Korean Conversation · Level 55
15 words
Korean word
선배
Pronunciation
Romanizationseonbae
Meaning
- nounsenior
Example
문제가 있으면 선배에게 물어보세요.mun je ga i sseu myeon seon bae e ge mu reo bo se yo
If you have a problem, ask a senior.
More examples
선배의 조언이 큰 도움이 됐어요.seon bae ui cho eo ni keun to u mi twae sseo yo
My senior's advice was a great help.
Core concept
A person who joined the same group earlier or has more experience, such as an older student or a more experienced coworker.
Common phrases
선배에게 물어보다seon bae e ge mu reo bo da
ask a senior
선배에게 배우다seon bae e ge pae u da
learn from a senior
선배와 함께seon bae wa ham kke
with a senior
Similar words
선임seonim: A worker assigned to the same job earlier who has greater experience or skill is a senior colleague.
고참kocham: A long-serving member of an organization with extensive experience is a veteran.
윗사람witssaram: A person with higher status or greater experience within a group is a superior.
Definition in Korean
학교나 회사 등 같은 집단에서 먼저 들어왔거나 경력이 더 많은 사람을 뜻하는 말hak kkyo na hoe sa teung ka teun chip tta ne seo meon jeo teu reo wat kkeo na kyeong nyeo gi teo ma neun sa ra meul tteu ta neun mal
Word origin
The word comes from a Sino-Korean compound meaning a person who comes first within the same group.
Usage tips
- Unlike English senior, this word often depends on joining order or experience rather than age, so people of the same age can have this relationship.
Other meanings
- upperclassmannoun
Opposites
- 후배hubaejuniornoun
Related words
- 선배님seonbaenimseniornoun
- 선후배seonhubaeseniors and juniorsnoun
- 남선배namseonbaemale seniornoun