께서
Quick answer: 께서 means the honorific form of 이/가.
How to form it
이/가 → 께서 · 은/는 → 께서는 · 아버지께서 다니세요
In Korean: 이/가 → 께서 은/는 → 께서는 아버지께서 다니세요
What to know
께서 replaces 이/가 and 께 replaces 에게. In everyday speech many Koreans use plain 이/가 with -(으)시- and it sounds fine; 께서 belongs in careful speech and writing. Recognise it first, use it later.
Examples
- 아버지께서 회사에 다니세요.My father works at a company.
- 할머니께서 진지를 드세요.My grandmother is eating.
- 선생님께 말씀하세요.Speak to the teacher.
Where it's taught
HanDa Level 1 (TOPIK I), Lesson 18: 아버지는 회사에 다니세요 — My father works at a company. Also in the Level 1 book.
Learned in the same lesson: -(으)시-.
Practise 께서 out loud
In the HanDa app this is Level 1, Lesson 18 — drills, a speaking check and an AI teacher that corrects what you say. Free for 7 days.