Korean word

어린애

Pronunciation

Romanizationeorinae

Meaning

  • nounchild

Example

공원에서 어린애들이 놀고 있어요.kong wo ne seo eo ri nae deu ri nol go i sseo yo

Children are playing in the park.

Illustration for 어린애 (child)

More examples

동생은 시험에 떨어져서 어린애처럼 울었어요.tong saeng eun si heo me tteo reo jeo seo eo ri nae cheo reom u reo sseo yo

My younger sibling cried like a child after failing the test.

Core concept

A little child pictured as someone still young and not yet grown.

Common phrases

  • 어린애 취급받다eo ri nae chwi geup ppat tta

    be treated like a child

  • 어린애처럼 행동하다eo ri nae cheo reom haeng dong ha da

    act like a child

Similar words

아이ai: An everyday term for a young child who is still under adult care.
어린이eorini: A formal term for children used in schools, signs, and public messages.
아기agi: A baby or very young child who needs frequent care.
꼬마kkoma: A friendly term for a small, young child who seems endearing.

Definition in Korean

나이가 적고 아직 어린 아이를 가리키며 주로 구어에서 쓰는 명사.na i ga cheok kko a jik eo rin a i reul ka ri ki myeo chu ro ku eo e seo sseu neun myeong sa

Word origin

The word 어린애 (eorinae, "a child") is made from 어린 (eori, "young") and 애 (nae, "child"), linking the idea of being young with a familiar word for a child.

Usage tips

  • Unlike the plain English word child, this word sounds noticeably conversational, so it can feel warm or informal depending on the situation.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word