TOPIK · Level 189
15 words
Korean word
사모님
Pronunciation
Romanizationsamonim
Meaning
- nounwife
Example
오늘 사모님께서 오실 거예요.o neul sa mo nim kke seo o sil kkeo ye yo
Your wife will come today.
More examples
오늘 사모님께서 선물을 가져오셨어요.o neul sa mo nim kke seo seon mu reul ka jeo o syeo sseo yo
Your wife brought a gift today.
Core concept
A respectful title for another person's wife, especially the wife of someone senior or admired.
Common phrases
사모님께서sa mo nim kke seo
wife
Similar words
아내anae: A married woman who is the speaker's spouse.
부인puin: A formal way to refer to a married woman or someone else's wife.
아주머니ajumeoni: A polite way to address a middle-aged woman in everyday places such as shops or neighborhoods.
Definition in Korean
다른 사람의 아내를 공손하게 이르는 말로, 특히 윗사람이나 존경하는 사람의 배우자를 높여 부르는 표현.ta reun sa ra mui a nae reul kong son ha ge i reu neun mal lo teu ki wit ssa ra mi na chon gyeong ha neun sa ra mui pae u ja reul no pyeo pu reu neun pyo hyeon
Word origin
Historically, 사모 (samo, "a teacher's wife") combined with 님 (nim, "honorific suffix"), and the term later broadened to respectful reference to another person's wife.
Usage tips
- Unlike the neutral English word wife, this term signals social respect and can sound formal, so it is not the usual choice for a speaker's own spouse.
Other meanings
- madamnoun
- Mrsnoun
Opposites
- 남편nampyeonhusbandnoun