Let's continue to learn the Korean formal ending! Today, you'll learn how to suggest in the formal ending setting. I'll show you the grammatically correct form and the more commonly used form in the lesson.
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1. V(으)십시다/(으)시지요 Grammar
The propositive form in the formal endings is (으)십시다. It can be translated as "Let's V." As you are suggesting to do something together with a listener, you can only connect it technically to a verb stem.
A formal ending is usually considered polite. However, 으십시다 in modern Korean is not appropriate to use to someone older than you. (The formality doesn't necessarily mean it is polite!) You can use it for someone close (age, social status, relationship). Besides, it sounds a bit old-fashioned.
(X) 선생님, 같이 가십시다. Teacher, let's go together.
If we want to make suggestions more politely, there are several ways to do so. One method you will learn today is by using (으)시지요. This grammar structure ends with "요," indicating an informal tone.
(으)시지요 is an expression used to politely recommend or advise the listener to take action. So, it can also work as the command as well.
Another way to suggest something informally is by simply using 아/어/여요. However, (으)시지요 is a more polite alternative to suggesting something than using 아/어/여요!
(X) 선생님, 같이 가요. - It sounds rude to talk to a teacher like this.
선생님, 같이 가시지요. Teacher, let's go together. - This one sounds better.
So, the grammatically correct way is "(으)십시다" but the more commonly used one in daily life is "(으)시지요". I'll show you the both conjugation form!
2. Conjugation Information
(으)십시다 is a shortened form of these two endings; 으십시다 and 십시다. (으)시지요 has 으시지요 and 시지요. As the grammar starts with (으), we can tell the final consonant is the key to the conjugation. If you are a beginner, focus more on 으시지요 part since that is a more commonly used one!
Regular Rules
1. 받침 O
If a stem has the final consonant, attach 으십시다 or 으시지요 to the stem.
앉다 to sit | ||
읽다 to read |
2. 받침 X
If a stem ends with a vowel, in other words, if it ends without a final consonant, use this rule. You'll attach either 십시다 or 시지요.
공부하다 to study | ||
쓰다 to write |
3. ㄹ 받침: Drop ㄹ
If the stem ends with ㄹ, you will erase that first. Then, you'll add either 십시다 or 시지요.
살다 to live | ||
만들다 to make |
B. Irregular Rules
Since you can suggest to do something, you can only attach it to a verb stem. That means you can only take a look at irregular verb rules!
1. ㄷ 받침: Change ㄷ to ㄹ
Like always, change the final consonant to ㄹ first. Then, add 으십시다 or 으시지요.
듣다 to listen |
2. ㅅ받침: Drop ㅅ
When a verb is an irregular ㅅ word, we don't need that ㅅ anymore! Erase the ㅅ first and then attach either 으십시다 or 으시지요.
잇다 to connect |
3. ㅂ받침: Drop ㅂ
When a verb is an irregular ㅂ word, erase that ㅂ first. Also, as you probably know, an irregular ㅂ word always has its one special form! In this case, you will attach 우십시다 or 우시지요.
줍다 to pick up |
3. Negative Form
The negative form of (으)십시다 is "지 마십시다." The negative form of (으)시지요 is "지 마시지요." As 으시지요 has a command meaning as well, it is close to banning someone from doing something.
차도로 걷지 마십시다. Let's not walk on the street.
차도로 걷지 마시지요. Please do not walk on the street.
4. Examples
1
우리가 참으십시다.
Let's be patient.
참다 is a verb, meaning endure, be patient, suppress.
2
저희 집에 가서 식사를 함께 하시지요.
Let's go to my house and eat together.
3
이제 그만 하시지요.
Please stop doing it.
4
나와 평생 함께 사십시다.
Let's live together forever.
5
저와 함께 저기에 좀 가시지요.
저와 함께 저기에 좀 가십시다.
Let's go there with me.
Even though 가십시다 is a formal ending, it sounds less polite than the informal ending 가시지요. As you can see, formal and informal don't necessarily mean more or less polite.
5. Wrap-up & Worksheet: Korean formal ending suggestion
Today, you learned the formal way of suggestion-으십시다. You also learned the informal polite suggestion 으시지요 as well since 으십시다 is not quite a polite ending to use anymore.
Let's practice the conjugation! I prepared the free and printable PDF Korean grammar worksheet for you. Please download and use it to improve your Korean language!
으십시다 is a word in the 하십시오 style family. You'll learn about another formal suggestion that belongs to another formal ending style(하오 style).
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