Honorific nouns: 성함 (name)

성함 isn't a complex verb ending. It is a noun substitution. In English, we just have one word for "name." In Korean, we have levels. When you talk to someone older or higher in status, you swap the plain word 이름 for the honorific word 성함. It’s a direct replacement. However, it rarely travels alone. Because you are using a high-status noun, the rest of your sentence needs to match. You wouldn't wear a tuxedo with flip-flops, right? So, when you use 성함, you usually use the polite verb ending -이/가 어떻게 되세요? instead of 뭐예요?. This makes the whole sentence feel balanced and elegant. It’s like a grammar harmony that sounds music to a native speaker's ears.

1. 1Using 성함 is actually quite simple once you get the hang of it. Here is the step-by-step logic:
2. 2Identify the person you are talking to. Is it someone older? A stranger? A customer?
3. 3Decide to use the honorific level.
4. 4Replace 이름 with 성함.
5. 5Add the subject marker 이 (because 성함 ends in a consonant).
6. 6Finish with the polite phrase 어떻게 되세요? (How does it become?).
7. 7Full pattern: [Person's Title] 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
8. 8Example: 선생님 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (What is the teacher's name?)

Use 성함 whenever you need to be polite. This includes:

• Strangers: When you meet someone for the first time in a professional setting.
• Elders: Grandparents, older relatives, or senior citizens you meet on the street.
• Workplace: Your boss, managers, or clients. Even if you are close, 성함 is safer in meetings.
• Service Industry: If you work at a hotel or restaurant, you always ask for the guest's 성함.
• Formal Documents: When a receptionist asks you to write down someone else's name.

Imagine you are at a fancy wedding. You wouldn't ask the groom's father, "Hey, what's your 이름?" You would use 성함 to keep things classy. It’s like a grammar traffic light—green means use it for anyone you don't know well!

This is where most learners trip up. Never use 성함 for yourself. Using it for your own name is like calling yourself "The Honorable [Your Name]." It sounds incredibly arrogant or just plain confusing.

Also, don't use it for:

• Close Friends: Using 성함 with your bestie would be a hilarious joke. They’d ask if you’re feeling okay.
• Children: Asking a toddler for their 성함 is like asking them for their tax return. It’s too formal.
• People younger than you: Unless it's a very formal business context, 이름 is usually fine.
• Animals: Your dog has an 이름, not a 성함. Even if he is a very good boy.

1. 1The "Self-Honorific" Fail: Saying 제 성함은 김민수입니다. ✗ Incorrect! You must say 제 이름은 김민수입니다. ✓ Correct!
2. 2The Mismatched Verb: Asking 성함이 뭐예요?. While understandable, it’s a bit like wearing a diamond necklace with pajamas. Use 어떻게 되세요? for a perfect match.
3. 3Over-using it: Don't use it for every single person in a story. If you're talking about your younger brother, use 이름.
4. 4Spelling it wrong: Some beginners confuse it with 성함 and 성함. Remember, it’s 성 (last name) + 함 (honorific suffix for name).

There are three main ways to say "name" in Korean:

1. 1이름: The general, everyday word. Use it for friends, kids, and yourself.
2. 2성함: The honorific word. Use it for people you respect. It's the standard polite choice in conversation.
3. 3성명: The official, bureaucratic word. You will see this on passports, bank forms, and ID cards. You rarely say this out loud unless you are reading a form.

Think of 이름 as your favorite sneakers, 성함 as your interview shoes, and 성명 as a military uniform. Use the right one for the right occasion!