Korean word

성함

Pronunciation

Romanizationseongham

Meaning

  • nounname

Example

처음 뵙겠습니다. 성함이 어떻게 되세요?cheo eum poep kket sseum ni da seong ha mi eo tteo ke toe se yo

Nice to meet you. What is your name?

Illustration for 성함 (name)

More examples

예약 확인을 위해 성함을 알려 주세요.ye yak hwa gi neul wi hae seong ha meul al lyeo chu se yo

Please let us know your name to confirm the reservation.

Core concept

A respectful way to refer to someone's name when ordinary name words sound too casual.

Common phrases

  • 성함이 어떻게 되세요seong ha mi eo tteo ke toe se yo

    What is your name

  • 성함을 알려 주세요seong ha meul al lyeo chu se yo

    tell me your name, please

  • 성함을 여쭤보다seong ha meul yeo jjwo bo da

    politely ask someone's name

Similar words

이름ireum: A name used to call or identify a person, thing, or product in everyday language.
성명seongmyeong: A person's complete official name, including both family and personal names.

Definition in Korean

다른 사람의 이름을 높여 이르는 말로, 공손한 자리에서 상대의 이름을 물을 때 주로 쓰이는 명사ta reun sa ra mui i reu meul no pyeo i reu neun mal lo kong son han cha ri e seo sang dae ui i reu meul mu reul ttae chu ro sseu i neun myeong sa

Word origin

The word developed from Sino-Korean terms associated with a person's family name and formal designation, leading to its respectful use for another person's name.

Usage tips

  • 성함 (seongham, "honorific word for name") fits introductions and other polite conversations, while casual speech usually uses a more ordinary word for name.

Opposites

Word lists with this word