Oppa, unnie and friendly titles

오빠 (oppa) is what a woman calls a man older than her. It originally means an older brother, but it is also used for close older male friends, boyfriends and male celebrities. Men never call older men 오빠; they use 형 (hyeong) instead. The choice depends on the speaker's gender, not the listener's.

언니 (eonni) is what a woman calls an older woman. Besides a real older sister, it is used for older female friends and acquaintances, and it sounds warm and close. Men call an older woman 누나 (nuna) instead. Using 언니 often signals that two women feel comfortable with each other.

형 (hyeong) is what a man calls an older man. It means an older brother but is widely used for older male friends and seniors. A more respectful or formal version is 형님 (hyeongnim). K-pop fans may see it spelled 'hyung,' an older romanization style; the official Revised Romanization is hyeong.

누나 (nuna) is what a man calls an older woman. It means an older sister but is used for older female friends and acquaintances too. A woman in the same situation would say 언니 (eonni). In Korean, these family-style titles depend on the speaker's gender as well as the listener's age.

Someone younger is your 동생 (dongsaeng), for both genders. To specify, say 남동생 (namdongsaeng) for a younger brother or 여동생 (yeodongsaeng) for a younger sister. When speaking directly to a younger person, Koreans usually just use their name rather than calling them 동생.

A man calls an older man 형 (hyeong), not 오빠. However, a man may refer to himself as 오빠 when speaking to a younger woman, such as a sister or girlfriend, as in 오빠가 해 줄게 (oppaga hae julge), 'Oppa will do it for you.' When unsure, using a name plus 씨 (ssi) is a safe choice.

Yes. Many women call an older boyfriend or even husband 오빠 (oppa). After marriage, some couples switch to 여보 (yeobo) or 자기 (jagi), both meaning something like 'honey.' That is why 오빠 often appears in romantic drama scenes, where it can sound affectionate and sweet.

In casual Korean restaurants, customers sometimes call female staff 이모 (imo, 'aunt') or 언니 (eonni), and male staff 삼촌 (samchon, 'uncle'). It comes from a habit of using family words to sound friendly. If that feels unnatural, 저기요 (jeogiyo) or 여기요 (yeogiyo), both meaning 'Excuse me,' are always safe.

이모 (imo) originally means a mother's sister, and 삼촌 (samchon) a father's brother. In daily life, though, both are widely used to address familiar adults warmly. Children often call their parents' friends 이모 or 삼촌, and customers may use them for restaurant staff.

선배 (seonbae) is someone who joined your school, club or company before you, and 후배 (hubae) is someone who joined after. The order of joining matters more than age, so a younger person who entered earlier is still your 선배. People often add respect by saying 선배님 (seonbaenim).

Usually yes. Even a one-year difference is enough for 오빠, 언니, 형 or 누나. People born in the same year are 동갑 (dongap), 'the same age,' and typically become friends on equal terms. Some people agree to just use names, especially in international or casual settings.

It is more natural to wait until you have become somewhat close. If the other person says 편하게 언니라고 불러 (pyeonhage eonnirago bulleo), 'Just call me eonni,' you can start then. Before that, a name plus 씨 (ssi) or their job title is the safer choice.

A same-age friend is simply 친구 (chingu), and you usually call each other by name and speak casually. Being the same age is 동갑 (dongap). People often start in polite speech and later ask 우리 말 놓을까? (uri mal noeulkka?), 'Shall we drop the formalities?'

아저씨 (ajeossi) refers to a middle-aged man and 아줌마 (ajumma) to a middle-aged woman, but both can sound rude depending on context. The more polite 아주머니 (ajumeoni) is better than 아줌마. In shops, 사장님 (sajangnim, 'boss') or 저기요 (jeogiyo) works well. Using these words for younger people can offend.

Yes. Saying 민수 오빠 (Minsu oppa) or 지영 언니 (Jiyeong eonni) makes it clear who you mean, especially when you have several older friends. Close friends often drop the name and just say 오빠 or 언니. The same works for 형 and 누나, as in 준호 형 (Junho hyeong).

When calling a close friend or younger person, add -아 (-a) if the name ends in a consonant and -야 (-ya) if it ends in a vowel. So 민준 becomes 민준아 (Minjuna) and 지수 becomes 지수야 (Jisuya). It is a warm, casual way of calling someone, never used toward older people.

자기 (jagi) literally means 'oneself,' but couples use it as a term of endearment, like 'honey' or 'babe.' When calling a partner, people often say 자기야 (jagiya). Friends sometimes use it jokingly, but it is mainly a word for romantic partners and married couples.

Yes, once you are close with Korean friends. Many Koreans appreciate it because it shows you understand the culture. Just follow the gender and age rules: women say 오빠 and 언니, men say 형 and 누나. If someone seems uncomfortable, go back to using their name.

얘 (yae) is short for 이 아이 (i ai), 'this child.' Adults use it with children, or very close friends use it playfully. Using it with an adult or someone you just met can sound condescending. Even with younger people, calling them by name is best.

No. 선생님 (seonsaengnim) means teacher, but it is also a polite way to address doctors, professionals and adults whose name you don't know. Staff at hospitals or public offices may even call customers 선생님. That makes it one of the most versatile respectful titles in Korean.