Korean word

맏이

Pronunciation

Romanizationmaji

Meaning

  • nounoldest child

Example

우리 집 맏이는 동생들을 먼저 챙겨요.u ri chip ma ji neun tong saeng deu reul meon jeo chaeng gyeo yo

The oldest child in our family looks after the younger siblings first.

Illustration for 맏이 (oldest child)

More examples

집에 일이 생기면 맏이는 먼저 부모님께 알리고 해결하려고 해요.chi be i ri saeng gi myeon ma ji neun meon jeo pu mo nim kke al li go hae gyeol ha ryeo go hae yo

If something happens at home, the oldest child tells the parents first and tries to solve it.

Core concept

The one older than every other sibling in the family.

Common phrases

  • 맏이로서ma ji ro seo

    as the oldest child

  • 맏이의 책임ma ji ui chae gim

    the oldest child's responsibility

Similar words

첫째cheotjjae: The child in the number-one position in a family's birth order.
장남changnam: The oldest son among the siblings in a family.
장녀changnyeo: The oldest daughter among the siblings in a family.

Definition in Korean

가정에서 형제·자매 중 나이가 가장 많은 사람을 이르는 말ka jeong e seo hyeong je cha mae chung na i ga ka jang ma neun sa ra meul i reu neun mal

Word origin

The word is formed from 맏 (ma, "first or eldest") and the noun-forming element 이 (ji, "noun-forming suffix"), linking first place in age with a person.

Usage tips

  • It is useful when family birth order matters but the person's gender does not, because the term stays neutral.

Opposites

Related words

  • 맏형matyeongeldest brothernoun
  • 맏아들madadeuleldest sonnoun

Word lists with this word