-(으)십시오
Please Do
-십시오 is a formal command ending, like 'Please do...' in English. It's more formal than -세요.
How It Works
-십시오 is a formal and polite imperative ending used to give commands, instructions, or make requests. It is the command equivalent of the formal declarative -ㅂ/습니다 ending and is one of the highest levels of politeness.
Usage:
You will often encounter this form in:
- Public announcements (e.g., on subways, in department stores)
- Written instructions or signs
- Formal presentations or speeches
- When staff address customers in a very formal manner
Conjugation Rules:
1. Verb stem ends in a vowel: Add -십시오
- 가다 (to go) → 가 + 십시오 → 가십시오 (Please go.)
- 하다 (to do) → 하 + 십시오 → 하십시오 (Please do.)
2. Verb stem ends in a consonant: Add -으십시오
- 앉다 (to sit) → 앉 + 으십시오 → 앉으십시오 (Please sit.)
- 읽다 (to read) → 읽 + 으십시오 → 읽으십시오 (Please read.)
3. Verb stem ends in ㄹ: Drop the ㄹ and add -십시오
- 만들다 (to make) → 만드 + 십시오 → 만드십시오 (Please make.)
- 열다 (to open) → 여 + 십시오 → 여십시오 (Please open.)
Comparison with -세요:
Both -십시오 and -세요 mean 'please do', but -십시오 is significantly more formal and less personal. -세요 is used in everyday polite conversations, while -십시오 is reserved for more official or public contexts.
Examples (4)
- 여기에 앉으십시오.
Please sit here.
Word by Word: Here sit (please).
- 다음 역에서 내리십시오.
Please get off at the next station.
Word by Word: Next station at get off (please).
This is a common type of announcement you would hear on a subway or bus.
- 안으로 들어오십시오.
Please come inside.
Word by Word: Inside to come in (please).
- 이 문을 여십시오.
Please open this door.
Word by Word: This door open (please).
The verb 열다 (to open) ends in a ㄹ consonant. The ㄹ is dropped before adding -십시오.
Common Mistakes
Using -십시오 in casual conversation with friends.
Different Meaning(친구에게) 빨리 오십시오.Better(친구에게) 빨리 와.-십시오 is very formal and sounds unnatural or distant when used with close friends or family. Use informal endings like -아/어 instead.
Attaching -십시오 to descriptive verbs (adjectives).
Different Meaning행복하십시오.Better행복하게 지내십시오.The imperative form -십시오 is used with action verbs to command an action. While you might hear '행복하십시오' (Be happy) as a set phrase, you cannot generally attach it to other adjectives. To express a similar meaning, it's better to use an action verb like '지내다' (to live, to spend time).
Learn This First
To use this very polite request form, you need conjugation and honorific knowledge.
Related Patterns
- -(으)세요Please
-세요 is also a polite command ('Please do...'), but it is less formal than -십시오 and more common in everyday polite conversation. -십시오 is typically reserved for more formal or public settings.
- -ㅂ/습니다Formal Polite Ending
-십시오 is the imperative (command) form of the formal polite speech level, while -ㅂ/습니다 is the declarative (statement) form. They belong to the same level of formality.
- -지 마세요Please Don't
This is a common negative command ('Please don't...'). The more formal equivalent is -지 마십시오. Both are used to ask someone not to do something, with -지 마십시오 being more formal.
- -아/어 주세요Please Give Me
While both are requests, -아/어 주세요 ('Please do... for me') implies the action benefits the speaker. -십시오 is a more general command or instruction that doesn't necessarily imply a direct benefit to the speaker.