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Korean Honorific Verbs

Twelfth graders master Korean honorific verbs (높임말) — special verbs used to show respect to elders: 먹다→드시다 (eat), 자다→주무시다 (sleep), 있다→계시다 (be), plus humble 드리다 (give). Using them correctly is the height of Korean politeness.

Grade 12Honorific Verbs50 minutes1 class periodACTFL / World LanguagesExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Learn honorific verbs.
  • ✓Match plain to honorific.
  • ✓Show respect.
  • ✓Speak to elders.
Essential Question

How do you show deep respect in Korean? Some verbs change completely.

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Honorific Verb

Project this and match each Korean honorific verb to its meaning — tap the verb, then tap the meaning.

🙇 Match each honorific verb to its meaningTry it
Honorific
Meaning
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The Lesson · Language Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Speak · Reflect)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — Deep Respect

6 min

How do you show the highest respect to elders in Korean?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say “meokda” then “deusida.”
  • Ask why it changes.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Honorific Verbs

12 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match the Honorific Verb.
  • Match each pair.
  • Note gyesida, deusida.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Make a verb honorific.
  • Say “deuseyo” (please eat).
  • Use gyeseyo.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Change.
  • Say it.
  • Use it.
4

Speak — Speak

13 min

Students speak.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Speak to a “grandparent” respectfully.
  • Offer food with deuseyo.
  • Trade roles.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Speak.
  • Offer.
  • Trade.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name an honorific verb.
  • Say its plain form.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (Intermediate-Mid).

ACTFL
Cultures 2.1

Explore respect & honorifics.

ACTFL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: address elders.

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.2

Compare honorific systems.

ACTFL
Communication 1.3

Presentational: use respectful speech.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Plain ↔ honorific pairs.
  • Who-to-use-with chart.
  • Model aloud.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with deusida & gyesida.
  • Match one pair at a time.
  • Use examples.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add 꺼서 (honorific marker).
  • Rewrite a sentence for an elder.
  • Role-play a family dinner.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🙇Honorific verb cards
  • 💻Match the Honorific Verb
  • 👥Who-to-use chart
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

높임말 (nopimmal)honorific speech드시다 (deusida)to eat (hon.)주무시다 (jumusida)to sleep (hon.)계시다 (gyesida)to be / stay (hon.)말씀하시다 (malsseumhasida)to speak (hon.)드리다 (deurida)to give (humble)꺼서 (kkeseo)honorific subject marker존경 (jongyeong)respect
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is the honorific form of 먹다 (to eat)?
드시다 (deusida).
QUESTION 2
What does 계시다 (gyesida) mean?
To be / stay (honorific).
QUESTION 3
Why does Korean use honorific verbs?
To show respect to elders and superiors.

Reflect: honorific verbs.

Have students rewrite one everyday sentence to speak respectfully to an elder. A printable Korean honorifics sheet is in the World Languages library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Korean Honorific VerbsFlip
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Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Korean Honorific VerbsQuiz
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Korean Honorific VerbsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: 계시다 (gyesida), 꺼서 (kkeseo), 높임말 (nopimmal), 드리다 (deurida), 드시다 (deusida), 말씀하시다 (malsseumhasida), 존경 (jongyeong), 주무시다 (jumusida)
  1. to eat (hon.)
  2. to speak (hon.)
  3. respect
  4. to give (humble)
  5. to be / stay (hon.)
  6. honorific subject marker
  7. honorific speech
  8. to sleep (hon.)

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is the honorific form of 먹다 (to eat)?
  2. What does 계시다 (gyesida) mean?
  3. Why does Korean use honorific verbs?
Answer key — Part A: 1) 드시다 (deusida) · 2) 말씀하시다 (malsseumhasida) · 3) 존경 (jongyeong) · 4) 드리다 (deurida) · 5) 계시다 (gyesida) · 6) 꺼서 (kkeseo) · 7) 높임말 (nopimmal) · 8) 주무시다 (jumusida)
Part B: 1) 드시다 (deusida). 2) To be / stay (honorific). 3) To show respect to elders and superiors.