Why do some korean couples speak with honorifics?
I can't seem to understand why some korean couples don't use 반말 when speaking with one another...they are close enough to "hug" and "kiss".. but not close enough to comfortably "speak" in 반말? I can't understand. That's why I feel like I shouldn't use 반말 when I'm talking to some of my 오빠's... but they told me it's fine since we are close friends (but we reallu aren't that close). I feel guily cuz i worry that im actually being disrespectful using 반말... Can someone explain, it's driving crazy hahahaDriving me* crazy

Question

Why do some korean couples speak with honorifics?
I can't seem to understand why some korean couples don't use 반말 when speaking with one another...they are close enough to "hug" and "kiss".. but not close enough to comfortably "speak" in 반말? I can't understand. That's why I feel like I shouldn't use 반말 when I'm talking to some of my 오빠's...  but they told me it's fine since we are close friends (but we reallu aren't that close). I feel guily cuz i worry that im actually being disrespectful using 반말... Can someone explain, it's driving crazy hahahaDriving me* crazy

Answer

This is couples that are very respectable to one another. My parents (in their early fifties now) usually don't speak in honorifics but sometimes my mother mixes casual and honorifics when speaking to my father and my father would at time do the same in public.

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Right, I'd think that large age gap might be the biggest reason. Im only concerned with this generation bc I know older generation use honorifics more commonly. But here is the thing, one of my oppah is 11 years older than me, and he was fine with me using 반말 but I just felt really uncomfortable bc I felt like it was showing disrespect. He is like a sunbae to me but he told me to call him oppah Instead after the second time I met him. So..when I think I got the pattern it doesn't seem to apply lol

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Many dramas are unrealistic. They mostly waive honorifics nowdays unless the man is considerably older thant the woman. It also depends on the generation.

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I've been watching for 5 years...I still don't get it bwahahahaha it's a contradiction the more you think about it!  ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

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Keep watching. You will understand it someday eventually. :)