With big families, it’s always a struggle to remember everyone’s name.<\/p>\n
Of course, we have our “brother-in-law” and “second cousin once removed” business in English. But what about titles that depend on the age of the relative? Or even different ways to refer to your relatives based on your gender?<\/p>\n
That’s the confusing world of naming Korean family members. Let’s dive in.<\/p>\n
[fluentu-toc]
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Family in Korean is \uac00\uc871 (ga-jok).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Like many other Asian cultures, traditional Korean culture places special significance on the family<\/a>.<\/p>\n Because of Confucian principles<\/a>,\u00a0elder family members are expected to be treated with a certain reverence<\/strong>. This is shown in different ways, from changing your manner of speaking and checking your sentence grammar, to making sure elders go first during certain activities (such as partaking in a meal<\/a>).<\/p>\n In Korean society, family is considered a collective, and each member is seen to represent more than just him or herself.<\/p>\n The Korean language generally<\/strong> doesn’t use\u00a0actual names for family members.<\/strong><\/p>\n When people are talking to someone they’re less acquainted with, or to someone who is their superior in some way, they often give them a title<\/strong>. These are honorifics<\/strong><\/a>: titles that replace the usage of actual names in order to express an understanding of one’s social position.<\/p>\n Honorifics are just another part of the layered etiquette system<\/a> in Korean culture. Sometimes honorifics aren’t given to those who are your junior, although courtesy may incline you to do so in different situations.<\/p>\n Before we go any further, let’s check out this video on Korean honorifics:<\/p>\n If names are to be added to honorifics, then they’d be the surname,<\/strong> which would go before the honorific. This is often done by older individuals speaking to those who are close in age to them. For example, if you are speaking to a \uae40\uc815\ud6c4 (Kim Jung-hoo),<\/em> you may refer to him as \uae40\uc528 (Kim ssi),<\/em> not \uc815\ud6c4 \uc528.<\/p>\n However, in other contexts, addressing someone in this manner can come off as demeaning or act as a curt social position check, a bit like how in English we’d emphasize a “Mr.” or “Mrs. \/ Ms.” to get at someone’s attention and keep them in line.<\/p>\n While an older sibling may refer to their younger sibling by their name, it’d be quite a surprise if a younger sibling suddenly spoke to their elder brother or sister by their real name sans honorific.<\/strong> It could be quite messy if you did this with your parent or grandparent.<\/p>\n Honorifics act as courtesy markers<\/strong> and show that you understand who deserves respect. Within the family, remembering the correct title is a social expectation. Somewhat unfortunately, there are quite a lot of specific titles to remember!<\/p>\n \uc9d1\uc548 (jib-an)<\/em> \u2014 immediate family living in the same house<\/p>\n \uce5c\ucc99 (chin-cheok)<\/em> \u2014 relatives<\/p>\n \ud608\uc871 (hyeol-jok)<\/em> \u2014 blood relatives<\/p>\n \uac00\uc871 \uad6c\uc131\uc6d0 (ga-jok gu-seong-won)<\/em> \u2014 family member<\/p>\n \uc544\ub4e4 (a-deul)<\/em> \u2014 son<\/p>\n \ub538 (ddal)<\/em> \u2014 daughter<\/p>\n \uc790\uc2dd (ja-sik)<\/em> \u2014 child \/ children<\/p>\n \uc544\uc774 (ah-ee)<\/em> \u2014 child (one)<\/p>\n \uc544\uae30 (a-gi)<\/em> \u2014 baby\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \uaf2c\ub9c8 (kko-ma)<\/em> \u2014 little one<\/span><\/p>\n \ub9cf\uc774 (ma-jji)<\/em> \u2014 eldest child<\/p>\n \uc911\uac04 \uc790\ub140 (jung-gan-ja-nyeo)<\/em> \u2014 middle child<\/p>\n \ub9c9\ub0b4 (mak-nae)<\/em> \u2014 youngest child<\/p>\n \uc5b4\uba38\ub2c8 (uh-muh-ni)<\/em> \/ \uc5c4\ub9c8 (uhm-ma)<\/em> \u2014 mother \/ mom<\/p>\n \uc544\ubc84\uc9c0 (ah-buh-ji)<\/em> \/ \uc544\ube60 (ah-ppa)<\/em> \u2014 father \/ dad<\/p>\n \ubd80\ubaa8\ub2d8 (bu-mo-nim)<\/em> \u2014 one’s own parents (formal)<\/p>\n These terms apply to both biological and in-law parents, although there are specific terms to point out parents-in-law when you’re speaking about them.<\/p>\n \ud560\uc544\ubc84\uc9c0 (ha-ra-buh-ji)<\/em> \u2014 paternal grandfather<\/p>\n \ud560\uba38\ub2c8 (hal-muh-ni)<\/em> \u2014 paternal grandmother<\/p>\n \uc678\ud560\uc544\ubc84\uc9c0 (oe-hal-a-buh-ji)<\/em> \u2014 maternal grandfather<\/span><\/p>\n \uc678\ud560\uba38\ub2c8 (oe-hal-muh-ni)<\/em> \u2014 maternal grandmother<\/span><\/p>\n To be more formal when addressing your grandparents, you can add a \ub2d8 to the end, such as \ud560\uc544\ubc84\ub2d8 or \ud560\uba38\ub2d8.<\/p>\n What about for great-grandparents? Here are the Korean terms:<\/p>\n \uc99d\uc870\ubd80\ubaa8 (jeung-jo-bu-mo)<\/em> \u2014 great-grandparents<\/p>\n \uc99d\uc870\ud560\uc544\ubc84\uc9c0 (jeung-jo-hal-a-beo-ji)<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 paternal great-grandfather<\/span><\/p>\n \uc99d\uc870\ud560\uba38\ub2c8 (jeung-jo-hal-meo-ni)<\/em> \u2014 paternal great-grandmother<\/span><\/p>\n \uc678\uc99d\uc870\ud560\uc544\ubc84\uc9c0 (oe-jeung-jo-hal-a-beo-ji) <\/em>\u2014 maternal great-grandfather<\/span><\/p>\n \uc678\uc99d\uc870\ud560\uba38\ub2c8 (oe-jeung-jo-hal-meo-ni)<\/em> \u2014 maternal great-grandmother<\/span><\/p>\n \ubd80\ubd80 (bu-bu)<\/em> \u2014 a married couple \/ husband and wife<\/p>\n \ub0a8\ud3b8 (nam-pyun)<\/em> \u2014\u00a0husband<\/p>\n \uc544\ub0b4 (ah-neh)<\/em> \u2014 wife<\/p>\n \ubd80\uc778 (bu-in)<\/em> \u2014 wife (formal)<\/span><\/p>\n \ubc30\uc6b0\uc790 (bae-u-ja)<\/em> \u2014 spouse<\/span><\/p>\n These are what you’d call your spouses when you’re talking about, not with, them. Normally, Korean couples refer to each other with other terms of endearment<\/a> or pet names.<\/p>\n One of these terms is \uc5ec\ubcf4<\/em>\u00a0(yuh-bo) <\/em><\/strong>which essentially translates to “darling” or “sweetheart.” This term is used exclusively by married couples. If a younger or unmarried couple uses this term, they’re trying to be cutesy or pretending to be married.<\/p>\n Another common term of endearment is \ub2f9\uc2e0<\/em>\u00a0(dang-shin)<\/em><\/strong>,<\/em> which basically means “you.” However, take note: this term should only <\/em>be used to directly address a spouse. If you use it to mean “you” in any other context, it can be seen as offensive.<\/p>\n When you’re talking about other people’s spouses, these are polite terms to use:<\/p>\n \uc544\ub0b4\ubd84 (a-nae-bun)<\/em> \u2014\u00a0 wife<\/span><\/p>\n \ub0a8\ud3b8\ubd84 (nam-pyeon-bun)<\/em> \u2014 husband<\/span><\/p>\n If a couple is already engaged (but not married yet), there are titles for that, too:\u00a0<\/p>\n \uc57d\ud63c\uc790 (yak-hon-ja)<\/em> \u2014 fianc\u00e9 \/ fianc\u00e9e (neutral term)<\/p>\n \uc57d\ud63c\ub140 (yak-hon-nyeo)<\/em> \u2014 fianc\u00e9e\u00a0<\/p>\n \uc57d\ud63c\ub0a8 (yak-hon-nam)<\/em> \u2014 fianc\u00e9\u00a0<\/p>\n \ud615 (hyung)<\/em> \u2014 older brother for male<\/p>\n \uc624\ube60 (o-ppa)<\/em> \u2014 older brother for female<\/p>\n \ub204\ub098 (nu-na)<\/em> \u2014 older sister for male<\/p>\n \uc5b8\ub2c8 (un-ni)<\/em> \u2014 older sister for female<\/p>\n \ub0a8\ub3d9\uc0dd (nam-dong-seng)<\/em> \u2014 younger brother<\/p>\n \uc5ec\ub3d9\uc0dd (yuh-dong-seng)<\/em> \u2014 younger sister<\/p>\n \uc790\ub9e4 (ja-mae)<\/em> \u2014 sisters<\/span><\/p>\n \ud615\uc81c (hyeong-je)<\/em> \u2014 brothers<\/span><\/p>\n \ub0a8\ub9e4 (nam-mae)<\/em> \u2014 brother and sister<\/span><\/p>\n Here’s our first look at how honorifics will differ based on the gender of the speaker.<\/p>\n If you’re at all familiar with Korean drama shows, or K-dramas<\/a>, you probably already know these constraints. Unless jokingly, a Korean girl wouldn’t call her older brother \ud615 or a Korean boy call his older sister \uc5b8\ub2c8.<\/p>\nUsing Titles (Not Names!) for Your Family<\/h2>\n
Korean Titles and Honorifics<\/h3>\n
When to Use Names<\/h3>\n
Family Members in Korean<\/h2>\n
Family (\uac00\uc871, ga-jok<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Children (\uc544\uc774\ub4e4, ah-ee-deul<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
Parents (\ubd80\ubaa8, bu-mo<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
Great-Grandparents (\uc870\ubd80\ubaa8, jo-bu-mo<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
Spouses (\ubc30\uc6b0\uc790, beh-oo-ja<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
Siblings (\ud615\uc81c\uc790\ub9e4, hyeong-je-ja-mae<\/em>)<\/h3>\n