TOPIK · Level 96
15 words
Korean word
애
Pronunciation
Romanizationae
Meaning
- nounchild
Example
애가 울고 있어.ae ga ul go i sseo
The child is crying.
More examples
어제 애를 어린이집에 맡겼어요.eo je ae reul eo ri ni ji be mat kkyeo sseo yo
I left the child at daycare yesterday.
Core concept
A small child seen in a familiar, casual way, with a tone that can sometimes sound lightly dismissive.
Common phrases
애를 맡기다ae reul mat kki da
leave the child in someone's care
애가 자라다ae ga cha ra da
a child growing up
Similar words
아이ai: A young child is seen as someone who still needs an adult's care and protection.
아기agi: A baby is a very young child who still needs frequent care.
어린이eorini: A school-age child is referred to in formal settings such as schools and public notices.
자식chasik: A parent's own child is referred to in a family context.
Definition in Korean
주로 구어에서 쓰이는 말로, 아이를 가리키며 친근하거나 때로는 가볍게 여기는 뉘앙스를 가진다.chu ro ku eo e seo sseu i neun mal lo a i reul ka ri ki myeo chin geun ha geo na ttae ro neun ka byeop kke yeo gi neun nwi ang seu reul ka jin da
Word origin
This native Korean colloquial form is related to the ordinary Korean word for child and is commonly explained as a shorter spoken form.
Usage tips
- It sounds casual and familiar, so a warm context makes it friendly while a sharp context can make it feel disrespectful.