씨
ssi[ɕ͈i]
씨 is the Korean polite honorific title used when addressing or referring to a person.
The title 씨 is used to show respect to equals or people of slightly lower social status, but it is generally considered impolite to use it when addressing someone significantly higher in rank or age.
Which one should you use?
While 씨 is a standard polite title, 님 is a higher level of honorific used to show even greater respect or to address customers and professionals.
How does it change in a sentence?
The title 씨 is attached directly to the person's full name or given name without any intervening particles.
How do you pronounce it?
ssi
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 씨 when addressing superiors, such as a boss or a teacher, which can come across as condescending or disrespectful in Korean culture.
Did you know?
- The title 씨 is actually a homophone for a very common and highly offensive profanity that begins with the same syllable. While they are pronounced similarly, the context and the actual characters used are completely different.
- While 씨 is a polite title, using it with only a surname, such as 김 씨, can ironically sound dismissive or cold, as if the speaker is treating the person as a generic stranger.
- The Sino-Korean origin of 씨 comes from the character 氏, which historically refers to a person's clan or family name. This links the modern polite title directly to the ancient concept of lineage.
Examples in context
- 커피 (keopi)Coffee
- 컴퓨터 (keompyuteo)Computer
- 카메라 (kamera)Camera
- 클래식 (keullaesik)Classic
- 카페 (kafe)Cafe
- 쿠키 (kuki)Cookie
- 클럽 (keulleop)Club
- 휴가 (hyuga)Vacation
- 지민 씨는 어디에 있어요?Jimin ssineun eodie isseoyo?Where is Jimin-ssi?
- 수진 씨, 안녕하세요.Sujin ssi, annyeonghaseyo.Hello, Sujin-ssi.
- 그분은 민수 씨예요.Geubuneun Minsu ssieyo.That person is Minsu-ssi.
Example conversation
Minji and Dohyun are talking about a colleague at work.
- 민지 Min-ji도현 씨, 민수 씨 봤어요?Dohyeon ssi, Minsu ssi bwasseoyo?Dohyun-ssi, have you seen Minsu-ssi?
- 도현 Do-hyeon아니요, 못 봤어요.Aniyo, mot bwasseoyo.No, I haven't seen him.
- 민지 Min-ji지금 회의실에 있을 거예요.Jigeum hoeuisire isseul geoyeyo.He is probably in the meeting room now.
- 도현 Do-hyeon알겠어요, 확인해 볼게요.Algesseoyo, hwaginhae bolgeyo.Okay, I will check.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 씨, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 씨, CC BY-SA 4.0.
