What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 어디 (where), the particle 에 (at/in) and the honorific verb 사세요 (live).
Which one should you use?
While 어디에 사세요? is the standard polite form, 어디에 사십니까? is a highly formal version used in professional settings or when addressing someone of much higher status. For informal situations, you can use 어디에 사니? or the casual version 어디 살아? used with close friends or people younger than you.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
어디에 사세요? is a formal way to ask the question. 어디에 사십니까? is highly formal, suitable for professional settings. The forms 어디에 사니? and 어디 살아? are informal and used with people of lower status or close friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
In casual spoken Korean, the location particle 에 is often omitted, resulting in 어디 사세요?
How do you pronounce it?
eodie saseyo?
What mistakes should you avoid?
While 어디에 살아요? is grammatically correct, using the honorific 사세요? is more natural and polite when asking a stranger or an elder about their residence.
Did you know?
- In very traditional contexts, asking 어디에 사세요? might lead to a discussion about 'bon-gwan', which refers to the ancestral hometown of one's clan rather than a current residence.
- Because of the high density of apartment complexes, the answer to 어디에 사세요? often includes the specific name of an apartment brand, which can signal social class.
- When answering this question, Koreans may mention a nearby subway station or a famous landmark rather than a street address, as the traditional address system was historically complex.
Examples in context
- 어디에 사세요?eodie saseyo?Where do you live?
- 민수 씨는 지금 어디에 사세요?Minsu ssi-neun jigeum eodie saseyo?Where do you live now, Minsu?
- 혹시 어디에 사세요?Hoksi eodie saseyo?By any chance, where do you live?
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are meeting for the first time at a social gathering.
- 민준 Min-jun민지 씨, 어디에 사세요?Minji ssi, eodie saseyo?Minji, where do you live?
- 민지 Min-ji저는 서울에 살아요.Jeoneun Seoul-e sarayo.I live in Seoul.
- 민준 Min-jun정말 멀리 사시네요!Jeongmal meolli sasi-neyo!You live really far away!
- 민지 Min-ji네, 조금 멀어요.Ne, jogeum meoreoyo.Yes, it is a bit far.
