저 · 드리다 · 여쭙다 – Korean humble speech (겸양어)
- Meaning
- lowering yourself to show respect
- Level
- Intermediate
- Topic
- Honorifics & speech levels
Instead of raising the other person, humble forms lower the speaker: 나 → 저, 주다 → 드리다, 묻다 → 여쭙다, 보다 → 뵙다.
Key rules
- Humble inquiry
- Shows deference
- Humble meeting
- Business context
- Business essential
- Humble pronoun
- Always use with elders
- Humble 'we/our'
Examples with 저 · 드리다 · 여쭙다
The highlighted part is the grammar form.
- 저는 김민수입니다 Jeoneun Kim Minsumnida I am Kim Minsu (humble) 저 is humble form of 나 (I). · Base form: 나→저
- 저희 집에 오세요 Jeohui jibe oseyo Please come to our home 저희 is humble form of 우리 (we/our). · Base form: 우리→저희
- 제가 드릴게요 Jega deurilgeyo I will give (you) (humble) 드리다 is humble form of 주다 when giving to respected person. · Base form: 주다→드리다
- 제가 여쭤볼게요 Jega yeojjwobolgeyo I will ask (humble) 여쫗다 is humble form of 묻다/물어보다. · Base form: 묻다→여쫗다
- 제가 가겠습니다 Jega gagetseumnida I will go (formal, humble) Using 제가 with -게습니다 for humility. · Base form: 가다
- 내일 뵙겠습니다 Naeil boepgetseumnida I will see (you) tomorrow (humble) 뽙다 is humble for 보다/만나다 when meeting respected person. · Base form: 보다/만나다→뽙다
- 선물을 잘 받았습니다 Seonmureul jal badatseumnida I received the gift well 받다 with formal ending in humble context. · Base form: 받다
- 제가 하겠습니다 Jega hagetseumnida I will do it (humble) Using 제가 with -겠습니다. · Base form: 하다
- 여쬰 봐도 될까요 Yeojwo bwado doelkkayo? May I ask? 묻다 → 여쫓다/여쫗다 (humble).
- 사장님을 뽈었어요 Sajangnim-eul boe-eosseoyo I met the president 보다/만나다 → 뽙다/뽈다 (humble).
- 저는 김민수라고 합니다 Jeoneun Kim Minsu-rago hamnida I am Minsu Kim Humble self-introduction.
- 제가 가져다 드릴게요 Jega gajyeoda deurilgeyo I will bring it for you 가져다 주다 → 가져다 드리다.
Vocabulary in these examples
제가I (humble)
잘 받았습니다received well
드리다give (humble)
죄송합니다sorry
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