Korean word

누님

Pronunciation

Romanizationnunim

Meaning

  • nounolder sister

Example

저는 누님께 자주 전화해요.cheo neun nu nim kke cha ju cheon hwa hae yo

I often call my older sister.

Illustration for 누님 (older sister)

More examples

어제 누님 생일 파티에 갔어요.eo je nu nim saeng il pa ti e ka sseo yo

Yesterday, I went to my older sister's birthday party.

Core concept

An older sister figure addressed with both warmth and respect.

Common phrases

  • 누님 생일nu nim saeng il

    older woman's birthday

  • 누님 선물nu nim seon mul

    gift for an older woman

Similar words

누나nuna: A familiar family-style title that a man uses for an older sister or older woman.
언니eonni: A warm family-style title that a woman uses for an older sister or familiar older woman.

Definition in Korean

누님은 상대에게 예의를 갖춰 나이가 더 많은 여성을 부를 때 쓰는 말로, 상황에 따라 친근함과 격식을 함께 전달할 수 있다.nu ni meun sang dae e ge ye ui reul kat chwo na i ga teo ma neun yeo seong eul pu reul ttae sseu neun mal lo sang hwang e tta ra chin geun ham gwa kyeok ssi geul ham kke cheon dal hal ssu it tta

Word origin

The word adds an honorific suffix to the familiar Korean term for older sister, extending it to a respectful term for an older woman.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English older sister, it can address an older woman outside the family, with the relationship and setting deciding how warm or formal it sounds.

Other meanings

  • older womannoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 누나nunabig sisternoun
  • 큰누나keunnunaeldest sisternoun

Word lists with this word