Personal Pronouns 2. the second-person pronouns

There are honorifics for the second-person pronouns, but their usage is different from those of the first-person.

 

In a conversation with someone higher/older than you, you need to lower yourself and heighten the other. That's the reason why you should use '저' instead of '나' in such a situation, and this is what I dealt with in the previous article.

 

 

First of all, let's figure out the types of second-person pronouns and their usage.

 

 

[Table 1. Types of second-person pronouns]

Forms	singular	plural
ordinary	너	너희
honorific	당신	당신들

 

• 너는 무슨 과일을 좋아해? What kind of fruit do you like?
• 너희들은 어디를 가는 중이니? Where are you (guys) going?

 

The following is the way they become part of a sentence.

 

 

[Table 2. How second-person pronouns work as a constituent in a sentence: singular]

Case	Subjective	Possessive	Objective	Possessive Pronoun	Reflective
English	I	my	me	mine	myself
Korean - ordinary	네가, 너는	너의	너를	너의 것	너 자신
Korean - honorific	당신이, 당신은	당신의	당신을	당신의 것	당신 자신

 

[Table 3. How second-person pronouns work as a constituent in a sentence: plural]

Case	Subjective	Possessive	Objective	Possessive Pronoun	Reflective
English	we	our	us	ours	ourselves
Korean - ordinary	너희가, 너희는	너희의	너희를	너희의 것	너희 자신
Korean - honorific	당신들이, 당신들은	당신들의	당신들을	당신들의 것	당신들 자신

 

 

 

 

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There is one thing you have to keep in mind. KOREANS DO NOT USE pronouns very often except the first-person pronouns. Sometimes calling someone '당신' can sound very rude, aggressive, or weird.

 

The followings are the situations where using '당신' is appropriate.

 

[Scene 1. between spouses]

• 수진(Sujin): 당신(의) 지갑이 내 차에 있었어요. Your wallet was in my car. (I found your wallet in my car.)
• 수진의 남편(Sujin's husband): 이런, 당신(의) 차에 탔을 때 떨어트렸나 봐요. Oh no, I might have dropped it when I was in your car.

 

[Scene 2. to a stranger, on a road]

• 민수(Munsu): 당신이 내 차선에 끼어들었잖아요! You got over my lane!
• 영우(Youngwoo): 당신이 급브레이크를 밟으니까 그랬지! That's because you slammed on the brakes!

 

 

 

And the inappropriate cases.

 

[Scene 3. to a stranger, at a bus stop]

• 지민(Jimin): 안녕하세요. 이 열쇠고리 당신 것인가요? Hello. Is this keyring yours?
• 수미(Sumie): 맞아요! 당신이 아니었으면 잃어버렸겠네요. Yes! I would have lost it if it were not for you.

 

This script is very unnatural and seems like an English translation. Koreans consciously and/or unconsciously avoid using second-person pronouns toward a stranger.

 

Therefore, a more natural version will be:

• 지민(Jimin): 저기, 이 열쇠고리 혹시... Um, is this keyring...
• 수미(Sumie): 아! 제 거예요. 잃어버릴 뻔했네요. Oh! That's mine. I would have lost it.

 

or

 

• 지민(Jimin): 저, 혹시 열쇠고리 잃어버리셨나요? Um, have you lost your keyring?
• 수미(Sumie): 아! 그랬네요. 감사합니다. Oh! yes, I have. Thank you.

 

 

 

[Scene 4. to a tutor, in a college]

• 재우(Jaewoo): 당신이 오늘 설명하신 내용에서 궁금한 것이 있어요. I have a question regarding what you explained today.
• 준(Joon, Jaewoo's tutor): ...

 

Here, Jaewoo's speech is EXTREMELY rude. Do not use second-person pronouns to call someone you need to show your respect or honor. 

 

 

An appropriate speech:

• 재우(Jaewoo): 선생님께서 설명하신 내용에서 궁금한 것이 있어요. I have a question regarding what you explained today.
• 준(Joon, Jaewoo's tutor): 아, 무엇인가요? Oh, what is it?

 

Use nouns that can refer to your conversation partner instead of second-person pronouns, or omit the second-person subjects. That will make your speech more natural and polite.

• 어머니, 전에 (어머니께서) 저에게 말씀하신 책 가져왔어요. Mom, I brought the book you mentioned to me before.
• 사장님, 사장님께서 주문하신 물건들이 도착했습니다. Mr.OO, the products you ordered have just arrived.

 

Even if you haven't grasped the concept, it's okay. Just try to pay attention to how Koreans talk or write. Your experiences will help you to understand when to use them and when not to.