-습니다
-seumnida
The suit your sentence puts on
The picture Standing up straight to speak. Not fear of the listener — the setting is public, so the sentence dresses up. -습니다 is the suit; -요 is the cushion on the end. One stands up straight toward the room, the other hands the words gently to the person in front of you.
Where the picture shows up in -습니다
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reporting to a boss
지금 출발하겠습니다.
ji-geum chul-bal-ha-get-seum-ni-da
I'm heading out now.
Standing at the boss's desk, hands together, delivering one short line.
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acknowledging an order
네, 알겠습니다.
ne, al-get-seum-ni-da
Yes, understood.
Hearing the order, a single nod, and the back straightening in the chair.
Far crisper than 알겠어요.
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an official apology
늦어서 죄송합니다.
neu-jeo-seo joe-song-ham-ni-da
I'm sorry for being late.
Head lowered, hands folded in front, facing forward to apologize.
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a public announcement
다음 역은 서울역입니다.
da-eum yeo-geun seo-ul-lyeo-gim-ni-da
The next stop is Seoul Station.
A voice from the ceiling speaker of a train car, spreading evenly over every seat.
Speaking to a faceless crowd almost always calls for this suit.
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opening a meeting
지금부터 회의를 시작하겠습니다.
ji-geum-bu-teo hoe-ui-reul si-ja-ka-get-seum-ni-da
Let's begin the meeting.
Standing at the head of the meeting room, looking once around the table, then speaking the first sentence.
All of it in one picture
-습니다 is one outfit. Hands together at the boss's desk, it is a report; a straightened back and a nod, an acknowledgment; a lowered head, a formal apology; spread from a ceiling speaker, an announcement; spoken at the head of the room, an opening. In all five the listener is not frightening — the setting is public, so the sentence dresses for it. With -습니다 on it, the sentence steps away from you and stands up straight toward the whole room.