A friend a few years older
해요체 · 해체(반말)
You start in haeyo with an older friend. Once you're close, the older one often says “speak comfortably” (mal pyeonhage hae), and you switch to banmal. It's their call to make, not yours.
Common mistakeProposing banmal yourself to someone older. Let the older friend offer first.
Examples
언니, 이거 먹어 볼래요?
eonni, igeo meogeo bollaeyo?
(to an older woman, from a woman) Want to try this?
형, 오늘 시간 돼요?
hyeong, oneul sigan dwaeyo?
(to an older man, from a man) Are you free today?
말 편하게 해.
mal pyeonhage hae.
(the older friend) Talk to me casually.