Korean word

오빠

Pronunciation

Romanizationoppa

Meaning

  • nounolder brother

Example

저는 오빠가 있어요.cheo neun o ppa ga i sseo yo

I have an older brother.

Illustration for 오빠 (older brother)

More examples

어제 친구가 제 오빠를 만났어요.eo je chin gu ga che o ppa reul man na sseo yo

Yesterday, a friend met my older brother.

Core concept

A familiar female-to-male address for someone older, especially an older brother or another close older man.

Common phrases

  • 제 오빠che o ppa

    my older brother

  • 오빠 좋아해o ppa cho a hae

    like an older brother

  • 오빠한테 전화해o ppa han te cheon hwa hae

    call an older brother

Similar words

형hyeong: A male speaker's familiar term for an older brother or an older male friend.
남자친구namjachingu: A male romantic partner in a dating relationship.
아저씨ajeossi: A common form of address for an unrelated middle-aged or older man.
오라버니orabeoni: An old-fashioned respectful term used by a woman for an older man.

Definition in Korean

여성이 자신보다 나이가 많은 남성을 친근하게 부르는 말로, 혈연의 형뿐 아니라 친한 남성이나 연인을 가리키는 호칭이다.yeo seong i cha sin bo da na i ga ma neun nam seong eul chin geun ha ge pu reu neun mal lo hyeo ryeo nui hyeong ppun a ni ra chin han nam seong i na yeo ni neul ka ri ki neun ho ching i da

Word origin

Originally meaning an older brother, this word was shortened in everyday speech and gradually gained wider uses for familiar older men and romantic partners.

Usage tips

  • An affectionate use toward a singer or other admired man does not by itself mean the speaker is his girlfriend.

Other meanings

  • older mannoun
  • boyfriendnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word