What are speech styles in Korean?

Korean at first glance may seem quite simple. There are no conjugations, , words practically do not change ...

But there are pitfalls. People will apply different styles of speech to differentм people. Here, age, social status and attitude towards the interlocutor play a huge role.

Depending on the chosen style of speech, grammar endings also change. The longer the ending, the more respectful the speech. The polite style has its own attributes - respectful suffixes or the use of alternative polite words instead of the usual simple ones.

Speech styles can be divided into two categories:

Polite style and impolite style.
Polite should be used if the interlocutor is older than you, higher in position or you two have a business relationship.
Polite style, in turn, is divided into formal and informal.

The official style of speech is the highest degree of politeness to the interlocutor, the attitude is remote, cold, correct.
Usually, at the first meeting, the first phrases are just official. In order to get to know each other, take a closer look at each other. But not necessarily.

Unofficial polite style of speech - the attitude is warmer, softer, closer, but at the same time respectful.

Both styles can be used simultaneously in speech with the same person. That is, the first does not prohibit the second. But the texts usually adhere to one thing.

You can use impolite style if the interlocutor is much younger than you, lower in position (and it is not always worth abusing your position, it is better to be polite) or your relationship is already friendly and switched to “you”.

An impolite style is divided into familiar and informative. The latter is used to transmit information (news, articles, essays).

The peculiarity of speech styles is that the longer the endings, the more polite the speech.