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KOREAN VERB

말씀하다

to speak, to say (honorific, of someone respected)

  • #14 most used
  • 하다 verb

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

현재 · now and habits: polite, formal and casual speech

Form Polite Formal Casual
AffirmativeI speak
NegativeI don’t speak

Past

과거 · finished actions: 갔어요, 갔습니다, 갔어

Form Polite Formal Casual
AffirmativeI spoke
NegativeI didn’t speak

Future

미래 · plans and guesses: -(으)ㄹ 거예요

Form Polite Formal Casual
AffirmativeI will speak
NegativeI won’t speak

Honorific

높임말 · to or about an elder: the -시- forms

Form Polite Formal
PresentI speak (respectfully)
PastI spoke (respectfully)
FutureI will speak (respectfully)

Connectives

연결 어미 · and, so, if, because, but: joining two sentences

  1. And (-고) speaking, and…, and…
  2. So, and then (-아/어서) speaking, and…, so…
  3. If, when (-(으)면) if I speak
  4. Because (-(으)니까) because I speak
  5. But (-지만) I speak, but…

Requests and commands

명령형 · -(으)세요, -(으)십시오, the casual form, -지 마세요

  1. Please (-(으)세요) please speak
  2. Formal request (-(으)십시오) please speak (formal)
  3. Plain command speak! (casual)
  4. Please don’t please don’t speak

How to use 말씀하다

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    우리 할머니는 늘 괜찮다고만 말씀해요.

    My grandma always just says she's fine.

  2. Past

    사장님이 내일 회의가 없다고 말씀했어요.

    The boss said there's no meeting tomorrow.

  3. Future

    자세한 건 선생님이 수업 때 말씀할 거예요.

    The teacher will tell you the details in class.

  4. Honorific

    아까 할아버지께서 저한테 뭐라고 말씀하셨어요?

    What did Grandpa say to me earlier?

  5. Connectives

    천천히 말씀하면 제가 다 알아들어요.

    If you speak slowly, I understand everything.

  6. Requests and commands

    편하게 말씀하세요. 다 듣고 있어요.

    Please speak freely. I'm listening.

Good to know

  • 말씀 is the honorific word for 말: an elder 말씀하세요, and you 말씀드려요 to them.

Where you hear 말씀하다

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Korean · Intermediate Level 2

  • 교감 선생님이 말씀하세요. The vice-principal is speaking.
  • 할머니가 어제 말씀하셨어요. Grandma said so yesterday.
  • 내일 아침에 말씀하실 거예요. He'll tell you tomorrow morning.

Korean · Intermediate Level 3

  • 교감 선생님이 말씀하세요. The vice-principal is speaking.
  • 할머니가 어제 말씀하셨어요. Grandma said so yesterday.
  • 내일 아침에 말씀하실 거예요. He'll tell you tomorrow morning.
27
The seal

Intermediate Level 2 · 내년에는 먼저 말씀하세요.

Needs a subscription 3
Booking the room

Intermediate Level 3 · 천천히 말씀해 주시겠어요?

Needs a subscription 28
Grandma's blessing

Intermediate Level 3 · 아무한테나 그렇게 말씀하셔.

Needs a subscription 5
A second job

Advanced Level 2 · 네, 말씀하십시오.

Needs a subscription 27
What Mrs. Choi wanted

Advanced Level 2 · 오늘은 안 바빠요. 말씀하세요.

Needs a subscription 28
A year's lease

Advanced Level 2 · 말씀해 주시는 대신에 · 말씀해 주시는 대신에 과학 쇼 해 드릴게요.

Needs a subscription 11
Producer Yoon's call

Fluency Level 1 · 네, 말씀하세요.

Needs a subscription 26
Shoes on the wrong feet

Fluency Level 2 · 할아버지는 반대로 말씀하셨어요.

Needs a subscription

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: 하다 verb.