaenmal — polite, respectful speech) and 반말 (banmal — casual speech). 존댓말 includes both 해요체 and 합니다체; 반말 is the no-요 casual form.

Three things Koreans read

• Age — older than you almost always means 존댓말.
• Relationship — stranger or new acquaintance → 존댓말; close friend of the same age → 반말.
• Setting — shops, offices, and formal places lean polite or formal, even with peers.

The one rule that keeps you safe

How 반말 actually begins

You don't just decide to drop into 반말 with someone — it's usually offered. The older or senior person says something like 말 편하게 하세요 (“speak comfortably”) or 말 놓으세요 (“let's drop the formality”). Until then, polite is perfect.

A note on ~요 vs ~ㅂ니다

Both are polite. ~요 feels warm and personal; ~ㅂ니다 feels formal and a touch distant. Service staff often use ~ㅂ니다 toward you; you can comfortably answer in ~요.

Try it

What you just learned

• 존댓말 = polite/respectful speech; 반말 = casual speech.
• Age, relationship, and setting decide which you use.
• When in doubt, stay polite — 반말 is usually offered, not assumed.
• ~요 is warm; ~ㅂ니다 is formal — both are polite.