Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 노인 | noin | [ˈno̞(ː)in] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 할아버지 | harabeoji | [ha̠ɾa̠bʌ̹d͡ʑi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 로인 | roin | [ˈɾo̞(ː)in] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | North Korea |
The term is used to describe an elderly man. While 노인 is a general noun for an elderly person, 할아버지 is commonly used to address or refer to an elderly man in a respectful social manner and its literal meaning is "grandfather".
Which one should you use?
노인 is a formal or clinical term often used in news, statistics or official contexts. In contrast, 할아버지 is the polite and common way to refer to or address an elderly man in social settings. 로인 is a variant used specifically in North Korea.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
노인 is a formal or clinical noun. 할아버지 is a polite term preferred when speaking to or about an elderly man to show respect. Note that while 아저씨 can be used to address middle-aged men or older men who are not your acquaintance, it is considered informal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
로인 is the form used in North Korea.
How do you pronounce it?
noin
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using 노인 to address an elderly man directly in person, as it can sound cold or overly clinical. Use 할아버지 instead.
Did you know?
- The word 할아버지 can also be used to refer to the spirits of ancestors or the gods of a house or mountain in traditional folk beliefs.
- While 할아버지 is the polite standard, calling a man by this term too early in his life can be seen as an insult to his youth or vitality.
- The term 할아버지 is part of a wider pattern of using family titles, like 'mother' or 'father', to address strangers as a sign of politeness.
Examples in context
- 그 노인은 매우 인자해 보입니다.geu noineun maeu injahae boimnida.That elderly man looks very kind.
- 공원에 노인이 혼자 앉아 있어요.gongwone noini honja anja isseoyo.An elderly man is sitting alone in the park.
- 노인을 공경하는 것은 중요합니다.noineul gonggyeonghaneun geoseun jung-yohamnida.It is important to respect the elderly.
Example conversation
Hyun-woo and Min-ji are walking in a park.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo저기 계신 노인이 누구세요?jeo-gi gye-sin no-in-i nu-gu-se-yo?Who is that elderly man over there?
- 민지 Min-ji우리 동네에서 제일 유명한 분이에요.u-ri dong-ne-e-seo je-il yu-myeong-han bun-i-e-yo.He is the most famous person in our neighborhood.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정말 인자해 보이시네요.jeong-mal in-ja-hae bo-i-si-ne-yo.He looks really benevolent.
- 민지 Min-ji맞아요, 아주 훌륭한 분이세요.ma-ja-yo, a-ju hul-lyung-han bun-i-se-yo.That's right, he is a wonderful person.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “old man” translations and entries 노인, 할아버지, 로인, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
