Humble Vocabulary in Korean

Overview

Humble vocabulary (겸양어) complements honorific vocabulary by lowering the speaker's own status relative to the listener. At the CEFR B1 level, this concept covers special words and expressions used when referring to yourself or your actions when addressing superiors. While honorific vocabulary elevates the other person, humble vocabulary lowers yourself.

The most basic example is 저 (I, humble) versus 나 (I, casual). Korean has several dedicated humble verbs: 드리다 (give), 뵙다 (see/meet), 여쭙다 (ask), and 말씀드리다 (tell). These are essential in professional and formal contexts.

How It Works

Humble Pronouns and Nouns

Plain	Humble	Meaning
나	저	I
우리	저희	we/our
이름	- (no special form, but use 저 + 이름)	name
집	저희 집	our house

Humble Verbs

Plain	Humble	Meaning
주다	드리다	give (to superior)
보다/만나다	뵙다	see/meet (a superior)
묻다	여쭙다/여쭤보다	ask (a superior)
말하다	말씀드리다	tell/say (to a superior)
데리다	모시다	accompany/attend (a superior)

Examples in Context

Korean	Romanization	English	Note
저는 학생입니다.	jeo-neun hak-saeng-im-ni-da	I am a student.	humble "I"
처음 뵙겠습니다.	cheo-eum boep-get-seum-ni-da	Nice to meet you.	humble "meet"
여쭤볼 게 있어요.	yeo-jjwo-bol ge i-sseo-yo	I have something to ask.	humble "ask"
말씀드릴 게 있습니다.	mal-sseum-deu-ril ge it-seum-ni-da	I have something to tell you.	humble "tell"
선물을 드릴게요.	seon-mu-reul deu-ril-ge-yo	I'll give you a gift.	humble "give"
모시고 가겠습니다.	mo-si-go ga-get-seum-ni-da	I will accompany you.	humble "accompany"
저희 회사입니다.	jeo-hui hoe-sa-im-ni-da	It is our company.	humble "our"
도와 드리겠습니다.	do-wa deu-ri-get-seum-ni-da	I will help you.	humble favor

Common Mistakes

Using humble forms for the listener

• Wrong: 선생님이 뵙겠습니다 (teacher meets humbly)
• Right: (제가) 선생님을 뵙겠습니다 (I humbly meet the teacher)
• Why: Humble forms lower the speaker, not the listener. The respected person gets honorific forms, not humble ones.

Not pairing humble with appropriate formality

• Wrong: 드릴게 (humble verb with casual ending)
• Right: 드릴게요 or 드리겠습니다
• Why: Humble vocabulary is used in polite/formal contexts. Pairing it with casual endings creates an inconsistency.

Usage Notes

Humble expressions are essential in Korean business culture, job interviews, and formal interactions. The phrase 처음 뵙겠습니다 is the standard first-meeting greeting in professional settings. 말씀드리다 and 여쭙다 are standard in phone calls and emails to superiors. Not using humble forms in appropriate contexts sounds presumptuous or disrespectful.

Practice Tips

• Practice business introduction: 처음 뵙겠습니다. 저는 [company]의 [name]입니다.
• Learn humble-honorific pairs: 주다/드리다, 보다/뵙다, 묻다/여쭙다, 말하다/말씀드리다.
• Practice phone etiquette: 여쭤볼 게 있는데요... 말씀드릴 게 있습니다...

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Honorific Vocabulary — honorific and humble work as complementary systems