Non-polite (intimate or plain) style speech

Non-polite (intimate or plain) style speech

In the Korean language, the most important distinction is between the polite style and the non-polite style of speech. The non-polite style of speech is also known as intimate style or plain style speech. Non-polite style speech is used among social equals, by superiors to subordinates, and in intimate relationships.

Non-polite style speech employs different endings, depending on the tense and sentence type, as follows. (See also the intimate style speech chart below.)

a. Statement

• Present

• 지금 돈이 하나도 없어.
  => I have no money now.
  나는 아직 한국어가 서툴러.
  => I'm not yet fluent in Korean.
  여기가 서울역이야.
  => Here is Seoul Station.
• Past
  어제는 돈이 있었어.
  => I had money yesterday.
  어제는 추웠어.
  => It was cold yesterday.
• Future
  내일은 차가 생길 거야.
  => Tomorrow I'll have a car.
  그분이 내년에 선생님이 될 거야.
  => Next year, he will become a teacher.

 b. Question 

• Present 

• 한국에서 전화하니?
  => Are you calling from Korea?
  얘가 네 동생이야?
  => Is this kid your younger sister/brother?
  지금 시간 좀 있니?
  =>Do you have time right now?
• Past
  언제 왔어?
  =>When did you come?
  그 분이 네 선생님이셨어?
  =>Was he your teacher?
  편지 썼니?
  =>Did you write the letter?
  그게 숙제였니?
  =>Was it the homework?
• future
  전화 할 거야?
  =>Will you call?
  전화 할 거니?
  =>Will you call?
  

c. "Let's"

• Present
  
  자, 떠나자.
  => Well, let's take off/leave.
  학교에 가자.
  => Let's go to school.

d. Command

• present
  
  숙제 해.
  => Do your homework.
  밥 먹어(라).
  => Eat your meal.
  집에 일찍 오너라.
  => Come home early.
  

e. Exclamation

• Present
  
  저 나무가 참 빨리 자라는구나!
  => How fast the tree is growing!
  시간이 빨리도 가는구나!
  => Ah, time goes fast!
  조심해, 차가 온다!
  => Watch out, a car is coming!
  날씨가 좋다!
  => /The weather is nice!
  이것이 바로 내가 찾던 것이다!
  => This is just what I was looking for!
  
  
• Past
  
  너희들, 벌써 밥을 먹었구나.
  => All of you have already finished your meal.
  숙제를 다 했다. (만세!)
  => (I) finished all my homework. (Hooray!)

Intimate style speech chart

문장형 Sentence Type	a. 평서문 Statement	b. 의문문 Question	c. 청유문 "Let's"	d. 명령문 Command	e. 감탄문 Exclamation
종결어미 Sentence Ending	-(어/아). -(이)야.	-(어/아)? -니?(-냐?)	-자.	-(어/아). -(어/아)라. -너라/-거라.	-구나! -다!
현재 Present Tense	V. + (어/아). N. + (이)야.	V. + (어/아)? N. + (이)야? V. + 니? N. + (이)니?	V. + 자.	V. + (어/아). V. + (어/아)라. V. + 너라/거라	V. + (는)구나! V. + (ㄴ/는)다! N. + (이)다!
과거 Past Tense	V. + 었/았어. N. + 이었어./였어.	V. + 었/았어? N. + 이었어?/였어? V. + 었/았니? N. + 이었니?/였니?	not applicable (N.A.)	N.A.	V. + 었/았구나! V. + 었/았다! N. + (이)었/였다!
미래 Future Tense	V. + ㄹ/을 거야. N. + ㄹ/일거야	V. + ㄹ/을 거야? V. + ㄹ/일 거니?	N.A.	N.A.	V. + 겠구나! V. + 겠다! N. + (이)겠다!