아주낮춤

From 아주 (aju, “very”) +‎ 낮춤 (natchum, “casual lowering”).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈa̠(ː)d͡ʑuna̠t̚t͡ɕʰum]
• Phonetic hangul: [아(ː)주낟춤]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

아주낮춤 • (ajunatchum)

1. (grammar) poetic, 2nd speech level in Korean.

아주낮춤 (ajunatchum) is a speech level used to convey literary expressions. It’s also used universally in books, newspapers and magazines. This speech level is quite special as it can casually imply respect, admiration or to affirm whatever is being said.

Korean words inflected in this speech level are commonly characterized by the ending -다 (-da) in declarative statements, -냐 (-nya) or -니 (-ni) in questions, -어라 (-eora) in the imperative, and -자 (-ja) in the propositive. E.g.:

• 한다 (handa): (non-honorific) "does"
• 하신다 (hasinda): (honorific) "please do"
• 했다 (haetda): (non-honorific) "did"
• 해라 (haera): (non-honorific imperative) "do"
• 했느냐 (haenneunya): (non-honorific interrogative) "did?"

(Other speech levels)

• 매우높임 (mae'unopim)
• 아주높임 (ajunopim)
• 두루높임 (durunopim)
• 예사높임 (yesanopim)
• 예사낮춤 (yesanatchum)
• 두루낮춤 (durunatchum)

• 해라체 (haerache)