Korean Job Discussion Forums

[skookum]

Has anyone here ever used, or heard used, the word "chapsushiro" - this means "to eat" in extra-polite language. There seems to be a number of Korean words which you use it talking to who? - the yangban maybe - how do you tell a yangban anyway? Could I be a yangban, and how would I know it if I became one? Has anyone gotten any flak about using -eyo endings instead of -mnida endings? How, for those who've been here a while, does your perception of Korean word usage vary from what the books teach.....

[chance2005]

From my experience, Korean language books for foreigners are careful to teach you polite language so you do not offend anyone. It is better to be overly polite than rude. However, even when I worked in Korea at a company I never used "imnida" and always the ending "��". With liberal use of "�ϼ̾��" "�ϼ���" and words such as "����" instead of "�̸�" when asking for names or "����" instead of "����" when asking age. However when speaking to a high level boss with whom you have little contact with on a daily basis it is best to use "imnida". In work situations Koreans tend to be very polite to each other especially at first meeting. It is similar to using "Sir" when first meeting and allowing the other party to say"please call me by my first name" at which time you don't have to be so polite. However there are certain words, terms that seem to be reserved for senior citizens, such as the verb ending, "�ʽÿ�".
As for "chapsushiro" as you note in your message. I always used and always heard this used "�Ļ��ϼ̾��?" instead of "�� �Ծ����?". When asking if someone ate, however purely as a greeting. I am not really sure about "���". Though I think you would use it for a senior citizen or say for example your in-laws. As for who is a yangban and who not. It is safe to speak to all senior citizens as though they are yangban. And it is safe to speak to your co-workers, whether older or younger, and your boss using polite language.