What it Means to Be Oppa, Unnie, Hyung, Noona (Older in Korea)
– Noona (누나) = Older sister (used by males)
– Hyung (형) = Older brother (used by males)
– Unnie (언니) = Older sister (used by females)
Tip: To first understand this post properly, you’ll have to know your Korean age. Koreans calculate age by birth year (not the actual birthday). And this means even if you’re only 1 month older than someone, but born in a different year (i.e. December 1987 vs January 1988), you’re still considered older. Just think of January 1st as a line that isn’t crossed; you’re either on one side or the other.
Here’s what to expect once you’ve figured the other people’s age:
Same Age = Friend (친구)
Being the same age in Korea means you’re equals, and you’ll be instantly labeled a friend. It doesn’t matter if you’re a very unpleasant person, and the other person hates you. For people of the same age, the actual term used in Korean to refer to people of the same age is “friend” (친구 – chingu). And although most Koreans will use honorific language to show respect to people that they don’t know too well, many Koreans will drop the cumbersome honorific language and use casual Korean once they find out they’re the same age as you. And it’s not just language. Finding out that someone is the same age automatically makes Koreans a little more comfortable as there aren’t any expectations that are associated with being younger or older.
Tip: Dropping honorific language is common for younger Koreans. But the older you get, the less professional/mature you look by speaking casual Korean, even if you’re the same age.
Being Older (Oppa/Unnie/Hyung/Noona)
Since Korean culture is heavily influenced by Confucianism (some say more than China), being older, even by 1 year, automatically means you’ll be getting what Aretha Franklin wanted: R-E-S-P-E-C-T. That doesn’t mean you’ll be getting 90 degree bows (an ultimate sign of respect) from someone that’s only a few months younger than you. But you’re definitely higher up than the other person, and that generally means your opinions are more respected as you’re older and wiser (at least theoretically). So that means even if you’re 35 years old, jobless and in your mom’s basement for the last 7 years, it wouldn’t be right for your 21 year old tech start-up CEO cousin to give you advice. In Korea, it’s just not her place to tell you how to shape up. (That’s why things can get tricky when a boss is younger than his/her workers.)
Being Younger (Dongsaeng)
Being younger doesn’t mean you have to shut up and be quiet, however. Being younger has many perks. Because you’re younger in Korea, many older Koreans will generally feel the need to “take care” of you, which can mean a number of different things. If you’re hanging out with Koreans, an older Korean friend might feel the need to go out of his/her way to drive you home, even if you’re at the opposite end of the city. If you’re having a hard time at work, your older Korean coworker might feel the need to treat you out to a relaxing spa. Sometimes being cared for means you’ll be treated out to a meal. Being younger than everyone can be pretty awesome in Korea. But remember, you’re always older than other people too, so pay it forward.
When Age Doesn’t Matter (as much)
– Generally, the closer the age (+/- 1 to 3 years), the less these views hold true. You’ll still be older, but only by a little. And that means you’ll be close enough to be friends (chingu).
– The closer the relationship, the less age matters. If you’re very good friends with a younger/older Korean, a lot of the hierarchy goes out the window, and you just end up being friends.
– For business relationships, Koreans may try to be understanding of other cultures and will not put so much emphasis on age.
– The older you are, the less age matters. A 1 year age difference is huge for a teenager, but doesn’t mean much for a senior citizen.
Do you have your own experience with oppa/unnie/hyung/noona? Let us know by writing in the comments!
227 Comments
I like this guy he’s Korean but I’m not. He’s 22 and I’m 14 ( but 15 I think in Korea) Is it okay to date him?
N O
istg is it a K-Pop idol?
I don’t know but I like k-pop
I have no idea but I love k-pop.
No, in most countries that’s illegal because you are still a minor, and it is also looked HEAVILY downed on society.
honestly i dont think age is a big deal as long as u both love each other and ur parents (guardian) agree’s to it but tbh if they dont it doesnt matter as long as u love him and he loves u . and i have a friends who mum is in her thirty’s and her dad is in his 60’s ( but sadly passed away) but just so u know if i was ur friend i would support ur relationship as long as he loves u and doesnt use u
They were legal adults, that’s why it was okay. Age is everything. WHat ur saying is pedo is okay
AGE DOES MATTER because she’s a minor. The age gap is not the problem. The fact that she is underage is the problem. She can date him when she becomes 18. No problem there. Nothing less than that age for most countries. She can love him but they can’t be physical until at least age 18 (17 for certain countries/areas).
911
Absolutely not
If you would like. Once you get older, 7 years will seem like nothing.
what? no freaking way!
It’s never appropriate in any culture
Are you korean? Thats all. Thank you.
we don’t stan grooming
NO NIGGA ARE YOU FUCKING RETARTED HOW ABOUT THIS YOU CAN SUCK MY 9 INCH DICK I CAN FIT IT IN UR TIGHT PUSSY
what the actual fuck is wrong with you
Im korean and my younger brother by 2 years calls me by my name.
i found this which says NO
https://www.ageofconsent.net/world/south-korea
Acts as your age . Don’t try to get like a woman . Life is passed too fast and each stage and age has its species event. Live like teenage ,maturation and relationship life level will come like a blinking. Why this days very young teenages act like adult female and male 🙁
What would you call your older brothers girlfriend/Fiancé if you were a boy? Noona ?
I’m not 100% sure but I still belive that it would be noona if she’s older than you are
No, it’s not Noona! It’s Unnie don’t call her Noona, only guys can call older females Noona and girls call older girls Unnie.
Yes it is Noona
Sorry my bad I read the comment wrong
No, it would be 형수님, “elder brother’s wife”/“my sister in law”
Overfamiliarity is baaaaaaad in kr
I’ve met and been talking to this guy daily for the past two months. Today he said that I can be his noona. What does this mean? Haha.
When he said that it means that he thinks of you as his sister – Noona is honorifics for a younger man to call a woman older than him ‘sister’ (no matter how old she/you are – you may be 1 or two years older and he is close enough to you to call you noona. If you’re looking for a closer relationship, you may or may not (you were) friend/sibling zoned
It means that he’s younger than you. Or it could be that he forgot his honorifics. It really could be either one, if you know his age and you know that he’s younger than you than he should call you noona, but if he’s older than you he calls you dongsaeng and you call him oppa
I’m a 71 year old grandmother. If I were to greet a Korean woman of similar age of similar status, how should I formally )to show respect) greet her?
If you were a twin but your twin was the opposite sex how would you greet them?
Just by their name! You’re considered their 친구 🙂
Koreans tend to switch it, sometimes the younger one will call them by their name and sometimes using Unnie, Oppa, Hyung, or Noona. That depends on which way round the genders are:
If the younger is boy and older is girl, the younger calls her Noona
but if the younger is girl and the older is boy then the younger calls him Oppa
but you can switch depending on your mood. XD
Hey j’ai pas bien compris comment je fais pour trouver l’âge que j’ai en Corée ? (J’ai 14 ans et ma date de naissance c’est février 2004.) Comment on fait ?
Mercii
Bonjour !
L’âge que tu as en Corée est 15 ans.
On peut faire, cette année moins son année de naissance et plus un. Donc en 2019: 2019 – 2004 = 15 15 + 1 = 16
Hey j’ai pas bien compris comment je fais pour trouver l’âge que j’aurai si je vais en Corée ****
J’ai 14 ans (février 2004)
Mercii
I Am A Pilipino…
I like a Korean guy And He is 21 in korean I think But I am 14 years Old In korean😊
Can we became a couple?
No. You cannot.
yes you can date
NO that is very illegal
this says NO
https://www.ageofconsent.net/world/south-korea
My boyfriend is 31 and I am 22. He always thinks it’s cute/endearing when I call him oppa (he is korean american, I’m just american). I have been trying to learn the language so I converse with his family and friends better, and I practice with him but he isn’t a great teacher. Does anyone have any recommendations on the best ways to learn korean?
Also- what does one call the parents of one’s spouse? Trying to find a polite term I can call his parents in korean, if there is such a thing. Would I call his sister Noona as well?
You can call his parents “어머니” and “아버지” which mean mother and father. This shows respect and is common even if they’re not your parents.
I recommend lingo deer, duolingo, and/or drops
If his sister is older than you, it would be Unnie
Hi download the talking translator app onto you’re phone. Go to play store and tap in talking translator, it free. Great way to converse and it helps you to pronounce everything too. Very easy to understand. Hope this helps
Hello . I hope your team are doing well . I am Solehah from Malaysia . I viewed your videos on learning korean language in YouTube and I’m interested to explore more on that topic . Recently , I’ve been assigned from my lecturer to explore linguistics phenomenon . So , I’ve chosen korean language as my topic . My topic is specifically regarding korean honorifics .
I am in need of subject matter expert to complete my assignment . May I ask for your help ? I would like to include your brief explanation regarding the subject matter through video call platform .
so for example , i will record our discussion in video call , then I will ask you few questions on that video , then I’ll insert (after edited) that video call recording in my video assignment .
Thank you so much and I hope you will consider . Education for all . ☺️
I just wanna ask something, I have a korean friend who was born in the same year as me. but we are born in different months. She’s older as she was born on February and I was born on May. But do I need to refer to her as Unnie? And do boys has to refer to the older men by months as Hyung? Or it doesn’t really matter as long as you were born in the same year?
hey guys, sooo i met a boy that i like and he is korean but im not… he doesn’t speak english that well and i only speak a bit of korean. he’s now 22 and im 13…. when i first met him i thought he was really nice. we hang out and then he asked me to be his girlfriend… i really want to date him so i did some research on him just to make sure who he was. when i searched his name nothing came up… i immediately texted him why this happened, but he never answered… i showed my friend a photo of him and me, and then she told me about him… he still doesn’t know that i know what his real “identity” is…..
what would you do in this situation? pls answer, im SO desperate!
btw this first happened one month ago ish…
his real identity?
im in love with a 22 year old and his name is Jungkook lol
Two sisters have a younger brother. What does the brother call the eldest sister and the other older sister closer in age to him?
He says 큰 누나 (big sister) or their names like yerin noona to differentiate
I am serious I get word noona and oppa from couple pranks….
I’m 57, American Black and he is 54 Korean . We are becoming very close. He’s coming back to visit next month and he says he wants to ask me something important. How to address him as more than a friend?
If im 21 and the guy i like is 31 would that be a big deal? (Its not a k-pop idol)
Thanks alot it really helped me as i am trying to learn korean and i am an indian so thanks alot .
I have a question. If you are the same age and you were old enough to where it’s immature to drop the honorifics would you call them chingu or would you call them by their name?
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