In Korean, when you honor someone, you don’t just change the verb ending. The small particles attached to them upgrade to VIP status as well!
- 께서: Replaces 이/가 (subject marker) for honored subjects. - *친구가 왔어요* → *할머니께서 오셨어요* - If you want to mark the topic (like 은/는), you use 께서는! (*“선생님께서는 친절하세요”*)
- 께: Replaces 에게 / 한테 (*“to / for someone”*) when addressing or giving to an honored recipient. - *친구한테 줬어요* → *선생님께 드렸어요*
Subject (주어)이 / 가 · 께서 · 할머니께서 오세요. (Grandmother is coming.)
Topic (주제)은 / 는 · 께서는 · 선생님께서는 바쁘세요. (The teacher is busy.)
Recipient (받는 사람)에게 / 한테 · 께 · 부모님께 편지를 드렸어요. (Wrote letter to parents.)