께
kke
to; for (honorific)
The honorific counterpart of 에게, used after a noun referring to a person the speaker respects, marking them as the recipient, target, or source of an action.
Form
- Attaches to
- Noun
Meanings
- 1
(honorific) '에게'; a postpositional particle referring to the ownership or location of an object.
(높임말로) 에게. 어떤 물건의 소속이나 위치를 나타내는 조사.
- 2
(honorific) '에게'; a postpositional particle referring to the subject that an act has an influence on.
(높임말로) 에게. 어떤 행동이 미치는 대상을 나타내는 조사.
- 3
(honorific) '에게'; a postpositional particle referring to the subject of an act.
(높임말로) 에게. 어떤 행동의 주체이거나 비롯되는 대상임을 나타내는 조사.
Examples
바쁘신 선생님께 우리를 만나 주실 시간이 있을까?
Would our busy teacher have time to meet with us?
부모님께 내 학비를 감당할 충분한 돈이 있을지 모르겠다.
I wonder if my parents have enough money to cover my tuition.
회사의 중요한 결정을 내릴 수 있는 권한은 사장님께 있습니다.
The authority to make the company's important decisions rests with the president.
아버지께서 어제부터 전화를 안 받으셔요. 아버님께 무슨 일이 생긴 건 아닐지 걱정이네요.
Father hasn't answered his phone since yesterday. I'm worried something might have happened to him.
나는 첫 월급을 받은 기념으로 부모님께 선물을 드렸다.
To mark receiving my first paycheck, I gave my parents a gift.
나는 공부를 하다 어려운 부분이 있으면 교수님께 여쭈어 본다.
When I come across a difficult part while studying, I ask my professor about it.
Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.
Don’t confuse with
Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.
Quick check
1. What does ‘께’ mean?
2. Which form means “to; for (honorific)”?