먹다 → 드시다/잡수시다: When "to eat" Needs Respect

In Korean, to eat has completely different words depending on who you're talking to or about.

The Rule

In Korean, "to eat" isn't just one word — it changes based on your relationship with the listener and the person you're talking about. This isn't just about being polite; using the wrong level can be genuinely offensive. The four key levels for "to eat": • 반말 (casual): 먹어 • 해요체 (polite): 먹어요 • 합쇼체 (formal): 먹습니다 • 존칭 (honorific): 드시다/잡수시다

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

English has one word for "to eat" regardless of who you're talking to. You might add "please" or change your tone, but the verb itself stays the same. In Korean, the entire word changes. This isn't like French "tu/vous" — Korean has MORE levels and the honorific forms can be completely different words, not just different endings. 먹다 and 드시다/잡수시다 don't even look related, but they mean the same thing at different politeness levels.

How It Works

At a restaurant with your boss When speaking to someone of higher status, use the honorific form 드시다, not just the polite 먹어요. The hierarchy: 1. 반말 (먹어) — Friends your age, younger people 2. 해요체 (먹어요) — Default safe level, strangers, colleagues 3. 합쇼체 (먹습니다) — Business settings, news, presentations 4. 존칭 (드시다/잡수시다) — About/to elders, customers, respected figures

Real Examples

• 먹어 (meokeo) — "eat" (to friends, casual) • 먹어요 (meokeoyo) — "eat" (polite daily conversation) • 먹습니다 (meokseupnida) — "eat" (formal settings) • 드시다/잡수시다 (deusida/japsusida) — "eat" (about respected people) Correct usage: 사장님, 많이 드세요. (sajangnim, mani deuseyo.)

Common Mistakes

❌ 사장님, 많이 먹어요. (sajangnim, mani meokeoyo.) ✅ 사장님, 많이 드세요. (sajangnim, mani deuseyo.) → When speaking to someone of higher status, use the honorific form 드시다, not just the polite 먹어요. ❌ Using 먹어 to someone older or a stranger ✅ Default to 먹어요 when unsure → When in doubt, go one level higher. Koreans appreciate over-politeness from foreigners more than under-politeness.

Quick Tip

When you're unsure which level to use, default to 해요체 (먹어요). It's polite enough for almost every situation and won't offend anyone. Only use 반말 (먹어) when someone explicitly tells you it's okay. For the honorific form 드시다/잡수시다, practice using it when talking ABOUT (not just to) respected people. Even when grandma isn't in the room, you should use the honorific form when mentioning her.

Safe default: 먹어요. When talking about elders: 드시다/잡수시다.

Examples

먹어 — meokeo — eat (casual)

먹어요 — meokeoyo — eat (polite)

먹습니다 — meokseupnida — eat (formal)

드시다/잡수시다 — deusida/japsusida — eat (honorific)

사장님, 많이 드세요. — sajangnim, mani deuseyo. — Correct honorific usage