Lesson 26
Learning to ask or tell someone to do something for you is one of the most essential things to learn in any language. Whether the intention is to be polite or not so polite, learning how to construct imperative sentences in Korean will come handy every single day..
To tell someone to do something, add -(으)세요 [-(eu)-se-yo] to the verb stem.
Conjugation
Verb stem ending in a consonant + -으세요
Verb stem ending in a vowel or the consonant ㄹ + -세요
Ex)
시작하다 [si-ja-ka-da] = to begin, to start
시작하 + -세요 = 시작하세요 [si-ja-ka-se-yo] = Please begin.
오다 [o-da] = to come
오 + -세요 = 오세요 [o-se-yo] = Please come.
쉬다 [swi-da] = to rest
쉬 + -세요 = 쉬세요 [swi-se-yo] = Please get some rest.
고르다 [go-reu-da] = to choose, to pick
고르 + -세요 = 고르세요 [go-reu-se-yo] = Please choose.
접다 [jeop-tta] = to fold
접 + -으세요 = 접으세요 [jeo-beu-se-yo] = Please fold it.
Exception:
When a verb stem ends with the consonant ㄹ, drop the ㄹ and add -세요.
팔다 [pal-da] = to sell
팔 → 파 + 세요 = 파세요 [pa-se-yo] = Please sell it.
The focus of this lesson is presenting -(으)세요 as a way to tell someone to do something. The honorific suffix -시 is included in this ending, and there are a couple variations of this depending on the type of language (honorific, informal), but please remember that this ending is considered “formal” or “polite”.
Sample Sentences
내일 세 시에 오세요.
[nae-il se si-e o-se-yo.]
= Please come here at three o’clock tomorrow.
공부하세요!
[gong-bu-ha-se-yo!]
= Study! Do your studies!
경은 씨, 빨리 일하세요.
[gyeong-eun ssi, ppal-li il-ha-se-yo.]
= Kyeong-eun, hurry up and get some work done!
경은 씨, 쉬세요.
[gyeong-eun ssi, swi-se-yo.]
= Kyeong-eun, please get some rest.
이거 저한테 파세요.
[i-geo jeo-han-te pa-se-yo.]
= Please sell this to me.
조심하세요.
[jo-sim-ha-se-yo.]
= Be careful!
Some fixed expressions using -세요:
When going into a store or a restaurant, an employee will most often say:
- 어서오세요. [eo-seo-o-se-yo.] = (lit. Come quickly) Welcome.
When a person is leaving, and you are staying:
- 안녕히 가세요. [an-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo.] = (lit. Go peacefully) Good-bye.
If you are leaving, and the other person is staying:
- 안녕히 계세요. [an-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo.] = (lit. Stay peacefully) Good-bye.
How to say “Goodnight.” in Korean:
- 안녕히 주무세요. [an-nyeong-hi ju-mu-se-yo.] = (lit. Sleep peacefully) Goodnight.
Some words change their forms specifically for polite/formal language, but those will be covered in a future lesson.