This is something a reader and friend Lindie brought to my attention not too long ago but it seems like I use Formal language and casual language together a lot without even realizing it most times when I am not thinking! The formal language that part I actually do on purpose most times because well although it may seem distant I just don’t want to seem like I am being rude, adding a smiley face sometimes doesn’t cut it ~ so rather stick to using formal language with a smiley face 🙂
The casual language mixed with formal language now that I have no idea when I am doing it. It sometimes just is words I use (when I should use a more relaxed casual word I go and use a more rigid formal word) so in the future I will have a section where I eventually will come across something and frequently post about the differences so if anyone is having the same issues as me then from what I learn you can learn too, perfect system.
Also, I would really appreciate suggestions on what most of you would like to read about on the blog ^^ I have no time to brainstorm on ideas for myself to study Korean so I am asking you readers/and friends to please leave a suggestion in the comments section or email me seoulinkay@gmail.com 🙂
Thank you ^_^ don’t forget to leave a comment/ suggestion (:
I can’t quite grasp what you’re saying, but basically for me, there wouldn’t be such things as formal and casual when it’s written, unless if it’s a letter or something you’re directly telling to the readers. Sometimes when I read written entries in Korean, they would just use the -는다, -은가? -을까?, 내가 나는, simply say diary entry, because like what my teacher said, it’s ‘somewhat’ weird whenever you read a rather lengthy chunk of words written in formal or casual because you don’t need to respect someone or something when you’re writing. Same like 당신, though formal, you may not use it personally, but can be used without worries when written. Especially the -(으)시 thingy in writing would be super and hyperly strange.
If about speaking, you shall never use casual during first meets, and speaking of first, not the literal first day, but there would be a time when you can ask them if you can drop the honorifics, (though I’m sure you know about this already, ㅎㅎ). At first, I thought -(으)세요 was just a direct formal polite form of -(으)십시오, but then you can use it when asking simple things like, 먹으세요? or 몇 살이세요? something something. Using formal language even with Korean 아줌마s or 아주씨s would also be super weird because it’s like you’re reporting/announcing something or speaking directly out of phrasebooks.
The safest thing would be to use the diary form when writing, and the -(으)세요 form for instances like ‘여러분 잘 지내셨어요?’. 그리고, you should always be conscious about speech levels as it is almost always weird when you mix it up. Same like TOPIK, your essay won’t sound so good when you have -(스)ㅂ니다 at first then -아/어요 in the latter parts. 🙂 Good luck 😀
아저씨* ㅎ
I think a lot of it is just listening to Korean like you already do with dramas, but focusing a lot on who uses formal, polite and informal at what times. it may seem weird as you didn’t grow up using a language that has honorifics, but it doesn’t make it sound “rude” or “rigid” in Korean to just use a polite speech. Actually no one in Korea except at formal business occasions use “~ㅂ니다” endings. Just use polite 요 endings until you’re at a level with the person to use informal.
Yeah. Its just to focus and also reading a wider range can help me 🙂 its very strange English doesn’t have all of this so its a hard thing to wrap-your-head around ;; Actually I never use the -ㅂ니다 style ending its always -요 so I guess I am alright on that level right? 🙂
Thanks ^^
Using 요 is the safest to use when conversing with someone unless it’s a friend or the person you’re talking to allows you to speak in 반말. If it’s written you can use the neutral ㄴ/는다. I’m happy to have read your post after coming back from hospital. I missed my fellow Korean learners
I always add 요 to the end like you said its much safer and I like to keep it safe ^^ I find it a little bit confusing to use the ㄴ/는다 format in writing but I am slowly working on it ^^
I hope you feel better and hope it wasn’t serious 🙂 we missed you too
Keep in mind that there are two kinds of formal, with (스)ㅂ니다 endings being formal polite and -아/어요 being formal familiar. If you are talking to someone, I would recommend using (스)ㅂ니다 when you speak to them for the first time, even though common phrases written with -아/어요 is probably ok, like 안녕하세요. What’s interesting is that people who makes speeches or speak publically in any other way sometimes switch from formal polite to formal familiar as a way to not seem so distance from the audience. Also, the guy at busyatom.com said these two formal forms can be mixed in regular conversation without nay problems.
You have to get grammar down so you won’t mix up formal and casual in the same sentence. If you address someone with an honorific, that whole sentence has to match that level of formality. A good example of this is in B.A.P.’s song “No Mercy”. In Zelo’s first rap, he’s being a little facetious towards who he’s dissing, so he goes formal when kpop songs are usually casual. He refers to his bandmates with the super super formal address of 형님들 when usually 형들 is sufficient (in the mv, it’s the part where he bows to them), and the rest of his rap in that part of the song stays in either formal polite or formal familiar.
Usually former familiar is not too standoffish, and as a foreigner they would probably just think you were just trying to be respectful.
When journaling I tend to stick with formal familiar, because all you do to switch to casual in most cases is drop some honorifics, so you could be learning casual at the same time in principle.