Imperative -(으)세요 in Korean

Overview

The polite imperative -(으)세요 is the standard way to give polite commands and requests in Korean at the CEFR A2 level. It combines the honorific -(으)시 with the polite ending, creating a respectful command form. The negative imperative "please don't" is -지 마세요. More formal commands use -(으)십시오, while casual commands use -아/어.

How It Works

Level	Positive	Negative
Polite	-(으)세요	-지 마세요
Formal	-(으)십시오	-지 마십시오
Casual	-아/어	-지 마

Stem type	Form	Example
Vowel	-세요	가세요 (please go)
Consonant	-으세요	앉으세요 (please sit)
ㄹ stem	-세요 (ㄹ drops)	만드세요 (please make)

Examples in Context

Korean	Romanization	English	Note
앉으세요.	an-jeu-se-yo	Please sit down.	polite command
잠깐만 기다리세요.	jam-kkan-man gi-da-ri-se-yo	Please wait a moment.	polite request
걱정하지 마세요.	geok-jeong-ha-ji ma-se-yo	Please don't worry.	negative
조심하세요.	jo-sim-ha-se-yo	Please be careful.	polite warning
많이 드세요.	ma-ni deu-se-yo	Please eat a lot.	honorific verb
들어오세요.	deu-reo-o-se-yo	Please come in.	invitation
여기 보세요.	yeo-gi bo-se-yo	Look here, please.	attention
전화해 주세요.	jeon-hwa-hae ju-se-yo	Please call me.	request with 주다
포기하지 마세요!	po-gi-ha-ji ma-se-yo	Don't give up!	encouragement

Common Mistakes

Using -(으)세요 to yourself

• Wrong: 제가 하세요 (I'll do it, with honorific)
• Right: 제가 할게요 (I'll do it)
• Why: -(으)세요 is a command to someone else and contains the honorific -(으)시, which cannot be used for oneself.

Forgetting 주세요 for requests

• Wrong: 커피 하세요 (meaning "please give me coffee")
• Right: 커피 주세요 (please give me coffee)
• Why: 주세요 (please give) is the standard polite request form. -(으)세요 alone means "please do (it yourself)."

Using wrong negative form

• Wrong: 안 가세요 (meaning "please don't go" as command)
• Right: 가지 마세요 (please don't go)
• Why: 안 가세요? sounds like a question ("aren't you going?"). The imperative negative is always -지 마세요.

Usage Notes

-(으)세요 is heard everywhere in Korean daily life: stores (어서 오세요 — welcome), restaurants (주문하세요 — please order), and general interactions. The pattern verb + 아/어 주세요 (please do X for me) is extremely productive: 도와주세요 (please help), 가르쳐 주세요 (please teach me), 설명해 주세요 (please explain).

Practice Tips

• Practice common daily commands: 앉으세요, 기다리세요, 드세요, 오세요.
• Learn the -지 마세요 pattern for "don't": 만지지 마세요 (don't touch), 걱정하지 마세요 (don't worry).
• Master the request form: verb + 아/어 주세요 for polite requests.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Honorific -(으)시 — -(으)세요 is the honorific in imperative form