후배
hubae[ˈɸʷu(ː)bɛ]
The Korean word for junior is 후배 (hubae).
후배 is used to refer to a junior, either as an adjective meaning younger or as a noun referring to someone who is younger than someone else.
Meaning: younger (adj)
Which one should you use?
While 후배 refers to a junior in terms of professional or academic hierarchy, the term 동생 is used to refer to a younger person in a more general or informal way, regardless of their gender.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a junior more respectfully in a professional setting, you can add the honorific suffix –님 to the word to form 후배님.
How do you pronounce it?
hubae
When do people say it?
In Korean social dynamics, the relationship between a 선배 (senior) and a 후배 (junior) often dictates social etiquette and the levels of politeness used in conversation.
Did you know?
- In many Korean workplaces, a person’s social status is determined by their 'entry date' rather than their actual age. This means a person born in 1995 could technically be the 선배 to someone born in 1993 if they joined the company first.
- In the Korean hierarchy, the 'senior' is often expected to perform certain social duties, such as paying for meals, as a way of taking care of their 후배.
- The word 후배 is composed of two Chinese characters, where 후 means 'after' and 배 means 'generation'.
Examples in context
- 저희 회사에는 저보다 어린 후배들이 많이 있어요.In our company, there are many juniors younger than me.
- 그는 나의 학교 후배예요.geuneun naeui hakgyo hubae-yeyo.He is my school junior.
- 회사 후배들에게 점심을 샀어요.hoesa hubae-deul-ege jeomsim-eul sasseoyo.I bought lunch for my company juniors.
- 그 후배는 정말 성실해요.geu hubae-neun jeongmal seongsil-haeyo.That junior is very diligent.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Seoyeon are talking about a person they know at work.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo그 사람이 서연 씨 후배인가요?geu sarami seoyeon ssi hubae-ingayo?Is that person your junior, Seoyeon?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 제 직장 후배예요.ne, je jikjang hubae-yeyo.Yes, he is my work junior.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo현우 씨도 그분을 아세요?hyunwoo ssi-do geubun-eul aseyo?Do you know him too, Hyunwoo?
- 서연 Seo-yeon아니요, 처음 봐요.aniyo, cheoeum bwayo.No, it's my first time seeing him.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 후배, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 후배, CC BY-SA 4.0.
