-(으)세요
Please
Use -세요 to politely ask someone to do something, like 'Please sit down'.
How It Works
-세요 is one of the most common and important verb endings in Korean. It's used to make polite requests, give instructions, or issue commands to someone you are showing respect to, such as an elder, a teacher, a customer, or a stranger.
It's part of the standard polite speech style, 해요체.
Conjugation Rules:
The ending changes based on the last letter of the verb stem.
- Verb stem ends in a vowel: Add -세요.
Example: 가다 (to go) → 가 + 세요 → 가세요 (Please go.) - Verb stem ends in a consonant: Add -으세요.
Example: 읽다 (to read) → 읽 + 으세요 → 읽으세요 (Please read.) - Verb stem ends in ㄹ: Drop the ㄹ and add -세요.
Example: 만들다 (to make) → 만드 + 세요 → 만드세요 (Please make.)
Usage in Questions:
-세요 can also be used to politely ask a question about someone's actions. In this case, the intonation rises at the end of the sentence.
Example: 어디 가세요? (Where are you going?)
This ending contains the honorific marker -시-, which is why it's used when speaking respectfully to others.
Examples (5)
- 여기에 앉으세요.
Please sit here.
Word by Word: Here sit (please).
- 책을 많이 읽으세요.
Please read a lot of books.
Word by Word: Books a lot read (please).
- 이쪽으로 오세요.
Please come this way.
Word by Word: This way come (please).
- 천천히 말씀하세요.
Please speak slowly.
Word by Word: Slowly speak (please).
말씀하다 is the honorific form of 말하다 (to speak).
- 지금 어디 가세요?
Where are you going now?
Word by Word: Now where go?
This is an example of -세요 used as a polite question.
Common Mistakes
Confusing -세요 with -아/어 주세요 when asking for a favor.
Different Meaning창문 닫으세요.Better창문 닫아 주세요.-세요 is a general polite command. '창문 닫으세요' sounds like you are simply instructing someone to close the window. -아/어 주세요 is used to ask someone to do an action for your benefit. '창문 닫아 주세요' means 'Please close the window (for me)'.
Using -세요 to describe your own actions.
Not Quite제가 먼저 가세요.Better제가 먼저 갈게요.-세요 is a command or request directed at the listener. You cannot use it for yourself. To state your own intention, you can use endings like -ㄹ게요 or -겠습니다.
Learn This First
To use this polite request form, you need to understand verb conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -아/어 주세요Please Give Me
Both are polite requests, but -아/어 주세요 specifically asks someone to do something for the speaker's benefit, while -세요 is a more general polite command or instruction.
- -지 마세요Please Don't
This is the negative version of -세요. It means 'Please don't do...'. For example, '가지 마세요' (Please don't go).
- -(으)십시오Please Do
-십시오 is a more formal version of -세요. You'll often see it in public announcements, signs, or very formal settings.
- -(으)시-Honorific Marker
-세요 is built from the honorific marker -시- combined with the polite -요 ending. Understanding -시- helps explain why -세요 is used to show respect.