가르치다 → 가르치시다: When "to teach" Needs Respect

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

The Rule

In Korean, "to teach" 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 teach": • 반말 (casual): 가르쳐 • 해요체 (polite): 가르쳐요 • 합쇼체 (formal): 가르칩니다 • 존칭 (honorific): 가르치시다

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

English has one word for "to teach" 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. 가르치다 and 가르치시다 don't even look related, but they mean the same thing at different politeness levels.

How It Works

Talking about your professor's teaching Regular -시- honorific. Also upgrade the subject marker: 이 → 께서 for honored subjects. The hierarchy: 1. 반말 (가르쳐) — Friends your age, younger people 2. 해요체 (가르쳐요) — Default safe level, strangers, colleagues 3. 합쇼체 (가르칩니다) — Business settings, news, presentations 4. 존칭 (가르치시다) — About/to elders, customers, respected figures

Real Examples

• 가르쳐 (gareuchyeo) — "teach" (to friends, casual) • 가르쳐요 (gareuchyeoyo) — "teach" (polite daily conversation) • 가르칩니다 (gareuchipnida) — "teach" (formal settings) • 가르치시다 (gareuchisida) — "teach" (about respected people) Correct usage: 교수님께서 잘 가르치세요. (gyosunimkkeseo jar gareuchiseyo.)

Common Mistakes

❌ 교수님이 잘 가르쳐요. (gyosunimi jar gareuchyeoyo.) ✅ 교수님께서 잘 가르치세요. (gyosunimkkeseo jar gareuchiseyo.) → Regular -시- honorific. Also upgrade the subject marker: 이 → 께서 for honored subjects. ❌ Using 가르쳐 to someone older or a stranger ✅ Default to 가르쳐요 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 (가르쳐요). It's polite enough for almost every situation and won't offend anyone. Only use 반말 (가르쳐) when someone explicitly tells you it's okay. For the honorific form 가르치시다, 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: 가르쳐요. When talking about elders: 가르치시다.

Examples

가르쳐 — gareuchyeo — teach (casual)

가르쳐요 — gareuchyeoyo — teach (polite)

가르칩니다 — gareuchipnida — teach (formal)

가르치시다 — gareuchisida — teach (honorific)

교수님께서 잘 가르치세요. — gyosunimkkeseo jar gareuchiseyo. — Correct honorific usage