-씨
-ssi[ɕ͈i]
The English term "mister" can be translated into Korean using several forms, most commonly the suffix -씨 (-ssi). Wiktionary also lists -님 (-nim) and 미스터 (miseuteo).
Meaning: title of adult male (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| -씨 | -ssi | [ɕ͈i] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| -님 | -nim | |
| 미스터 | miseuteo | [misʰɯtʰʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
While -씨 is a standard way to address an adult, the transliterated word 미스터 is dated and rarely used in natural modern conversation, often feeling like a direct translation from English.
Which one should you use?
The suffix -씨 is a polite way to address an adult, but it is less formal and carries less deference than the suffix -님. The suffix -님 is a higher honorific used to show greater respect to the person being addressed.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form -씨 is a suffix that must be attached to a person's name or surname to function as a title.
How do you pronounce it?
-ssi
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use -씨 when addressing someone of much higher social status or a much older person. In these cases, it can come across as slightly disrespectful or overly familiar.
Did you know?
- Using -씨 on its own without a name is considered rude or an aggressive way to address a stranger, which is very different from how 'mister' is used in English.
- The suffix -씨 is linguistically related to the Hanja character 氏, which refers to a person's clan or lineage.
- The suffix -님 is so versatile that it can be attached to almost any noun, like 'Customer' or 'Teacher', to turn it into a respectful title.
Example sentences for Korean are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mister” translations and entries -씨, 미스터, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries -씨, 미스터, CC BY-SA 4.0.
