있다 vs 계시다 | What's the Difference between 있다 and 계시다?
- KSJ 쌤
- Jun 13
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 4
안녕하세요 리더님! Koreanstudyjunkie입니다~
You may or may not have been wondering lately why you sometimes see 계셔요, 계세요, and other forms of the verb 계시다 in place of 있다.
계시다 is an HONORIFIC form of 있다. In other words, they mean the exact same thing (on paper, anyways).
What Are Honorifics in Korean?
Honorifics are a way of showing respect in Korean. They are used when speaking about or to someone older, someone in a higher position (like a teacher, boss, or elder), or someone you don’t know well.
Korean has special honorific words, verb changes, and endings that show politeness.
For example:
"먹다" (to eat) becomes "드시다" when talking about a respected person.
"자다" (to sleep) becomes "주무시다."
"말하다" (to speak) becomes "말씀하시다."
"있다" (to be/exist) becomes "계시다."
있다 vs. 계시다
있다 means “to be” or “to exist.”Use it when referring to yourself, your friends, animals, objects, or people you don’t need to speak about with respect.
계시다 is the honorific form of 있다, used when referring to someone you respect—like your teacher, grandparents, or someone else’s parents. It still means “to be” or “to exist,” but adds respect.
Example Sentences Using 있다
저는 집에 있어요.→ I’m at home.
고양이가 소파 위에 있어요.→ The cat is on the sofa.
친구가 방에 있어요.→ My friend is in the room.
지금 시간 있어요?→ Do you have time now?
핸드폰이 가방 안에 있어요.→ My phone is in the bag.
수업이 내일 있어요.→ There's class tomorrow.
물 좀 있어요?→ Do you have some water?
Example Sentences Using 계시다
선생님이 교실에 계세요.→ The teacher is in the classroom.
어머님은 안에 계세요?→ Is your mother inside?
할아버지께서 집에 계십니다.→ My grandfather is at home. (formal)
아버지가 지금 회사에 계세요.→ My father is at work right now.
여기 오래 계셨어요?→ Have you been here long?
사장님께서 방에 계십니다.→ The boss is in the room. (very formal)
어르신, 어디 계세요?→ Sir/Madam, where are you?
할머니는 방에 잘 계세요.→ Grandma is resting well in her room.
Common Endings with 계시다
The verb 계시다 is usually combined with polite or formal endings to show even more respect.
These include:
-세요: 선생님이 계세요. = the teacher is here.
-십니다: 아버지께서 방에 계십니다. = the CEO is here.
-셨습니다: 어머님께서 아까 계셨습니다. = My father was here.
-시죠?: 사장님이 안에 계시죠? = Your mom is here, right?
Honorific Ending -시:
In Korean, you can add the ending -시- into a verb stem to show honor. It’s usually added before polite or formal verb endings.
After consonant stems, use 으시
After vowel stems, use 시
For example:
가다 → 가시다 → 선생님이 가세요. (the teacher is going)
오다 → 오시다 → 아버지가 오셨어요. (dad came.)
하다 → 하시다 → 부모님이 일하세요. (parents are working.)
보다 → 보시다 → 어르신이 TV를 보세요. (the elder is watching tv.)
The -시- marker is the core of honorific verbs. It shows that you’re speaking respectfully about the subject of the sentence.
CONTEXTUAL DIALOGUE:
학생: 안녕하세요. 수진 씨 집에 있어요?
친구: 네, 있어요. 어머니도 집에 계세요.
학생: 어머니는 지금 어디에 계세요?
친구: 부엌에 계세요. 요리하고 계세요.
학생: 아, 그렇군요! 나중에 인사드릴게요.
Vocab/Grammar List:
학생 - student
친구 - friend
집 - home
있다 - to be (is/am/are)
네 - yes
어머니 - mother (formal)
도 - too, also (particle)
계시다 = 있다
지금 - now
어디 - where
부엌 - kitchen
요리하다 - to cook
고 계시다 - to be doing something right now
그렇군요 - i see
나중에 - later
인사드리다 - to greet
ㄹ게요 - will do
English Translation
Student: Hello. Is Sujin home?
Friend: Yes, she’s here. My mother is also home.
Student: Where is your mother now?
Friend: She’s in the kitchen. She’s cooking.
Student: Ah, I see! I’ll greet her later.
없다 vs. 안 계시다
Just like 있다 becomes 계시다 in honorific speech, its opposite—없다 (to not exist / to not have)—also has an honorific counterpart:
안 계시다.
Use 없다 when speaking casually or about objects, yourself, or peers.
Ex). 친구가 집에 없어요. (My friend is not home.)
Use 안 계시다 when speaking about someone you should show respect to.
Ex). 선생님이 지금 안 계세요. (The teacher is not here right now.)
Note: “안 계시다” literally means “to not be present” in a respectful way.
That's the end of this lesson! Below I have attached 3 other lessons that I think you would benefit from reading after this one. Check them out!
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