알다 → 아시다: When "to know" Needs Respect

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

The Rule

In Korean, "to know" 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 know": • 반말 (casual): 알아 • 해요체 (polite): 알아요 • 합쇼체 (formal): 압니다 • 존칭 (honorific): 아시다

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

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

How It Works

Asking if your teacher knows something 아시다 adds the honorific suffix -시- to the stem. Use for anyone you'd address formally. The hierarchy: 1. 반말 (알아) — Friends your age, younger people 2. 해요체 (알아요) — Default safe level, strangers, colleagues 3. 합쇼체 (압니다) — Business settings, news, presentations 4. 존칭 (아시다) — About/to elders, customers, respected figures

Real Examples

• 알아 (ara) — "know" (to friends, casual) • 알아요 (arayo) — "know" (polite daily conversation) • 압니다 (apnida) — "know" (formal settings) • 아시다 (asida) — "know" (about respected people) Correct usage: 선생님, 아세요? (seonsaengnim, aseyo?)

Common Mistakes

❌ 선생님, 알아요? (seonsaengnim, arayo?) ✅ 선생님, 아세요? (seonsaengnim, aseyo?) → 아시다 adds the honorific suffix -시- to the stem. Use for anyone you'd address formally. ❌ Using 알아 to someone older or a stranger ✅ Default to 알아요 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 (알아요). It's polite enough for almost every situation and won't offend anyone. Only use 반말 (알아) when someone explicitly tells you it's okay. For the honorific form 아시다, 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: 알아요. When talking about elders: 아시다.

Examples

알아 — ara — know (casual)

알아요 — arayo — know (polite)

압니다 — apnida — know (formal)

아시다 — asida — know (honorific)

선생님, 아세요? — seonsaengnim, aseyo? — Correct honorific usage