📝 Grammar A1

-ㅂ니다/습니다

-pnida/seumnida

Formal sentence ending

What it means

The formal polite sentence ending used in professional, official, or first-meeting contexts. -ㅂ니다 after vowel stems, -습니다 after consonant stems. Heard in announcements and presentations.

Nuance & when to use

먹어요 (casual polite) vs 먹습니다 (formal polite). -습니다 creates distance and shows high respect. In modern daily life, -아요/어요 is far more common.

⚠ Common mistake

Using -습니다 in casual everyday conversation sounds stiff and unnatural. Use -아요/어요 for normal polite chat; save -습니다 for formal or public settings.

Example sentences

안녕하십니까? 저는 김민준입니다. Annyeonghashimnikka? Jeoneun Kim Minjunimnida. Hello. I am Kim Minjun. (formal introduction)

문이 닫힙니다. 조심하십시오. Muni dachinmnida. Josimhashipsio. The door is closing. Please be careful. (announcement)

저희 회사를 소개합니다. Jeohui hoesareul sogaehamnida. Let me introduce our company.

감사합니다. 좋은 하루 되세요. Gamsahamnida. Joeun haru doeseyo. Thank you. Have a great day.

FAQ

When is this used?

먹어요 (casual polite) vs 먹습니다 (formal polite). -습니다 creates distance and shows high respect. In modern daily life, -아요/어요 is far more common.

What's a common mistake?

Using -습니다 in casual everyday conversation sounds stiff and unnatural. Use -아요/어요 for normal polite chat; save -습니다 for formal or public settings.

Ready to learn more Korean?

Get one free Korean lesson every day — straight to your inbox.

Get Daily Korean Free →

Free forever · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime