Using Banmal With Someone You Just Met

Casual speech (반말) can sound presumptuous or even disrespectful with a stranger or elder, even if your intention was just to seem friendly. Default to polite 해요체 with anyone new, and only shift to casual speech if it’s explicitly invited.

Using the Regular Verb “있다” for a Person

Korean has a special honorific version of “to exist / to have” used specifically for people you’re showing respect to. Using the plain version for someone senior is a small but noticeable slip.

Asking a Senior Person’s Name the Casual Way

There’s a specific, more respectful way to ask for someone’s name when they’re older or in a position of authority — using the plain version can come across as too direct.

Using Someone’s Name Alone With a Senior Person

Calling a boss or elder by their first name, the way you would in English, can feel overly familiar. Titles like 사장님 (company president), 선생님 (teacher, or a general respectful title), or professional titles plus 님 are used instead of a bare first name in most professional and formal contexts.

Over-Correcting Into Excessive Formality With Friends

The flip side exists too — sticking rigidly to formal 합니다체 with close friends can feel cold or distant, like you’re keeping them at arm’s length. Once a relationship is established, staying overly formal can read as standoffish rather than polite.