Korean Honorific Verbs: 드시다, 계시다, 주무시다
10-Second Answer
Most Korean verbs become honorific just by adding -시- (as covered on the honorifics page). But a handful of very common verbs are irregular — they swap to a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORD instead: 먹다 (eat) → 드시다, 있다 (be/exist) → 계시다, 자다 (sleep) → 주무시다.
The Irregular Set
| Plain verb | Honorific verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 먹다 (meokda) | 드시다 (deusida) | to eat |
| 있다 (issda) | 계시다 (gyesida) | to be / exist / stay |
| 자다 (jada) | 주무시다 (jumusida) | to sleep |
| 말하다 (malhada) | 말씀하시다 (malsseumhasida) | to speak / say |
| 죽다 (jukda) | 돌아가시다 (doragasida) | to die (softened, respectful) |
You've already met three of these individually on this site: 계시다 on the 있다/없다 page, 주무시다 on the good night page, and the general honorific pattern on the honorifics page — this page ties them together as one recognizable set.
Quick Examples
할아버지, 진지 드세요.
harabeoji, jinji deuseyo.
Grandfather, please eat.
진지 is even the honorific NOUN for "meal" (vs plain 밥) — nouns can carry honorifics too.
어머니는 방에 계세요.
eomeonineun bang-e gyeseyo.
Mother is in the room.
할머니께서 주무세요.
halmeoni-kkeseo jumuseyo.
Grandmother is sleeping.
께서 — the honorific subject marker, often paired with these verbs.
Why Irregular Instead of Just Adding -시-?
These verbs are used so frequently, and are so central to daily respect-showing (eating, sleeping, being present, speaking, dying), that Korean developed fully separate honorific words for them over time rather than relying purely on the regular -시- pattern. It's similar to how English has irregular forms for its most common verbs (go/went, not "goed") — high-frequency words often develop their own special forms.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Adding -시- to the plain verb instead of using the irregular form
먹으시다 isn't how this works — 드시다 is a completely separate word, not 먹다 + 시.
Mistake #2 — Forgetting the noun-level honorifics too
진지 (honorific "meal," vs plain 밥) shows honorifics don't stop at verbs — some nouns have their own respectful forms as well.
Mini Quiz
1. What is the honorific form of 먹다 (to eat)?
2. What is the honorific form of 자다 (to sleep)?
3. What does 께서 typically pair with?
Related Knowledge
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Korean Question Words: 누구, 언제, 어디, 얼마나
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Start today's study →Last updated: 2026-08-10 · Written and reviewed by a native Korean speaker.