Table of contents

1. Korean Family Titles

2. Basic Family Titles

3. Distinction Between Paternal and Maternal Relatives

4. Family Titles After Marriage

5. Changes Across Eras and Generations

6. Tips for Using Family Titles

Wrap-Up

title-Understanding-Korean-Family-Titles-Simplify-Your-Drama-Watching-Experience

 

1. Korean Family Titles

Family terms in Korean go beyond simple words; they reflect relationships and generations, clearly understanding who is who within a family. This unique cultural aspect of the Korean language plays a crucial role in shaping Koreans' identity.

Have you ever wondered about the family terms used in Korean dramas? This post will help you familiarize yourself with these titles and enhance your experience by instantly recognizing them while watching.

 

2. Basic Family Titles

Parents

l  아버지 (Father): The title for the head of the family. A more casual term is 아빠 (Dad).

l  어머니 (Mother): The central figure in the family. Casually referred to as 엄마 (Mom).

 

Siblings

l  (Hyeong): What a male calls his older brother.

l  누나 (Noona): What a male calls his older sister.

l  오빠 (Oppa): What a female calls her older brother.

l  언니 (Eonni): What a female calls her older sister.

l  동생 (Dongsaeng): A gender-neutral term for younger siblings. For specificity:

Ø  남동생 (Namdongsaeng): Younger brother.

Ø  여동생 (Yeodongsaeng): Younger sister.

Unlike terms for older siblings, 동생 titles depend on the younger sibling's gender, not the speaker’s.

 

When Siblings Are Married

l  형수 (Hyeongsu): The wife of one’s older brother (used by younger males).

l  매형 (Maehyeong): The husband of one’s older sister (used by younger males).

l  올케 (Olke): The wife of one’s older brother (used by younger females).

l  형부 (Hyeongbu): The husband of one’s older sister (used by younger females).

l  제수씨 (Jesussi): The wife of one’s younger brother.

l  매제 (Maeje): The husband of one’s younger sister.

 

3. Distinction Between Paternal and Maternal Relatives

In Korean, specific terms clearly distinguish paternal relatives (친가) and maternal relatives (외가).

 

Paternal Relatives (친가)

l  할아버지 (Hal-abeoji): Father’s father.

l  할머니 (Halmeoni): Father’s mother.

l  큰아버지 (Keun-abeoji) / 작은아버지 (Jageun-abeoji): Father’s older brother / younger brother.

l  큰어머니 (Keun-eomeoni) / 작은어머니 (Jageun-eomeoni): The wife of father’s older brother / younger brother.

l  고모 (Gomo): Father’s sister (older or younger).

l  고모부 (Gomobu): The husband of father’s sister.

 

Maternal Relatives (외가)

l  외할아버지 (Wae-hal-abeoji): Mother’s father.

l  외할머니 (Wae-halmeoni): Mother’s mother.

l  외삼촌 (Wae-samchon): Mother’s brother.

l  외숙모 (Wae-sukmo): The wife of mother’s brother.

l  이모 (Imo): Mother’s sister.

l  이모부 (Imobu): The husband of mother’s sister.

 

These specific terms identify the relationship and reflect Korea’s strong emphasis on familial structure and lineage.

 

4. Family Titles After Marriage

After marriage, additional terms are used to address one’s spouse’s family. These titles carefully reflect age, relationship, and hierarchy within the family.

 

Husband’s Family (시댁)

l  시어머니 (Si-eomeoni), 시아버지 (Si-abeoji): Husband’s mother and father.

l  아주버니 (Ajubeoni): Husband’s older brother.

l  형님 (Hyeongnim): The wife of the husband’s older brother.

l  도련님 (Doryeonnim), 서방님 (Seobangnim): Husband’s unmarried younger brother / married younger brother.

l  시누이 (Sinu-i): Husband’s sister (older or younger).

l  시매부 (Simaebu): The husband of the husband’s sister.

l  동서 (Dongseo): The spouse of the husband’s sibling.

l  시조카 (Si-joka): The child of the husband’s siblings.

 

Wife’s Family (처가)

l  장인어른 (Jangin-eoreun): Wife’s father.

l  장모님 (Jangmo-nim): Wife’s mother.

l  처남 (Cheonam), 처제 (Cheoje): Wife’s younger brother / younger sister.

l  처형 (Cheohyeong): Wife’s older sister.

l  처남댁 (Cheonamdaek): The wife of the wife’s younger brother.

l  처조카 (Cheo-joka): The child of the wife’s siblings.

 

These terms highlight Korea’s cultural emphasis on the intricate dynamics of familial relationships.

 

5. Changes Across Eras and Generations

In the past, family titles were governed by strict hierarchies influenced by traditional Confucian culture. However, modern trends have simplified these terms.

For instance:

l  In the past, it was common to address the husband’s younger brother as 도련님 (Doryeonnim) and his younger sister as 아가씨 (Agassi). Nowadays, people are encouraged to use first names instead.

l  Similarly, addressing the wife’s older brother as 형님 (Hyeongnim) has shifted to the more direct term 처남 (Cheonam) in many cases.

 

These changes contribute to smoother communication and help maintain more equal family relationships. Nonetheless, traditional terms are still widely used, so it is essential to choose the appropriate title based on the situation.

 

6. Tips for Using Family Titles

l  Use titles appropriate to the situation: Pay special attention when addressing in-laws (시댁 and 처가).

l  Explain terms clearly to children: Teaching kids to use proper titles from a young age fosters good habits.

l  Ask if unsure: Using the correct title strengthens relationships, and it’s better to ask than to risk using the wrong term.


🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.


Wrap-Up

Korean family titles are more than just words—they’re a way to strengthen bonds between generations and share cultural values. Each term reflects relationships and emotions, making them unique and fascinating. While they might feel a bit tricky initially, focusing on the connections and asking questions when unsure will always help you get it right.