πŸ”΅ Korean Sibling Terms and Age-based Hierarchy – Intermediate Level (TOPIK 3–6)

아이듀이 λ“€νŒμ—μ„œ λ›°μ–΄λ…ΈλŠ” λͺ¨μŠ΅



Curious about how Koreans address their siblings and why age matters so much in everyday conversation? This post explores the linguistic and cultural depth of sibling terms and age hierarchy in Korea.


  • πŸ‘¨‍πŸ‘©‍πŸ‘§ Basic Sibling Terms in Korean
  • πŸ“ Why Age Determines Language
  • πŸ§“ Hierarchy in Everyday Speech
  • πŸ”„ How to Adjust Language Based on Age
  • 🎭 Practice Dialogue
  • πŸ’‘ Did You Know?
  • πŸ’¬ Final Thoughts
  • πŸ”— Related Posts


πŸ‘¨‍πŸ‘©‍πŸ‘§ Basic Sibling Terms in Korean

In Korean, sibling terms vary by the speaker’s gender and the age relationship. You never simply say “brother” or “sister”—context is everything.

  • ν˜• (hyeong): older brother (used by a male)
  • λˆ„λ‚˜ (nuna): older sister (used by a male)
  • 였빠 (oppa): older brother (used by a female)
  • μ–Έλ‹ˆ (eonni): older sister (used by a female)
  • 남동생 (namdongsaeng): younger brother (used by anyone)
  • 여동생 (yeodongsaeng): younger sister (used by anyone)

Unlike English, Koreans **never** use a sibling’s first name if the person is older than them.



πŸ“ Why Age Determines Language

Age is a core element of Korean social structure. Even a **1-year difference** changes the way you speak. This is reflected in:

  • Using honorifics or not
  • Choosing the right verb endings (-μš” vs -μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€)
  • Level of directness or softness in tone

Upon meeting, Koreans often ask: “λͺ‡ λ…„μƒμ΄μ—μš”?” (What year were you born?) to quickly determine relational hierarchy.



πŸ§“ Hierarchy in Everyday Speech

Here’s how hierarchy affects speech:

  • Older people are spoken to with μ‘΄λŒ“λ§ (formal speech)
  • Even siblings use polite forms in some families, especially when there’s a large age gap
  • Friends born in the same year are called 동갑 (donggap), and casual language (반말) is allowed

Hierarchy isn't only about respect—it defines your social **role**, expected **behavior**, and even how you **joke** with others.



πŸ”„ How to Adjust Language Based on Age

Here are some examples that show how age affects verb forms and vocabulary choices:

  • To older sibling:
    λ°₯ λ¨Ήμ—ˆμ–΄μš”? (bap meogeosseoyo?)
    Did you eat?

  • To younger sibling:
    λ°₯ λ¨Ήμ—ˆμ–΄? (bap meogeosseo?)
    You ate?

  • To same-age friend (after agreement):
    μ•Ό, λ°₯ λ¨Ήμ—ˆλƒ? (ya, bap meogeotnya?)
    Hey, did you eat? (casual tone)

Language in Korean is not just about grammar—it is about your **social awareness** and relationship-building ability.



🎭 Practice Dialogue

A (younger sister): 였빠, 였늘 뭐 ν•΄μš”?
oppa, oneul mwo haeyo?
Oppa, what are you doing today?

B (older brother): 친ꡬ λ§Œλ‚˜λŸ¬ κ°€. λ„ˆλŠ”?
chingu mannareo ga. neoneun?
I’m going to meet a friend. You?

A: λ‚˜λ„ μΉœκ΅¬λž‘ κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”.
nado chingurang gongbuhaeyo
I’m studying with a friend too.

B: μ‘°μ‹¬νžˆ 닀녀와.
josimhi danyeowa
Be safe!



πŸ’‘ Did You Know?

The Korean word for siblings is “ν˜•μ œμžλ§€” (hyeongjejamae), but you’ll rarely hear it in daily speech. Instead, Koreans almost always use specific terms based on gender and age. In fact, even married couples use 였빠 or λˆ„λ‚˜ instead of names! These terms often carry **emotional nuance**, such as affection or hierarchy, far beyond literal meaning.



πŸ’¬ Final Thoughts

Mastering sibling terms and age-based hierarchy helps you avoid awkward situations and speak more naturally with Koreans. It’s not just about being polite—it’s about becoming culturally fluent.

I hope that while reading various posts on my blog, you’ll learn Korean and grow to love Korea. As a Korean, I sincerely wish for that. Please come back anytime to discover new expressions and cultural insights!


πŸ”— Related Posts



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