반말
banmal
banmal is the Korean term for casual or informal speech.
반말 refers to the casual style of speaking used with people of equal or lower social status. It is appropriate when speaking to close friends of the same age, people who are younger than you or in very intimate settings.
How do you pronounce it?
banmal
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 반말 with people they have just met or people older than them. Doing so is considered extremely rude in Korean culture. Instead, you should use polite speech forms with strangers or elders.
When do people say it?
This is a significant social step that signals the beginning of a closer, more intimate relationship between speakers.
Did you know?
- The term 반말 literally translates to 'half speech' because it is viewed as a reduced or incomplete version of the full, polite language.
- There is a specific social ritual called 'mal- 놓다' (to release the speech) where two people formally agree to transition from polite speech to 반말.
- It is common for adults to use banmal when talking to children they do not know, but the children are still expected to respond using polite speech.
Examples in context
- 이름이 뭐야?What's your name?
- 도와줄래?Can you help me?
- 우리 이제 반말할까?uri ije banmal-halkka?Shall we speak casually now?
- 그는 처음부터 반말을 했어요.geuneun cheoeumbuteo banmal-eul haesseoyo.He used casual speech from the beginning.
- 반말은 실례가 될 수 있어요.banmal-eun sillyega doel su isseoyo.Casual speech can be rude.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding how to speak to each other.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우 씨, 우리 반말 할까요?hyeonu ssi, uri banmal halkkayo?Hyeonu, shall we speak casually?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo좋아요, 서연 씨. 이제 반말 해요.joayo, seoyeon ssi. ije banmal haeyo.Sounds good, Seoyeon. Let's speak casually now.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그래, 반말로 말하자!geurae, banmal-lo malhaja!Okay, let's talk casually!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo응, 반말 하니까 훨씬 편하다.eung, banmal hanikka hwolssin pyeonhada.Yeah, it's much more comfortable using casual speech.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 반말, CC BY-SA 4.0.
