Humble Verbs: 드리다 / 모시다 / 뵙다

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🎧 Iru Helper Note Use

Korean Helper Widgets to hear the difference between 드려요 [deu-ryeo-yo], 모셔요 [mo-syeo-yo], and 뵙습니다 [boep-sseum-ni-da]. These are respect-heavy words, so rhythm matters. 🎧

🌈 The Big Picture

• 제가 선생님에게 선물을 줘요. [je-ga seon-saeng-ni-me-ge seon-mu-reul jwo-yo] (I give a gift to the teacher.) 🎁

• 제가 선생님께 선물을 드려요. [je-ga seon-saeng-nim-kke seon-mu-reul deu-ryeo-yo] (I give a gift to the teacher, respectfully.) 🎁

🎨 The Core Humble Verb Family

• 드리다 [deu-ri-da] → to give to someone respected; also “to do something for someone respected” 🎁
• 선생님께 선물을 드려요. [seon-saeng-nim-kke seon-mu-reul deu-ryeo-yo] (I give a gift to the teacher.) 🎁
• 할머니를 도와드려요. [hal-meo-ni-reul do-wa-deu-ryeo-yo] (I help Grandma.) 🧺

• 모시다 [mo-si-da] → to escort, accompany, take care of, or live with someone respected 🚗
• 부모님을 모셔요. [bu-mo-ni-meul mo-syeo-yo] (I accompany/take care of my parents.) 👨‍👩‍👧
• 할아버지를 병원으로 모셔요. [ha-ra-beo-ji-reul byeong-wo-neu-ro mo-syeo-yo] (I take Grandpa to the hospital.) 🏥

• 뵙다 [boep-da] → to meet/see someone respected 👀
• 선생님을 뵙습니다. [seon-saeng-ni-meul boep-sseum-ni-da] (I meet the teacher.) 👩‍🏫
• 내일 교수님을 뵙겠습니다. [nae-il gyo-su-ni-meul boep-kke-sseum-ni-da] (I will meet the professor tomorrow.) 👨‍🏫

🛠️ How They Work in a Sentence

• 제가 어머니께 꽃을 드려요. [je-ga eo-meo-ni-kke kko-cheul deu-ryeo-yo] (I give flowers to Mother.) 💐
• 어머니 = mother, 꽃 = flower, 께 = respectful “to.”

• 저는 할머니를 시장으로 모셔요. [jeo-neun hal-meo-ni-reul si-jang-eu-ro mo-syeo-yo] (I take Grandma to the market.) 🧺
• 할머니 = grandma, 시장 = market, 모시다 = to escort/take someone respected.

• 저는 오늘 교장 선생님을 뵙습니다. [jeo-neun o-neul gyo-jang seon-saeng-ni-meul boep-sseum-ni-da] (I meet the principal today.) 🏫
• 교장 선생님 = principal, 뵙다 = to meet/see someone respected.

🧩 General Formation Rule

• 주다 [ju-da] (to give) → 드리다 [deu-ri-da] (to give humbly/respectfully) 🎁

• 데리다 [de-ri-da] (to take/bring someone) → 모시다 [mo-si-da] (to take/escort someone respected) 🚗

• 보다 [bo-da] / 만나다 [man-na-da] (to see/meet) → 뵙다 [boep-da] (to see/meet someone respected) 👀

• 드리다 → 드려요 [deu-ryeo-yo], 드립니다 [deu-rim-ni-da]

• 모시다 → 모셔요 [mo-syeo-yo], 모십니다 [mo-sim-ni-da]

• 뵙다 → 뵙습니다 [boep-sseum-ni-da], 뵙고 싶어요 [boep-kko si-peo-yo] (I want to meet/see them.)

🚗 Destination Pattern: 로/으로 + 모시다

• 손님을 회의실로 모셔요. [son-ni-meul hoe-ui-sil-lo mo-syeo-yo] (I escort the guest to the meeting room.) 🤝

• 할머니를 병원으로 모셔요. [hal-meo-ni-reul byeong-wo-neu-ro mo-syeo-yo] (I take Grandma to the hospital, respectfully.) 🏥

• 데려다주다 [de-ryeo-da-ju-da] → to take someone there / drop someone off; regular

• 데려다드리다 [de-ryeo-da-deu-ri-da] → to take someone there as a favor for someone respected

• 모셔다드리다 [mo-syeo-da-deu-ri-da] → honorific of 데려다주다; to take/escort someone respected all the way there

• 동생을 학교까지 데려다줘요. [dong-saeng-eul hak-gyo-kka-ji de-ryeo-da-jwo-yo] (I take my younger sibling to school.) 🎒

• 할아버지를 은행까지 모셔다드려요. [ha-ra-beo-ji-reul eun-haeng-kka-ji mo-syeo-da-deu-ryeo-yo] (I take Grandpa all the way to the bank.) 🏦

🧰 Useful Respect Companions

• 께 [kke] → respectful “to/for”; use with 드리다. Example: 선생님께 드려요. [seon-saeng-nim-kke deu-ryeo-yo] (I give it to the teacher.) 🎁

• 께서 [kke-seo] → honorific subject marker; honors the person doing the action. Example: 선생님께서 오세요. [seon-saeng-nim-kke-seo o-se-yo] (The teacher comes.) 👩‍🏫

• 말씀드리다 [mal-sseum-deu-ri-da] → to tell/say to someone respected. Example: 부장님께 말씀드려요. [bu-jang-nim-kke mal-sseum-deu-ryeo-yo] (I tell the manager.) 💼

• 여쭙다 [yeo-jjup-da] → to ask someone respected. Example: 선생님께 여쭙습니다. [seon-saeng-nim-kke yeo-jjup-sseum-ni-da] (I ask the teacher.) ❓

• 댁 [daek] → home/house, honorifically. Example: 교수님 댁에 가요. [gyo-su-nim dae-ge ga-yo] (I go to the professor’s home.) 🏠

📚 Cross-check note

🪞 Synonym Alert

• 주다 [ju-da] → to give; regular

• 드리다 [deu-ri-da] → to give to someone respected 🎁

• 데리다 [de-ri-da] → to take/bring someone; regular

• 데려다주다 [de-ryeo-da-ju-da] → to take/drop someone off; regular

• 모시다 [mo-si-da] → to escort/take someone respected 🚗

• 모셔다드리다 [mo-syeo-da-deu-ri-da] → to take/drop someone respected off 🚗

• 보다 / 만나다 [bo-da / man-na-da] → to see/meet; regular

• 뵙다 [boep-da] → to see/meet someone respected 👀

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

• ❌ 제가 저에게 선물을 드려요. → ✅ 제가 저에게 선물을 줘요. (Do not use 드리다 to honor yourself.) 🎁

• ❌ 친구를 뵙습니다. → ✅ 친구를 만나요. (Use 뵙다 for someone you should respect, not usually a same-level friend.) 🤝

• ❌ 선생님을 교실에 모셔요. → ✅ 선생님을 교실로 모셔요. (Use 로/으로 for the destination in this lesson’s escorting pattern.) 👩‍🏫

• ❌ 선생님을 데려가요. → ✅ 선생님을 모셔 가요. / 선생님을 모셔다드려요. (Use 모시다 or 모셔다드리다 for respectful escorting.) 👩‍🏫

• ❌ 부장님에게 말해요. → ✅ 부장님께 말씀드려요. (Use 께 and 말씀드리다 for respectful telling.) 💼

• ❌ Using humble verbs without a respected target → ✅ Ask: “Who receives this action?” If that person is honored, a humble verb may fit. 🧭

📦

🎯 Practice Hub — Humble Verbs: 드리다 / 모시다 / 뵙다

 

Welcome to the humble-verb dojo. 🙇 Here, you will choose respectful verbs based on where the action points: giving to someone respected, escorting someone respected, taking someone respectfully all the way to a destination, or meeting someone respected. Keep your eye on the respected target, not just the subject doing the action. 🎯

 

🔊 Audio reminder: Use

Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a sentence aloud.

 

📝 Instructions: Fill each blank, read the completed sentence aloud, then open the Answer toggle. Ask: “Am I giving, escorting, dropping off, meeting, telling, or asking someone respected?”

 

Exercise 1 — 드리다: Respectful Giving 🎁

A. 제가 할머니께 사진을 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga hal-meo-ni-kke sa-ji-neul ＿＿＿＿]

I give a photo to Grandma. 📷

Answer

드려요 — use 드리다 for giving to someone respected.

B. 제가 교수님께 이메일을 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga gyo-su-nim-kke i-me-i-reul ＿＿＿＿]

I send an email to the professor. 📧

Answer

드려요 — 이메일을 드려요 works as respectful “give/send an email.”

C. 저는 어머니께 선물을 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun eo-meo-ni-kke seon-mu-reul ＿＿＿＿]

I give a gift to Mother. 🎁

Answer

드려요 — the recipient is respected.

D. 제가 사장님께 보고서를 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga sa-jang-nim-kke bo-go-seo-reul ＿＿＿＿]

I give the report to the company president. 📊

Answer

드려요 — 께 + 드리다 is natural for respectful giving.

E. 제가 아버지께 약을 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga a-beo-ji-kke ya-geul ＿＿＿＿]

I give medicine to Father. 💊

Answer

드려요 — use 드리다, not 주다, for a respected recipient.

F. 제가 선배님께 커피를 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga seon-bae-nim-kke keo-pi-reul ＿＿＿＿]

I give coffee to my senior. ☕

Answer

드려요 — the senior is the respected recipient.

G. 저는 할아버지께 신문을 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun ha-ra-beo-ji-kke sin-mu-neul ＿＿＿＿]

I give the newspaper to Grandpa. 📰

Answer

드려요 — respectful giving to Grandpa.

H. 제가 원장님께 명함을 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga won-jang-nim-kke myeong-ha-meul ＿＿＿＿]

I give my business card to the director. 💼

Answer

드려요 — respectful giving fits this formal scene.

I. 제가 어르신께 자리를 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga eo-reu-sin-kke ja-ri-reul ＿＿＿＿]

I give my seat to an elder. 💺

Answer

드려요 — the elder receives the seat respectfully.

J. 제가 목사님께 꽃다발을 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga mok-sa-nim-kke kkot-da-ba-reul ＿＿＿＿]

I give a bouquet to the pastor. 💐

Answer

드려요 — use 드리다 for respectful giving.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 드리다 → to give humbly/respectfully

• 께 → to/for someone respected

• 사진 → photo

• 이메일 → email

• 선물 → gift

• 보고서 → report

• 약 → medicine

• 커피 → coffee

• 신문 → newspaper

• 명함 → business card

• 자리 → seat

• 꽃다발 → bouquet

Tip 💡 If a respected person receives something, 드리다 is your gift-wrap verb.

 

Exercise 2 — 모시다 + 모셔다드리다: Escorting and Drop-offs 🚗

A. 저는 부모님을 공항으로 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun bu-mo-ni-meul gong-hang-eu-ro ＿＿＿＿]

I take my parents to the airport. ✈️

Answer

모셔다드려요 — use 모셔다드리다 for respectfully taking someone all the way to a destination.

B. 저는 할아버지를 식당으로 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun ha-ra-beo-ji-reul sik-dang-eu-ro ＿＿＿＿]

I take Grandpa to a restaurant. 🍽️

Answer

모셔다드려요 — respectfully taking Grandpa there.

C. 저는 손님을 자리로 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun son-ni-meul ja-ri-ro ＿＿＿＿]

I escort the guest to a seat. 💺

Answer

모셔요 — use 모시다 for respectful escorting.

D. 저는 교수님을 강의실로 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun gyo-su-ni-meul gang-ui-sil-lo ＿＿＿＿]

I escort the professor to the lecture room. 🎓

Answer

모셔요 — the professor is the respected person being escorted.

E. 저는 어머니를 병원으로 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun eo-meo-ni-reul byeong-wo-neu-ro ＿＿＿＿]

I take Mother to the hospital. 🏥

Answer

모셔다드려요 — 병원으로 모셔다드려요 = take them to the hospital respectfully.

F. 저는 선생님을 교실로 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun seon-saeng-ni-meul gyo-sil-lo ＿＿＿＿]

I escort the teacher to the classroom. 👩‍🏫

Answer

모셔요 — use 모시다, not plain 데리다.

G. 저는 할머니를 댁까지 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun hal-meo-ni-reul daek-kka-ji ＿＿＿＿]

I take Grandma all the way to her home. 🏠

Answer

모셔다드려요 — 댁까지 모셔다드려요 naturally means taking someone respected all the way home.

H. 저는 원장님을 행사장으로 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun won-jang-ni-meul haeng-sa-jang-eu-ro ＿＿＿＿]

I escort the director to the event hall. 🎤

Answer

모셔요 or 모셔다드려요 — 행사장으로 모셔요 focuses on escorting; 모셔다드려요 focuses on taking them all the way there.

I. 저는 어르신을 버스 정류장으로 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun eo-reu-si-neul beo-seu jeong-nyu-jang-eu-ro ＿＿＿＿]

I take the elder to the bus stop. 🚌

Answer

모셔다드려요 — the elder is respected, and the sentence means taking them all the way there.

J. 저는 할아버지를 댁으로 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun ha-ra-beo-ji-reul dae-geu-ro ＿＿＿＿]

I take Grandpa to his home. 🏡

Answer

모셔다드려요 — 댁으로 모셔다드려요 is natural for taking someone respected home.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 모시다 → to escort/take someone respected

• 모셔다드리다 → to take someone respected all the way there

• 부모님 → parents

• 공항 → airport

• 식당 → restaurant

• 손님 → guest

• 강의실 → lecture room

• 병원 → hospital

• 교실 → classroom

• 행사장 → event hall

• 버스 정류장 → bus stop

• 댁 → home, honorifically

Tip 💡 Use 로/으로 for the destination; use 모셔다드리다 when the meaning is “take them all the way there.”

 

Exercise 3 — 뵙다: Respectful Meeting 👀

A. 저는 오늘 담임 선생님을 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun o-neul dam-im seon-saeng-ni-meul ＿＿＿＿]

I meet my homeroom teacher today. 👩‍🏫

Answer

뵙습니다 — use 뵙다 for meeting a respected person.

B. 저는 내일 이사님을 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun nae-il i-sa-ni-meul ＿＿＿＿]

I meet the director tomorrow. 💼

Answer

뵙습니다 — formal and respectful.

C. 저는 오후에 교수님을 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun o-hu-e gyo-su-ni-meul ＿＿＿＿]

I meet the professor in the afternoon. 🎓

Answer

뵙습니다 — 교수님 is respected.

D. 저는 주말에 할머니를 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun ju-ma-re hal-meo-ni-reul ＿＿＿＿]

I visit/see Grandma on the weekend. 🧶

Answer

뵙습니다 — meeting/seeing Grandma respectfully.

E. 저는 회의 전에 사장님을 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun hoe-ui jeo-ne sa-jang-ni-meul ＿＿＿＿]

I meet the company president before the meeting. 🏢

Answer

뵙습니다 — use 뵙다 for a respected person.

F. 저는 다음 주에 원장님을 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun da-eum ju-e won-jang-ni-meul ＿＿＿＿]

I meet the director next week. 📅

Answer

뵙습니다 — respectful meeting.

G. 저는 졸업식에서 은사님을 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun jo-reop-si-ge-seo eun-sa-ni-meul ＿＿＿＿]

I meet my former teacher at the graduation ceremony. 🎓

Answer

뵙습니다 — 은사님 is a respected former teacher.

H. 저는 회사에서 부장님을 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun hoe-sa-e-seo bu-jang-ni-meul ＿＿＿＿]

I meet the manager at the company. 💼

Answer

뵙습니다 — formal/respectful meeting.

I. 저는 오늘 처음으로 회장님을 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun o-neul cheo-eu-meu-ro hoe-jang-ni-meul ＿＿＿＿]

I meet the chairperson for the first time today. 🏛️

Answer

뵙습니다 — high-respect meeting situation.

J. 저는 곧 부모님을 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun got bu-mo-ni-meul ＿＿＿＿]

I will see my parents soon. 👨‍👩‍👧

Answer

뵙습니다 — can be used respectfully for parents too.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 뵙다 → to meet/see someone respected

• 담임 선생님 → homeroom teacher

• 이사님 → director/executive

• 오후 → afternoon

• 주말 → weekend

• 회의 → meeting

• 다음 주 → next week

• 은사님 → respected former teacher

• 회사 → company

• 회장님 → chairperson

• 곧 → soon

Tip 💡 Seeing or meeting someone respected? 뵙다 bows for you. 🙇

 

Exercise 4 — Companion Humble Verbs 🗣️

A. 제가 선생님께 질문을 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga seon-saeng-nim-kke jil-mu-neul ＿＿＿＿]

I ask the teacher a question. ❓

Answer

여쭙습니다 — use 여쭙다 to ask someone respected.

B. 제가 부장님께 상황을 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga bu-jang-nim-kke sang-hwang-eul ＿＿＿＿]

I tell the manager the situation. 💼

Answer

말씀드려요 — use 말씀드리다 for telling someone respected.

C. 제가 할머니를 도와＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga hal-meo-ni-reul do-wa ＿＿＿＿]

I help Grandma. 🧺

Answer

드려요 — 도와드리다 = to help someone respected.

D. 제가 교수님께 다시 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga gyo-su-nim-kke da-si ＿＿＿＿]

I ask the professor again. 🎓

Answer

여쭙습니다 — respectful asking.

E. 제가 원장님께 일정을 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga won-jang-nim-kke il-jeong-eul ＿＿＿＿]

I tell the director the schedule. 📅

Answer

말씀드려요 — respectful telling.

F. 제가 아버지 일을 도와＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga a-beo-ji i-reul do-wa ＿＿＿＿]

I help Father with work. 🧰

Answer

드려요 — 도와드려요 makes helping humble/respectful.

G. 제가 사장님께 주소를 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga sa-jang-nim-kke ju-so-reul ＿＿＿＿]

I tell the company president the address. 🏢

Answer

말씀드려요 — respectful telling to a superior.

H. 제가 어머니께 먼저 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga eo-meo-ni-kke meon-jeo ＿＿＿＿]

I ask Mother first. 👩

Answer

여쭙습니다 — respectful asking.

I. 제가 선생님 일을 도와＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga seon-saeng-nim i-reul do-wa ＿＿＿＿]

I help the teacher with work. 📚

Answer

드려요 — 도와드리다 fits helping a respected person.

J. 제가 회장님께 결과를 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga hoe-jang-nim-kke gyeol-gwa-reul ＿＿＿＿]

I tell the chairperson the result. 📊

Answer

말씀드려요 — respectful telling.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 여쭙다 → to ask someone respected

• 말씀드리다 → to tell/say to someone respected

• 도와드리다 → to help someone respected

• 질문 → question

• 상황 → situation

• 다시 → again

• 일정 → schedule

• 주소 → address

• 결과 → result

Tip 💡 Asking → 여쭙다; telling → 말씀드리다; helping → 도와드리다.

 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. 제가 친구에게 책을 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga chin-gu-e-ge chae-geul ＿＿＿＿]

I give a book to my friend. 📘

Answer

줘요 — a same-level friend usually does not need 드리다. Use regular 주다.

B. 제가 선생님께 책을 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga seon-saeng-nim-kke chae-geul ＿＿＿＿]

I give a book to the teacher. 📘

Answer

드려요 — respected recipient: 드리다.

C. 저는 친구를 카페에서 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun chin-gu-reul ka-pe-e-seo ＿＿＿＿]

I meet my friend at a café. ☕

Answer

만나요 — use regular 만나다 for a same-level friend.

D. 저는 교수님을 학교에서 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun gyo-su-ni-meul hak-gyo-e-seo ＿＿＿＿]

I meet the professor at school. 🎓

Answer

뵙습니다 — respected person: 뵙다.

E. 저는 동생을 학교까지 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun dong-saeng-eul hak-gyo-kka-ji ＿＿＿＿]

I take my younger sibling to school. 🎒

Answer

데려다줘요 — do not use 모시다 for a younger sibling in a normal family sentence.

F. 저는 할아버지를 은행까지 ＿＿＿＿.

[jeo-neun ha-ra-beo-ji-reul eun-haeng-kka-ji ＿＿＿＿]

I take Grandpa to the bank. 🏦

Answer

모셔다드려요 — respectful counterpart to 데려다주다 for taking someone all the way there.

G. 제가 친구에게 질문을 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga chin-gu-e-ge jil-mu-neul ＿＿＿＿]

I ask my friend a question. ❓

Answer

물어봐요 — regular asking is fine for a friend.

H. 제가 선생님께 질문을 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga seon-saeng-nim-kke jil-mu-neul ＿＿＿＿]

I ask the teacher a question. ❓

Answer

여쭙습니다 — respectful asking to the teacher.

I. 제가 부장님께 계획을 ＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga bu-jang-nim-kke gye-hoe-geul ＿＿＿＿]

I tell the manager the plan. 🗂️

Answer

말씀드려요 — respectful telling to the manager.

J. 제가 할머니께 가방을 들어＿＿＿＿.

[je-ga hal-meo-ni-kke ga-bang-eul deu-reo ＿＿＿＿]

I carry the bag for Grandma. 👜

Answer

드려요 — 들어드리다 = to carry/lift something for someone respected.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 주다 → to give

• 드리다 → to give humbly/respectfully

• 만나다 → to meet

• 뵙다 → to meet someone respected

• 데려가다 → to take someone

• 데려다주다 → to take/drop someone off

• 모시다 → to escort someone respected

• 모셔다드리다 → to take someone respected all the way there

• 물어보다 → to ask

• 여쭙다 → to ask someone respected

• 말씀드리다 → to tell someone respected

• 들어드리다 → to carry/lift for someone respected

Tip 💡 The verb changes when the action points toward a respected person.

 

🎉 Humble-verb power unlocked. You can now give respectfully with 드리다, escort respectfully with 모시다, take someone all the way there with 모셔다드리다, and meet respectfully with 뵙다. Small verbs, big bow energy. 🙇🎁