(으)세요 ③ — you do, you are

Used to politely state someone's action or state.

Korean Grammar in Use

-(으)세요 is used to politely state someone's action or state. When the verb stem ends in a vowel, -세요 is added, and when it ends in a consonant, -으세요 is added.

Details

When -(으)세요 is used in the imperative sense to give an order, it can only be used with verbs and not 이다 or adjectives.

의사이세요 ✕

기쁘세요 ✕

(Adjective changed to its verb form)

However, there are a number of adjectives ending in used idiomatically that can be used with -으세요.

할아버지, 건강하세요. 오래 오래 사세요.

Grandpa, please be healthy. Live a long, long time.

민우 씨, 결혼 축하해요. 행복하세요.

Min-u, congratulations on your marriage. I wish you happiness.