Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 형 | hyeong | [çʌ̹ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 형님 | hyeongnim | [çʌ̹ŋnim] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | honorific |
| 오빠 | oppa | [o̞p͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 남동생 | namdongsaeng | [na̠mdo̞ŋsʰɛŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [na̠mdo̞ŋsʰe̞ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
|
| 동생 | dongsaeng | [to̞ŋsʰɛŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [to̞ŋsʰe̞ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
|
| 아우 | au | [a̠u] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 오라버님 | orabeonim | [o̞ɾa̠bʌ̹nim] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 브라더 | beuradeo | [pɯɾa̠dʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | colloquial, humorous, ironic |
형 is used by a male speaker to refer to an older brother. 오빠 is used by a female speaker to refer to an older brother. For a younger brother, you can use 남동생, while 동생 is a more general term for a younger sibling or someone younger who you share a friendly bond with. This term 동생 can be used by both genders.
Which one should you use?
While 남동생 specifically refers to a younger brother, the term 동생 can refer to any younger sibling.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
형님 is a more formal and respectful way to address or refer to an older brother than 형. For highly formal or traditional contexts, 오라버님 is used as a very polite way to refer to an older brother. Among close male friends, the loanword 브라더 is sometimes used humorously or ironically.
How do you pronounce it?
hyeong
Did you know?
- While 오빠 is a common term for an older brother, it is also used by women as a romantic term of endearment for a boyfriend or husband.
- The word 형 is a homonym in Korean and can also mean 'punishment', 'shape', 'model' or 'firefly' depending on the Chinese character used.
- In many social circles, the word 동생 is used as a friendly title for anyone younger than you, even if you are not related by blood.
Examples in context
- 그는 도쿄에 형제가 있다.He has a brother in Tokyo.This sentence is useful for stating someone has a brother in a specific location.Tatoeba #11105563 by intertime, translation #1460480 by piksea
- 나는 내 형제가 두렵지 않다.I'm not afraid of my brother.This sentence is useful for expressing a feeling toward a brother.Tatoeba #12977448 by Uwe, translation #8690460 by ajje
- 톰이랑 톰네 형은 진짜 닮았어.Tom and his brother look quite similar.This sentence is useful for noting a resemblance between a person and their brother.Tatoeba #4751804 by kimhkng, translation #2641011 by CK
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dohyun and Seoyeon are talking about family photos.
- 도현 Do-hyeon이 사람은 내 형이야.i sarameun nae hyeong-iya.This person is my brother.
- 서연 Seo-yeon형이랑 정말 비슷하게 생겼네.hyeong-irang jeongmal biseut-hage saeng-gyeonne.You look really similar to your brother.
- 도현 Do-hyeon응, 다들 그렇게 말해.eung, dadeul geureoke malhae.Yes, everyone says that.
- 서연 Seo-yeon형은 지금 어디서 일해?hyeong-eun jigeum eodiseo ilhae?Where does your brother work now?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries 형, 형님, 오빠, 남동생, 동생, 아우, 오라버님, 브라더, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 남동생, 오빠, 형, 형님, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
