🙇 Oppa, Unnie, Hyung, Noona — Korean Honorifics

Who calls whom what, and why Korean speech levels change (English)

All Questions & Answers (50)

1. What does 오빠 (oppa) mean?Older brother — used by a female to an older male
2. What does 언니 (unnie) mean?Older sister — used by a female to an older female
3. What does 형 (hyung) mean?Older brother — used by a male to an older male
4. What does 누나 (noona) mean?Older sister — used by a male to an older female
5. Can a man call someone 오빠?No — men use 형 for an older male
6. Can a woman call someone 형?No — women use 오빠
7. Do these words only mean blood siblings?No — they are used for close older friends too
8. Why do K-pop fans call idols 오빠?It signals closeness and that the idol is older than the speaker
9. What does 동생 (dongsaeng) mean?A younger sibling or younger friend
10. What does 선배 (sunbae) mean?Someone senior to you at school or work
11. What does 후배 (hubae) mean?Someone junior to you
12. What does 님 (nim) do?A respectful suffix added to a name or title
13. What does 씨 (ssi) do?A polite suffix after a name, like 'Mr./Ms.'
14. Is it rude to call an older person by name only?Usually yes — a title or honorific is expected
15. What is 반말 (banmal)?Casual speech, used with close friends and younger people
16. What is 존댓말 (jondaenmal)?Polite speech, used with elders and strangers
17. Which ending marks polite speech?-요 (-yo), as in 감사해요
18. Which ending marks formal speech?-습니다 / -ㅂ니다, as in 감사합니다
19. When would you use 감사합니다 over 고마워?Formal settings: work, announcements, strangers
20. What does 말 놓을까요? mean?'Shall we drop the formal speech?' — a request to speak casually
21. Who usually offers to switch to 반말?The older person
22. What does 아저씨 mean?A middle-aged man; can sound blunt if misused
23. What does 아주머니 / 아줌마 mean?A middle-aged woman; 아줌마 is more casual
24. What does 할아버지 mean?Grandfather
25. What does 할머니 mean?Grandmother
26. What does 이모 literally mean?Mother's sister — also used warmly for restaurant staff
27. What does 사장님 mean?Boss / shop owner — a common polite address
28. What does 선생님 mean?Teacher — also a general respectful address
29. Why does age matter so much in Korean?Speech level and titles depend on relative age and status
30. What is the first question Koreans often ask?Your age — it decides how both people speak
31. What does 막내 (maknae) mean?The youngest member of a group
32. What does 리더 mean in a K-pop group?The leader, who speaks for the group
33. What does 형님 mean?A more respectful form of 형
34. What does 오라버니 mean?A formal, old-fashioned form of 오빠
35. Is 오빠 ever romantic?Yes — it can also be used for a boyfriend
36. What does 애교 (aegyo) mean?Acting cute, often toward someone older
37. What does 파이팅 mean?'Fighting!' — a cheer meaning 'you can do it'
38. What does 수고했어 mean?'Good work' — said to someone of equal or lower status
39. Polite version of 수고했어?수고하셨습니다
40. What does 잘 부탁드립니다 mean?'Please treat me well' — said when meeting or starting something
41. What does 실례합니다 mean?'Excuse me' — before interrupting
42. What does 괜찮으세요? mean?'Are you okay?' in polite speech
43. What is the polite way to say 'eat'?드시다 / 잡수시다 instead of 먹다
44. What is the polite way to say 'sleep'?주무시다 instead of 자다
45. What is the polite word for 'house'?댁 instead of 집
46. What is the polite word for 'name'?성함 instead of 이름
47. What is the polite word for 'age'?연세 instead of 나이
48. Why do idols bow when greeting?Bowing marks respect, deeper for more senior people
49. What does 안녕 (annyeong) alone signal?Casual hello or bye — only with close or younger people
50. Safest choice if unsure?Use 존댓말 with -요 endings until told otherwise

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