Korean · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 10 of 12
Formal writing
공식적인 글쓰기Gongsikjeogin geulsseugi
Write a formal email to an official: set phrases like 안녕하십니까, -고자 합니다 and -아 / -어 주시기 바랍니다, written connectors such as 그러나 and -(으)므로, and 한다체 for reports.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Open and close a formal email or letter: … 담당자님께, 안녕하십니까, … 드림
- Make formal requests with -고자 합니다, -아 / -어 주시기 바랍니다 and -(으)면 감사하겠습니다
- Link ideas in writing with 그러나, 따라서, 또한, 및, -(으)며 and -(으)므로
- Choose 합니다체 for letters and 한다체 for reports
Listen
In Daejeon, Lim Hana helps her neighbour Mr Gu Bongsu, 74, write an email to the district office about a broken streetlight and an icy pavement. She speaks politely with honorifics; he uses 반말. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Mr Gu
하나야, 바쁜데 미안하다. 구청에 이메일을 좀 보내야 하는데 나는 컴퓨터를 잘 못 해서 말이야.
Hanaya, bappeunde mianhada. Gucheonge imeireul jom bonaeya haneunde naneun keompyuteoreul jal mot haeseo mariya.
Hana, sorry to bother you when you're busy. I need to send an email to the district office, but I'm no good with computers, you see.
Hana
괜찮아요, 할아버지. 제가 도와 드릴게요. 무슨 일 때문에 그러세요?
Gwaenchanayo, harabeoji. Jega dowa deurilgeyo. Museun il ttaemune geureoseyo?
That's fine. I'll help you. What's it about?
Mr Gu
우리 아파트 앞 골목에 가로등이 벌써 두 주째 고장이야. 밤에는 너무 어두워서 다니기가 무서워. 게다가 인도가 꽁꽁 얼어서 어제는 하마터면 넘어질 뻔했어.
Uri apateu ap golmoge garodeungi beolsseo du jujjae gojangiya. Bameneun neomu eoduwoseo danigiga museowo. Gedaga indoga kkongkkong eoreoseo eojeneun hamateomyeon neomeojil ppeonhaesseo.
The streetlight in the alley in front of our building has been broken for two weeks now. It's so dark at night that I'm scared to walk there. And the pavement is frozen solid, so yesterday I nearly fell over.
Hana
어머, 다치실 뻔했네요. 그럼 민원을 넣어야겠어요. 구청 홈페이지에 담당자 이메일 주소가 있을 거예요. 공식적인 글이니까 합니다체로 쓸게요.
Eomeo, dachisil ppeonhaenneyo. Geureom minwoneul neoeoyagesseoyo. Gucheong hompeijie damdangja imeil jusoga isseul geoyeyo. Gongsikjeogin geurinikka hamnidachero sseulgeyo.
Oh no, you could have been hurt. Then we should file a complaint. The email address of the official in charge should be on the district office website. It's an official letter, so I'll write it in the formal style.
Mr Gu
그래, 잘 좀 써 줘. 근데 처음에 뭐라고 써야 되냐? 구청장님께 쓰면 되나?
Geurae, jal jom sseo jwo. Geunde cheoeume mworago sseoya doenya? Gucheongjangnimkke sseumyeon doena?
Right, write it nicely for me. But what do you put at the start? Do I write to the district mayor?
Hana
구청장님께 직접 쓰실 필요는 없어요. 받는 사람은 도로 관리 담당자님으로 하고, 안녕하십니까로 인사를 드린 다음에 용건을 쓰시면 돼요.
Gucheongjangnimkke jikjeop sseusil piryoneun eopseoyo. Banneun sarameun doro gwalli damdangjanimeuro hago, annyeonghasimnikkaro insareul deurin daeume yonggeoneul sseusimyeon dwaeyo.
You don't need to write to the mayor himself. Address it to the official in charge of roads, greet them with *안녕하십니까* (annyeonghasimnikka), and then say what it's about.
Mr Gu
용건이라... 그냥 빨리 고쳐 달라고 쓰면 되잖아. 누가 넘어지면 누가 책임질 거냐고!
Yonggeonira... Geunyang ppalli gochyeo dallago sseumyeon doejana. Nuga neomeojimyeon nuga chaegimjil geonyago!
What it's about... Just write that they should fix it quickly. Who's going to take responsibility if someone falls, I'd like to know!
Hana
할아버지 마음은 이해하지만 공식적인 글에서는 화를 내기보다 정중하게 쓰는 게 좋아요. 이렇게 써 볼게요. 주민들이 큰 불편을 겪고 있으므로 신속한 조치를 취해 주시기 바랍니다.
Harabeoji maeumeun ihaehajiman gongsikjeogin geureseoneun hwareul naegiboda jeongjunghage sseuneun ge joayo. Ireoke sseo bolgeyo. Jumindeuri keun bulpyeoneul gyeokgo isseumeuro sinsokhan jochireul chwihae jusigi baramnida.
I understand how you feel, but in an official letter it's better to be polite than angry. I'll write it like this: as residents are suffering great inconvenience, we ask that you take prompt action.
Mr Gu
오, 그거 좋네. 역시 배운 사람은 다르구나. 아, 그리고 사진도 같이 보내 줘. 어제 내가 찍어 놨어.
O, geugeo jonne. Yeoksi baeun sarameun dareuguna. A, geurigo sajindo gachi bonae jwo. Eoje naega jjigeo nwasseo.
Oh, that's good. Educated people really are different. Oh, and send the photos too. I took some yesterday.
Hana
네, 사진은 첨부할게요. 끝에는 빠른 답변을 주시면 감사하겠다고 쓰고, 할아버지 성함 뒤에 드림을 붙일게요. 연락처도 남겨야 하는데 전화번호 좀 불러 주시겠어요?
Ne, sajineun cheombuhalgeyo. Kkeuteneun ppareun dapbyeoneul jusimyeon gamsahagetdago sseugo, harabeoji seongham dwie deurimeul buchilgeyo. Yeollakcheodo namgyeoya haneunde jeonhwabeonho jom bulleo jusigesseoyo?
Yes, I'll attach the photos. At the end I'll write that we'd be grateful for a quick reply, and I'll put *드림* (deurim) after your name. We should also leave contact details, so could you tell me your phone number?
Mr Gu
번호는 이따가 내가 불러 줄게. 근데 드림은 뭐냐? 내가 뭘 드리는 건데?
Beonhoneun ittaga naega bulleo julge. Geunde deurimeun mwonya? Naega mwol deurineun geonde?
I'll read you the number in a moment. But what's *드림* (deurim)? What am I giving them?
Hana
편지를 드린다는 뜻이에요. 읽는 분을 높이는 표현이에요. 윗사람께는 올림이라고도 써요. 자, 다 됐어요. 한번 읽어 보시고 괜찮으시면 보낼게요.
Pyeonjireul deurindaneun tteusieyo. Ingneun buneul nopineun pyohyeonieyo. Witsaramkkeneun ollimiragodo sseoyo. Ja, da dwaesseoyo. Hanbeon ilgeo bosigo gwaenchaneusimyeon bonaelgeyo.
It means you're humbly giving them the letter. It shows respect to the person reading it. To someone senior, people also write *올림* (ollim). There, it's done. Have a read, and if it's all right, I'll send it.
Understand
Formal emails and letters
A formal email in Korean follows a fixed pattern, and every part is in (hamnidache) with honorifics. Start with the recipient and -께 (-kke): (doro gwalli damdangjanimkke), to the official in charge of roads. Official letters from an office to a citizen use (gwiha), a very formal “you”: (Gu Bongsu gwiha). Then greet with (annyeonghasimnikka) and introduce yourself: (jeoneun Dunsandonge saneun Gu Bongsurago hamnida).
State your purpose with -고자 합니다 (-goja hamnida), I would like to, and the topic with -과 / -와 관련하여 (-gwa / -wa gwallyeonhayeo), regarding. Ask with -아 / -어 주시기 바랍니다 (-a / -eo jusigi baramnida), please, or more softly with -(으)면 감사하겠습니다 (-(eu)myeon gamsahagetseumnida), I would be grateful if. Sign off with your name and (deurim), humbly given, or (ollim) to someone senior.
| Part | Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| recipient | (doro gwalli damdangjanimkke) | to the official in charge of roads |
| greeting | (annyeonghasimnikka) | hello (formal) |
| purpose | (garodeung gojanggwa gwallyeonhayeo munuideurimnida) | I am writing regarding a broken streetlight |
| intention | (gaeseoneul yocheonghagoja hamnida) | I would like to request an improvement |
| request | (hwaginhae jusigi baramnida) | please check |
| soft request | (ppareun dapbyeoneul jusimyeon gamsahagetseumnida) | I would be grateful for a quick reply |
| attachment | (gwallyeon sajineul cheombuhamnida) | I attach the relevant photos |
| signature | (Gu Bongsu deurim) | from Gu Bongsu |
Written connectors
Written Korean links ideas with words you rarely hear in conversation. (geureona), however, replaces spoken (geunde) or (hajiman); (ttaraseo), therefore, replaces (geuraeseo); (ttohan), also, furthermore, begins a new point. (mit), and, joins nouns only: (garodeung mit indo), the streetlight and the pavement.
Two endings join clauses in writing. -(으)며 (-(eu)myeo) means “and” or “while”, like a written -고 (-go): (indoga eoreo isseumyeo maeu mikkeureopda), the pavement is frozen and very slippery. -(으)므로 (-(eu)meuro) means “because, as”, a formal -아서 / -어서 (-aseo / -eoseo): (noini mani danimeuro wiheomhada), it is dangerous because many elderly people walk there.
| Written | Spoken | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| (geureona) | (geunde, hajiman) | however, but |
| (ttaraseo) | (geuraeseo) | therefore |
| (ttohan) | (geurigo, tto) | also, furthermore |
| (mit) | (hago, rang) | and (between nouns) |
| -(으)며 (-(eu)myeo) | -고 (-go) | and, while |
| -(으)므로 (-(eu)meuro) | -아서 / -어서 (-aseo / -eoseo) | because, as |
합니다체 in letters, 한다체 in reports
A letter or email speaks to someone, so it uses (hamnidache). A report, a notice or an essay speaks to no one in particular, so it uses the plain (handache), which you know from the news: -는다 / -ㄴ다 (-neunda / -nda) for verbs, the plain stem + -다 (-da) for adjectives. Hana's email says (jochiga piryohamnida); a report from the district office on the same problem would say (jochiga piryohada). The reply to a citizen goes back to : (gwihaui minwone daehae dapbyeondeurimnida), we are replying to your complaint.
- 가로등이 고장 났다. 그러나 아직 수리되지 않았다.Garodeungi gojang natda. Geureona ajik suridoeji anatda.The streetlight has broken down. However, it has not yet been repaired.
- 인도가 얼어 있으며 노인이 많이 다니므로 매우 위험하다.Indoga eoreo isseumyeo noini mani danimeuro maeu wiheomhada.The pavement is frozen, and as many elderly people walk there, it is very dangerous.
- 따라서 가로등 수리 및 제설 작업을 요청한다.Ttaraseo garodeung suri mit jeseol jageobeul yocheonghanda.We therefore request repair of the streetlight and clearing of the ice.
- 주민들이 큰 불편을 겪고 있습니다. 신속한 조치를 취해 주시기 바랍니다.Jumindeuri keun bulpyeoneul gyeokgo itseumnida. Sinsokhan jochireul chwihae jusigi baramnida.Residents are suffering great inconvenience. We ask that you take prompt action.
More in the grammar: Formal and written Korean
New words
- 가로등garodeungstreetlight · (golmok), alley; (bameneun eoduwoyo), it's dark (, eodupda) at night
- 인도indopavement, sidewalk · (indoga eoreosseoyo), the pavement is frozen (, eolda); (mikkeureopda), to be slippery
- 담당자damdangjaperson in charge · (damdangjanimkke), to the person in charge
- 문의munuiinquiry · (munuideurimnida), I am writing to ask; (yonggeon), what you are writing about
- 관련gwallyeonrelation, connection · -과 / -와 관련하여 (-gwa / -wa gwallyeonhayeo), regarding
- 불편bulpyeoninconvenience · (bulpyeoneul gyeokda), to suffer inconvenience
- 민원minwoncomplaint or request to the authorities · (minwoneul neota), to file a complaint
- 구청gucheongdistrict office
- 조치jochimeasure, action · (jochireul chwihada), to take action; (sinsokhan jochi), prompt action (, written; in speech )
- 요청하다yocheonghadato request · (gaeseoneul yocheonghada), to request an improvement (, gaeseon)
- 답변dapbyeonreply, answer
- 첨부cheombuattachment · (cheombu pail), attached file
- 드림deurimfrom (humbly given), at the end of a letter · (ollim) to someone senior, a (witsaram)
- 귀하gwihayou, Dear … (very formal, in official letters)
Practise
1.You're ending a formal email to an official. What goes after your name?
2.Ask the district office to act. Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.We ask that you take prompt action.
3.The pavement is frozen, so it is very dangerous. Which connector goes between (indoga eoreotda) and (maeu wiheomhada)?
4.Match the Korean with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
5.You're writing a short report for your team, not a letter. Which sentence fits?
6.State the purpose of your email. Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I am writing regarding a broken streetlight.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
가로등 고장과 관련하여 문의드립니다.
Garodeung gojanggwa gwallyeonhayeo munuideurimnida.
I am writing regarding a broken streetlight.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.