-습니까
-seupnikka
formal question ending
The formal, highly polite sentence-final ending used to ask a question. It attaches after a consonant-final stem (-ㅂ니까 after a vowel) and is typical of news, presentations, the military, and speaking to a superior.
Form
- Attaches to
- Verb, Adjective, 이다, Auxiliary
- Other shapes
- -ㅂ니까
Meanings
- 1
(formal, highly addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used when the speaker asks the listener politely.
(아주높임으로) 말하는 사람이 듣는 사람에게 정중하게 물음을 나타내는 종결 어미.
Examples
지수가 쓴 문장이 맞습니까?
Is the sentence Jisu wrote correct?
할머니, 안녕히 주무셨습니까?
Grandmother, did you sleep well?
손님의 연락처를 알려 주시겠습니까?
Could you tell me the customer's contact information?
식사는 맛있게 하셨습니까? 네. 잘 먹었습니다.
Did you enjoy your meal? Yes, I ate well, thank you.
식사는 맛있게 하셨습니까?
Did you enjoy your meal?
네. 잘 먹었습니다.
Yes, I ate well, thank you.
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 ‘-습니까’ mean?
2. Which form means “formal question ending”?