Korean honorific titles: Oppa, noona, unnie, and hyung (2024)

When speaking Korean, it’s important to use the appropriate Korean honorific when addressing someone younger or older. This reflects respect and politeness in Korean culture, and the wrong speech level can come across as rude.

One way of showing this respect is through “호칭” (hoching), honorific titles in Korean to address and show appreciation for someone. For example, if you’re taking Korean classes online, it’s common to address your certified tutor using the honorific title “선생” along with the honorific suffix “-님,” as in “선생님” (seonsaengnim), to say “teacher” in a respectful tone.

While there are many “호칭” (hoching) or honorific titles in the Korean language, this article will focus on four of them. Get ready to learn the correct use of oppa, noona, unnie, and hyung – affectionate names used mainly to refer to an older brother or sister or someone older than us.

Korean honorific titles

If you want to become fluent in Korean, knowing how to address people respectfully is important.

In Korean culture, people address each other using “호칭” or titles, either by themselves or together with the person’s name.

For instance:

  • 선생님: Teacher Kim
  • 현우 오빠: Brother Hyeonwoo
  • 민수: Mr. Minsu

Among the most frequently used titles are “오빠” (oppa), “누나” (noona), “형” (hyung), and “언니” (unnie). In short, each title holds the same meaning but is used differently based on the speaker’s gender and the person being addressed:

  • Oppa meaning: Older brother
  • Noona meaning: Older sister
  • Unnie meaning: Older sister
  • Hyung meaning: Older brother

Check out this video to understand more about the differences between those words and see some examples:

Let’s explore their differences in more depth:

What does “oppa” mean in Korean?

“Oppa” (오빠) literally translates to “older brother” in Korean. It’s a term younger females use to address older males, such as older brothers, cousins, or male friends.

In Korean culture, calling someone “oppa” suggests a close bond and trust. It’s more common in personal relationships than formal ones and often indicates intimacy.

In media and entertainment, “oppa” frequently appears in romantic contexts, expressing a female character’s admiration for the male lead.

Examples of when to use “오빠”(oppa) include:

  • A girlfriend addressing her older boyfriend
  • A woman speaking to her close, older male friend
  • A sister talking to her older brother
  • A female fan referring to her male idol

Example sentences:

오빠, 오늘 뭐 먹을래? (Babe, what do you want to eat today?)

오빠는 대학교에 다녀요 (My older brother attends university)

What does “unnie” mean in Korean?

“Unnie” (언니) is a term used by females to address older sisters or older female friends. It carries similar connotations of respect and affection as “oppa” but is specific female-to-female relationships.

In informal settings, “unnie” is commonly used by female peers to address older friends or colleagues in casual situations, highlighting their closeness.

Addressing someone as “unnie” acknowledges the older female’s role as a guide or mentor and reflects the strong bond between female friends or siblings.

In Korean pop culture, younger female fans often use “unnie” to address female celebrities or idols they admire.

Examples of when to use “언니” (unnie) include:

  • A female friend addressing her older female friend
  • A sister talking to her older sister
  • A younger female fan referring to her female idol
  • A younger female speaking to an older waitress

Examples sentences:

수연 언니가 어디 갔어? (Where did Suyeon go?)

언니와 엄마는 여행으로 파리에 갔어요 (My older sister and my mom went on a trip to Paris)

What does “hyung” mean in Korean?

“Hyung” (형) is the male equivalent of “unnie,” used by males to address older brothers or older male friends. It’s a term of respect commonly used in casual settings.

During informal contexts, “hyung” is used among male peers to address older friends or colleagues, indicating the older male’s authority or seniority and emphasizing the bond of friendship or brotherhood between them.

In Korean entertainment, “hyung” is often used among male idols or actors to address their older peers in the industry, highlighting respect within the profession.

Examples of when to use “형” (hyung) include:

  • A male friend addressing his older male friend
  • A brother talking to his older brother
  • A younger male idol or actor referring to his older idol colleague

Examples sentences:

민식 , 밥 먹으러 가자 (Minsik, let’s go eat together)

저는 한 명이 있어요 (I have an older brother)

What does “noona” mean in Korean?

Lastly, “noona” (누나) is the term used by males to address older females, particularly older sisters or female acquaintances.

Similar to “oppa,” “noona” signifies a close relationship and carries undertones of respect and affection.

Addressing someone as “noona” reflects endearment and acknowledges the older female’s role as a protector or mentor.

In Korean dramas and literature, “noona” is often used to depict romantic relationships between a younger male protagonist and an older female character.

Examples of when to use “누나” (noona) include:

  • A boyfriend addressing his older girlfriend
  • A man speaking to his close, older female friend
  • A brother talking to his older sister

Examples sentences:

혜민이 누나, 보고 싶었어! (I missed you, Hyemin)

나는 누나 두 명이 있어요 (I have two older sisters)

Levels of formality in Korean

In Korean, there are three levels of formality that you can use depending on the situation or the person you’re addressing. Learning all three of them is important since you will often combine them with the title you use to approach someone. For example, if you use the honorific title “선생님” (seonsaengnim) to call your Korean teacher, you need to use polite speech with it.

1. 높임말 (nopimmal), or formal speech

This level of speech is the most traditional and respectful, suitable for speaking in formal situations and to superiors or elders.

It involves using more polite language and attaching the ending “-(으)시-“ to verbs or using the formal version of some verbs and particles.

For example:

할머니께서 주무십니다 (My grandma is sleeping).

Here, instead of using the word “자다” (sleep), we would use “주무시다,” which is the formal version of the verb. Also, instead of using the particle “-는” to refer to the topic of the sentence, we would use the formal form “-께서.”

2. 존댓말 (jondaetmal), or polite speech

This level of speech falls between formal and casual, offering respect without being overly formal. Verbs in polite speech typically end with “-ㅂ니다.”

For example:

선생님은 한국어를 가르칩니다 (The teacher teaches Korean).

3. 반말 (banmal), or casual speech

Lastly, we have casual speech. It’s informal and used with close acquaintances such as family and friends. However, it’s essential not to use this level of speech in front of someone of a higher rank.

For example:

친구는 공원에 갔어 (My friend went to the park).

Wrap-up

As you can see, Korean honorifics are important in Korean culture, as they help define who is older or higher in social status.

Knowing and using these honorific titles will help you establish a more natural relationship with Korean people and understand their social rules better.

Are you ready to start your Korean lessons online and explore honorific titles in more depth? Also, don’t forget to enhance your learning by using Korean apps or websites alongside your online studies so you can master your Korean faster!

Korean honorific titles: Oppa, noona, unnie, and hyung (2024)

FAQs

Korean honorific titles: Oppa, noona, unnie, and hyung? ›

Oppa meaning: Older brother. Noona meaning: Older sister. Unnie meaning: Older sister. Hyung meaning: Older brother.

Can girls say hyung instead of oppa? ›

To recap, you call a Korean guy oppa when you address an older male acquaintance as a female. You can use unnie to refer to an elder sister or an older female acquaintance if you're a girl. If you're a man, you use hyung to refer to an elder brother or an older male buddy.

What is the female equivalent of Hyung? ›

If you are a woman and another woman is older than you, the honorific with which to address them is 언니 (unnie). You may also see 언니 (unnie) written as “oni” or “uni.” It is the female equivalent of hyung above.

What do guys call younger girls in Korea? ›

동생 (dongsaeng) means “younger sibling”. It can be used when referring to either a male or female younger than you regardless of their biological relation to you.

How to use ssi honorific? ›

Ssi honorific is somewhat similar to some English titles like Mr., Ms., or Miss. It is a common and neutral suffix used after a name. This is a go-to option to call someone politely, especially if you are unfamiliar with the person.

Is Oppa flirty? ›

Oppa means older brother or man in Korean and can only be used by a female. It's an honorific word that shows the hierarchical social status of the subject and object. fun word that can be innocent, endearing, or flirty depending on how you say it.

Does Noona mean girlfriend? ›

In Korean dramas and literature, “noona” is often used to depict romantic relationships between a younger male protagonist and an older female character. Examples of when to use “누나” (noona) include: A boyfriend addressing his older girlfriend. A man speaking to his close, older female friend.

What do Koreans call older ladies? ›

It is most often used to refer to a middle-aged or older woman since referring to an elder by name without a title in Korea is not socially acceptable. 'Ajumma' is a less polite term than 'ajumeoni', which means the same thing but is more respectful.

What does sunbae mean? ›

SENIOR. Simply put, sunbae means senior. Sunbae (more commonly spelled as “seonbae”) refers to people who have more experience in work, school, etc. Whether the person is older than you or not, if they started earlier than you did, you should call them 선배 (seonbae).

What do Koreans call their boyfriend? ›

Boyfriend in Korean is 남자 친구 (namja chingu). You can read the article “How to Say 'Boyfriend' in Korean” to learn more about this word.

Why do Koreans add SSI after a name? ›

🤯 How Koreans address one other using different suffixes: 1) -Ssi (씨) refers to “Mr / Mrs / Ms” and it's used to address another adult that you're not personally close to. It's the most commonly used suffixes to address one another other in Korean language.

What does Nim mean in Korean? ›

님 (nim) Literal meaning: “Mr./Miss/Mrs.” ( It's more polite and respectful than 씨[ssi])

What does Aja means in Korean? ›

Aja' means 'keep it up' in Korean.

What does PD Nim mean in Korean? ›

Usually, if you hear PD-nim in a tv show, they're talking about the producer (the show's producer).

What does Hyung Nim mean? ›

Unnie is Dearest sister while Hyung/gongwon/nim also means Brother but the big brother whom you respect alot.

How do I introduce myself in Korean? ›

The key structure is 저는… 입니다 (I am…), and we often use this phrase to introduce ourselves, but we can use this phrase in many other situations as well. When Koreans introduce themselves, they tend to say their full name. So in the name 김민수, 김 is the family name, and 민수 is the first name.

Is Hyung only used by males? ›

The Korean word hyung is used to address an older brother or male friend. The only difference is that oppa is only used by girls, while hyung is only used by boys. Hyung is an informal honorific that is used to address someone that you are very close to.

Do girls in Korea call their boyfriend oppa? ›

In Korean culture, society looks with favor on romantic relationships where the male is a bit older than the female. During the get-to-know-you “friendly” stage, girls call these men their “oppa,” because they're generally older than them.

Why do girls call BTS oppa? ›

“Oppa” is the Korean word that female use when they are calling a male (friend) who are older than you, and it means brother. Many people call BTS in this way because they have many fangirls who are probably years younger than them. And Korean male uses the word “hyung” to call an elder brother.

Do Korean men like being called Oppa? ›

Korean Boyfriends Love Being Called Oppa

“Oppa” isn't only a phrase used to express respect and devotion to an older guy; it's also one of their relationship expectations. So, how do Korean men treat their girls?

References

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