[Ask Hyojin] How To Address Your Friends in Korean

Want to sound more fluent in Korean? The trick is, if you know how to address people properly, your Korean will sound not only much more fluent but also more polite as well than when you just call or address people by their names.
In this episode of Ask Hyojin, Hyunwoo and Hyojin explain how to address people in Korean.
Since there are many different ways to address people depending on the age difference between you and them, their gender, and/or how close you two are, we separated this video into two parts. In the first part, we are going to explain how to address your friends or someone you know in Korean. In the second part of the video, we will be introducing some terms that you can use to address strangers.
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[@fugdsicle54]

this was the most helpful thing I've ever watched ever

[@bella-iq3tn]

V Lee armyyyy

[@Eyes_Unclouded]

🤗

[@strawberrykupcakeii3557]

Jimin-ssi

[@lunettespasta792]

No one: Caption: *oH kNeE*

[@czossosnkowy]

If you add -아 to a Polish male name, you will make it sound female, because every female name ends with "a" xD I tried this during Korean classes and it was so funny and confusing.

[@jiminssugarkookiewithateat2972]

That'S real... my friend is Polish and her name is Karolina ^^ eheh-

[@nickpro8116]

The same goes for pretty much every Slavic language, I am Russian and we have the same thing...

[@cutiesana1757]

Same

[@he3rtkithes.g111]

i’m polish and your correct

[@zulkiflijamil4033]

@Czos Sosnkowy Dziękuję. 감사합니다.

[@glampition]

One of the things I really like about Korean culture is addressing people, It sounds very organized to me -as weird as that sounds- and I like to organize everything! specially my relationships ^^ And I dont have such thing in any of my two mother languages [arabic, somalian]. + I'm a person who people feel comfortable around so I have a lot of friends as a result, some who i dont even like but i cant say NO to them. It would be nice to have something like 씨 to keep the formality between us ^^"

[@asli9812]

umm what are you talking about? i'm somali and we have something similar to that. For example, abaayo, aboowe, walaalo...

[@victoriagomez3646]

LOL who else thought of Jugkook callling Jimin Jimin ssi

[@elsa7_bangtan330]

I did

[@namjuvs7844]

me

[@chloefitzhughrohaly3724]

Mko

[@celestine6898]

Me

[@kassi490]

Yup...💜

[@kristinedelossantos999]

Talk To Me In Korean is very efficient. I love your set ups, your strategy, gestures and etc.

[@KimchiFarts]

This is so convenient. So easy to know exactly where you stand with a person, hard to mistake how close you are with someone. Hard to overestimate your standing with people

[@ninobrn00]

A little late to the game, but this video has been super helpful! I sat and took notes during the whole thing (twice) to make sure I got everything I needed. Thank you.

[@D-Walker]

Ah, thanks a lot guys. This finally answer my question on addressing someone who is younger or of same age.

[@ThisIsAngika]

-이 is actually used after names when you're talking about that person with someone else. Obviously, that person's name has to end with a consonant. Therefore, that person is the subject. -아 & -야 are used after the name of the person you're talking to/calling out to/addressing, etc. And, the word 언니 is just a base noun which doesn't have an honorific form unlike 오빠, 누나, 할머니, etc. which are base nouns, but have an honorific form, too. :)

[@epicgames6453]

Very complete explanation,I learned lots new korean words.

[@bernadetterocha3693]

What's really good about watching Korean Drama is that you can kind of pick this stuff up by the time the season is over. There were only a couple of these that I didn't know, and the rest I learned from Emergency Couple and from Boarding House No. 24.

[@flowerdz6306]

thank you so much ...so helpfull as always i really like this channel so keep going

[@AndrejLamut]

선생님들 감사합니다~ your vieos are the best ^^

[@UoIZoFIK]

Hyojin always with the good banter xD

[@nikopark93]

This was useful but still didn’t cover exactly what I was looking for. Good video either way. 👍

[@StrifeRaider]

this was a good one i always wondered about those things and how to use them :)

[@BoyBandluver150]

I have a question about using "씨": Is it just better for the younger person to stop using the title or the older person?

[@1600Awesome]

Thanks for the video

[@jenna_maria]

Does 군 have anything to do with the Japanese 君 (“kun”, used for guys casually)?

[@LindaLoveOfficial]

This helped clear up alot of things

[@signepamyu7803]

Thanks! Very helpful! ^^

[@MrKnucklez1000]

There's a visual version done by EYK. Thats very helpful too.

[@CeliaGoh]

how about between husband and wife? I heard the usage of -ssi a lot in dramas.. it feels kinda awkward, no?

[@vavenia2314]

When someone says 우리 말 놀까요? How should I respond? And we’re the same age.

[@zojirushima]

1) Open the Control Panel. 2) Select “Clock, Language and Region”. 3) Under “Region and Language” click “Change Keyboards 4) Under “Keyboards and Languages”, click “Change Keyboards”. 5) top half of the panel is “Default Input Language” - do not change it. Bottom half is “Installed Services”. In it, click “Add”; 6) find “Korean”; expand the + sign next to “Korean”; expand the + sign next to “keyboard”. 7) Check “Microsoft IME” Do not check "Korean"or "Show More”.

[@amlsg]

I already know some of this except for the last 3 but then I have so much fun watching this. Hahaha ^^

[@withyi2]

Oh if you think this is way too complicated, you are welcome to learn vietnamese^^. Btw, thank you ttmik, love your videos

[@watercongas]

I really like your videos! :) Greetings from Germany :)

[@saraht8654]

very interesting !!! though i'm a little bit frustrated since all my korean friends are older than me so i always end up calling them oppa or eonni TT being young is sure hard

[@rafaelgoncalves2879]

After all these years I finally understand why on "Lost" Sun called Jin "친수씨"!!! I remember that I thought it was funny because "soo-shi" reminded me of "sushi" (how silly I was) but now everything makes sense.

[@cutiesana1757]

This is really useful

[@tp7487]

반가워!

[@Oomsham]

It might have something to do with the language exchange component. Whenever I talk to a girl who is older than me (and we're not acquaintances), I call her "such and such 누나." However, if we speak in English then instead of saying "보람 누나," I just say "Boram." For me, it depends on which language is being spoken. In general, I wouldn't worry about it. Korea's a high context culture and using these terms is expected. However, adding the multiple language component might change that expectation.

[@user-yb6rd8ht7g]

lol just realized this is a very old video... anyway, thank you, TTMIK!

[@novirv3227]

how about calling a younger friend with 이 =i not 아 example sujini .. is it more in a cute way ?

[@user-yd5vf2st4i]

What do you call a person that is a friend of a friend for the first time and they are the same age

[@Inchonseoul]

Let me clear couple of things for some of you who commented I don't think this video is for you to address Koreans in these manner it is just how we do amongst ourselves, no one in Korea be offended if a foreigner does not follow in this manner you address however you like it, that's just fine it's just the information that is how we do in our culture for those who are interested in Korean language or her culture.

[@KatsLifestyle]

I met a person who was a friend of my friend (so a pretty casual situation) and this guy was 1 year younger than me (I'm a girl btw) - I don't know this person very well so I don't feel like using panmal to start with. How do I address this person?

[@CaroleMcDonnell]

You guys teach so well. Thanks. I'm learning so much. What if it's a stranger you don't know? The lady or man at the local Korean store, for instance? I don't want to call them ahjumma-ssi or grandma-ssi or agasshi-shi. No word for sir? or Ma'am?

[@gabriellipowski1177]

What if you meet someone who is older, but you are, for example, a senior staff member in a company, and he/she is just starting to work here?

[@crispfryton]

For words in Korean that are very similar to the English pronunciation do you prefer to say it the Korean or English way? Words like 스웨터 or 클래스

[@LoveLittleTwix]

What if you meet your friend's close friends for the first time, it would seem weird for me to call the name-shii, but wouldn't oppa/unnie be a little bit much? Can anyone help me with that? (Age is about 20)

[@maygreene5436]

Its appropriate, but if the environment is uncomfortable or you don't wanna become friends use -씨

[@UStolMyNameGiveItBak]

How would I address a younger Korean male acquaintance who is someone I respect? Specifically my son's taekwondo instructor who is no longer teaching and who I run into outside of the dojang regularly. When he was teaching I addressed him as Master + his last name. Is it awkward to continue to address him this way now that our relationship is more casual? Would it be offensive if I just asked him directly how I should address him?

[@jenjennifer2558]

So if there is a older guy and he is really close to a girl and she is younger then him what would he call her? and if he could say like for example getting my attention would he say Jennifer-a or Jennifer-ya or neither of these??

[@kimhee-young8126]

Plz help me in my one doubt in names Tania and sammy what will be used a/ya/shi

[@phant0m0th_]

When I first started learning Korean, one of the words I learned was "오빠" so I googled how to use it right? While on google, I found that people who were Korean (not all but some guys) didn't like someone who wasn't Korean (or even Asian) to use that word to address them.

Gracias aprendí cosas muy importantes! :)

[@thefancycat2652]

What do you call older friends if you don't wanna use 언니 or 오빠 or -씨. Is there anything else you can call them as? Can you just say their name or no?

[@Nagoz83]

what about names that end in ae and ect like uchae...would the ae be seen as a vowel? and i'd use yah?

[@gfr97]

이 is the subject particle.

[@ThisIsAngika]

That is correct! :) Well, it can be contracted that way, but since there is no such word as 언님, it obviously isn't used. About why it is left out, I'm not sure. Every language does have exceptions, right? And, 오라버니 is the honorific for 오빠. It is very rarely used, and mostly in SUPER formal situations.

[@tonyl4890]

I am so confused. Its easy if the other person is older than you, but when you're older than the person you're talking to and you're not familiar enough with them to use -아 / 야 what are you supposed to use?! It sounds like -양 is too formal, but then it sounds like -씨 is too impersonal. So whats best? Please help!

[@kylesmith8590]

if the person is older than me like thirty years old, is it natural to call him 형?

[@heatherwallick8287]

what is the significance of -goon as in Hyun-goon? Thank you!

[@pandayonn6053]

알랐어! 감사합니다 sorry for my bad korean 👩‍💻

[@procrastinatinginsomniacs2521]

Okay so if someone's name ends in a silent consonant and all you hear is the vowel sound, you would still use "yah" instead of "ah," right?

[@rayIII]

So, could someone rank all of the terms they covered (오빠/언니, 형/누나, -아/-야, -씨, -군, -양, and -님), by their formality?

[@astryzulky]

Last year I joined a program in Korea and I had to contact the committee thru sns and I called her 'her name + ssi' because I thought it's a formal way to address her since she is also older than me, but then she text me back that '-ssi' is for calling someone you already know like friends for example, and I felt bad after that (cuz I don't know if she doesn't like I called her that or she just wanted to correct me) and after that I just call her using English like Miss Kim or Ms. Kim ㅎㅎㅎㅎㅎ

[@tp7487]

효진누나! 안녕!

[@magyarmak]

I just have a quick question... I've noticed that both 효진씨 & 경은언니 say "씨" with a very soft, single "s" sound, like "시," but 현우오빠 and the other male teachers say "씨" with a harder "s" sound. Why is that? Is that just a preference of the sexes? Thanks! :)

[@nakyummm9880]

씨 Has more of an 'Sh' sound and also there is something called aspiration, some words have more breath. For example Take your hand and say 씨..There is more breath. Now say 시..Therr is less breath.

[@milk6808]

I'm not sure if there IS a difference in the letters but I know that Korean females tend to drag our the end of their sentences as opposed to the males who don't do so, at least not as often as the girls and women. I've seen it in kdramas and well this video and many korean shows.

[@justaperson4363]

I do feel like Korean language is a little bit closer to me cuz I m trying to learn. I love the culture. I m trying to make new friends. It's hard for me to understand the exact meaning of what Korean ppl say to me. Like understanding the whole sentences. I wish that I m able to speak without feeling like it's impossible to understand. Fluent, natural level. I do want to speak with a native person in Korean and understand. My new friend who is older than me said at the beginning of her comment "진구님~" That part 님 , 진구 means friend. I felt like we know eachother for years of friendship when I read that, even though we became friends recently. I said sorry to her bc...on my side I feel a lot of guilt and I feel a barrier cuz I can't understand Korean too well. She said sorry for me cuz I think she feels bad for me cuz we can't communicate properly. I hope to improve myself... Idk how to talk properly...I don't want to sound like I don't respect.. just I don't want to have a wrong impression on her. She's kind of age of my mum. I feel honoured to have older friends. Just any friend. It doesn't matter the country. I wish that there's a way for me to learn better.

[@all4loveand_love4all]

What would I (female) call a younger female that I'm close to. I had a friend tell me 동생...but I can't find that referenced for anything other than calling a younger male (brother).

[@talktomeinkorean]

You can call her '동생' as well, as it can be used for both genders. You could put '남' or '여' in front of '동생' in certain situations to differentiate the two (ie. introducing your family members)

[@byuteefull5659]

a guy asked me to call him oppa...but he still use joendemal because he said it's more gentle for me? could you explain what does this mean? thank you...^^

[@aimziq16]

GOOD VIDEO

[@tp7487]

현우형 안녕!

[@luckyraine888]

very informative.. =)

[@RiscoASMR]

I get it. Mostly for younger person. But what if for someone older than me. Let's say younger female 25y.o >> older female/male 30y.o Or younger male 25y.o >> older female/male 30 y.o ? Like..Let's say we (foreigners) go to korea, and meet idols. Feels so weird if we started to call them oenni / oppa..) Or meet someone's friend (who is a korean) for the first time. And they are older.. Should we call their name using -ssi / -nim? Is it considered as impolite? Thank you for those who can help.

[@perdykool]

Yep yep... this is the video for me.

[@SweedRaver]

How close do the ages need to be to be considered the same? Can I use -아/야 with anyone born the same year as me (I am born in September), or is there an interval within which you are considered the same age, or are the terms only used for people born on the same day or later?

[@peachyblushes]

Eric Same year. But I think if someone was born in December 1997, someone who was born in February 1998, they would still be considered same age friends.

[@blakespower]

how do korean friends address each other? they they call them by their entire name? surname and giiven name? if you are at a party and everyones surname is Kim cant you just call them by their given name? only

[@vlogofrachel]

Really helpful!! I didnt know about 군, 양, or 님. Also, I'm curious, how often do you tell people "its okay you can call me "오빠/언니/형/누나" because I always feel shy and it would be helpful if you said that! hehe :P

[@skshankallar2824]

How we can talk Korea hero who I like

[@ej9212]

How do I address a female friend who is older than me?

[@phantom9213]

I’m still confused by using ‘씨’

[@zTheMonsterz]

Alrighty, now how do I make a friend?

[@Elaugh8]

do i call my friend unnie is shes few months older?

[@KokoKouture78]

I think so because she is older than you

[@KAtheHEartsB2st14]

Hyunwoo ssi! Hyojin ssi!do you have to ask someone if you can call them 오빠/언니 or can I just call them abruptly?

[@nightappleispoisonapple5012]

If im not wrong, they are the ones that tell you like ‘ohh call me oppa’

[@BeautifulRocks]

ouh I finally understand gun. In thhe Drama Goong the girl called the princes ~~~gun. yul-gun, shingun. I get it know haha thanks a lot

[@maygreene5436]

Wow I was a t t a c k e d by the intro thanks teach

[@emeralddreams5934]

Hello there! I have a few questions, are there any other formal terms for addressing a person? Wouldn't it be awkward to call a person 'oppa' if you aren't close? How do you address a person whom you know but are not close to?. Like for example in Japan they add 'san' to the last name of the person, like Saito-san, Takamura-san etc. but when they're close or they're friends they add 'chan' or 'kun' instead.. Does Korea have the same rule as well?

[@thiapark8387]

Emerald Dreams you can add 씨 after the person's name.

[@UStolMyNameGiveItBak]

I'm curious about this as well! Specifically the Korean equivalent to senpai.

[@parttime_kpopstan8061]

None of my friends in younger than me and no one in my family either TT

[@hellnot5]

Good video!:) To me is so awkward to put this worlds in my Korean friends! Well even I just sometimes speak korean with them... but to me... is kinda weard puting 헝 or 누나 because... I don't know I feel I'm not allowed to do because I'm not korean... is very weirs to say 우재헝 or 희애누나! Just if I speak korean with them...

[@MrBezazel]

Anyone know names to address your spouse or significant other?

[@anyawinona2509]

When u wanna call your spouse "honey", you say 여보 (yeobo) or if you wanna call your boyfriend or girlfriend like darling, or sweetie you say 자기야 (jagiya). But I've never heard married couples call each other jagiya and dating couples call each other yeobo so I think there's a difference.

[@whatever-eg4kd]

I have a question... I want to give my new puppy a name and I love one so much but I don't really know how to address it.. Like, "Bom-ah" Is it okay to call it this way? Or "Bom-i"? Bom=spring/spring time

[@akshrarajput9576]

It would be bom-ah

[@parkjimin7547]

Im an older female and my friend calls me noona cause hes younger. What can i call him

[@lekkerjammen]

Exactly still don't understand

[@candlehead6673]

You can call him Namdongsaeng (남동생), which means younger brother, or Dongsaeng (동생), which is a more gender-neutral form of the same address. Usually, though, the older just uses their name + 'a' or 'ya.'

[@pilosopo74]

Just add a 씨

[@missiejin]

I have a korean friend, he's older than me and he speaks english and korean fluently. I am almost fluent in texting in korean (BUT NOT SPEAKING) so 95% of our texts are in korean. I call him 오빠 when texting cause its..just that weird rude feeling if I dont. However, in real life we only speak english so its just really awkward to call him 오빠 or by his name! D:

[@monsieurded6768]

My question is simply... how do these Korean's know how old each other are?

[@palomac4408]

I guess they asked each other

[@he3rtkithes.g111]

usually when become friends with a korean you ask what year they were born to see if there older

[@diallobanksmusic]

what do I call a male friend older than me if I'm alsona male?

[@MrsLucky2000]

I think you can call him 형 (hyung) in that case

[@InvisibleRen]

What about -이? I figured it's one you use with close same age or younger , and that it's more endearing than -아/야? What's the difference? Between friends and family, I actually hear -이 when there's a 받침 more often than -아. (It'd help if you're 100% sure and have experience speaking with Koreans...) Also why can you say 할머님, 누님, & 어머님, but not 언님?

[@blakespower]

oh ok thats why some koreans when they are speaking english they seem to put a AH at the end of words sometimes "ride the Bus ah", I thought it was just a filler like with native english speakers when people say UMMMM after some words and sentences, like they are thinking while talking

[@qtee]

I remember talking to a penpal. I asked him if I should address him as oppa since he was older and he said he doesn't like being called oppa. Since then, I'm super cautious about using those terms because I feel like oppas wont like being called oppa. I wonder why? Maybe it's because of the Kpop oppa thingy, I don't know Have you ever heard of that? Is that common?

[@ysabelish2744]

How do you address your friend's mom?? Is it "imo"?

[@nikopark93]

Ysabelish 27 This is literally the same question I had when I clicked on this video in the search. I still don’t have an answer lol

[@whatever-eg4kd]

From what I know, "imo" means 'aunt' so it's not bad..

[@lianabasilio]

But what do I call my mom's friend? Should I call her 언니 or 이모? I tried searching this up but the only thing that comes up is friend's parents not parents' friend. I'm not really close to her kids so I don't want to call them (kids name)-어머니

[@talktomeinkorean]

Usually either of 이모 or 아줌마 is used.

[@lianabasilio]

@@talktomeinkorean thank you!!

[@jc.9]

what do i call a younger female that´s a toddler or a baby?

[@charliechoi4484]

애기야(aegiya) = no gender difference

[@jirehbriandimalanta4927]

What if you are a teacher and your student is a kid??

[@arlentan]

at 8:50 what is she saying exactly

[@germaineongyl]

she was just saying hi, how old are you?

[@anushreev5920]

Is it that female can only use the term unnie and oppa? Can they use the term hyung and noona??

[@feeeliiix4592]

if you‘re female, you shouldn‘t use 형 and 누나!

[@DaniBriskin]

Rondom but~! funny enough, tho we're not close to being Korean, I noticed this habit in our family that's really funny, our parents especially, tend to add "ah" in the end of our names, I noticed that after I started learning Korean and it became really funny to hear "Ronen-ah" (my brother's name) and "Dani-ya"(my name) being called across the house xD

[@AnStHa]

Do I need to call my friend unnie if she is only a year older than me?

[@Kyotae]

Yup~ Even if it's only one year, you still need to show them that 'respect' :P

[@AnStHa]

I see. Thanks! ^^ * attempting to write a birthday card for my Korean friend *