남매
nammae
The English phrase 'brother and sister' is translated into Korean as 남매 (nammae).
남매 is used to describe a pair of siblings consisting of one male and one female.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the characters 남 (male) and 매 (sister).
Which one should you use?
남매 specifically refers to a male-female sibling pair. In contrast, 형제 is used to refer to brothers or siblings in a more general sense, often implying brothers, while 자매 specifically refers to a pair of sisters.
How do you pronounce it?
nammae
Did you know?
- When describing a 'brother and sister' dynamic, Koreans often use the term 현실 남매 (realistic siblings). This refers to the trope of siblings who bicker constantly and act like enemies despite loving each other.
- While 남매 describes the relationship, a Korean person will rarely call their sibling 'brother' or 'sister' by name. Instead, they use specific titles based on age and gender, such as 오빠 or 언니.
- Korean does not have a single, neutral word for 'sibling' that isn't tied to gender, which is why words like 남매 and 자매 exist to specify the exact biological makeup of the pair.
Examples in context
- 우리는 남매예요.urineun nammaeyeyo.We are brother and sister.
- 그 두 사람은 남매인가요?geu du saramun nammaeingayo?Are those two brother and sister?
Example conversation
Minji and Jihun are talking about their families.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨는 형제가 있어요?Jihun ssineun hyeongjega isseoyo?Jihun, do you have any siblings?
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 저는 남매예요.ne, jeoneun nammaeyeyo.Yes, I have a sister.
- 민지 Min-ji누나가 있어요, 아니면 여동생이 있어요?nunaga isseoyo, animyeon yeodongsaengi isseoyo?Do you have an older sister or a younger sister?
- 지훈 Ji-hun여동생이 한 명 있어요.yeodongsaengi han myeong isseoyo.I have one younger sister.
