Korean word

자매

Pronunciation

Romanizationchamae

Meaning

  • nounsisters

Example

우리 자매는 성격이 달라요.u ri cha mae neun seong gyeo gi tal la yo

My sister and I have different personalities.

Illustration for 자매 (sisters)

More examples

두 자매는 서로를 잘 챙겨요.tu cha mae neun seo ro reul chal chaeng gyeo yo

The two sisters look after each other well.

Core concept

Two or more female siblings connected by the same parents.

Common phrases

  • 자매 관계cha mae kwan gye

    relationship between sisters

  • 혈연인 자매hyeo ryeo nin cha mae

    biological sisters

Similar words

언니eonni: A female speaker's older sister addressed or referred to with warmth.
누나nuna: A male speaker's older sister addressed or referred to with warmth.
여동생yeodongsaeng: A female sibling who is younger than the speaker.
형제hyeongje: Siblings from the same family, including older and younger brothers and sisters.

Definition in Korean

같은 부모에게서 태어난 여자 형제ka teun pu mo e ge seo tae eo nan yeo ja hyeong je

Word origin

This Sino-Korean compound joins terms meaning older sister and younger sister, creating a word for sisters as a group.

Usage tips

  • Unlike the broad English word sisters, everyday Korean often uses a family term that shows the speaker's relationship and the sister's age, while this noun suits descriptions and formal contexts.

Opposites

Related words

  • 자매간chamaeganrelationship between sistersnoun
  • 자매애chamaeaesisterly affectionnoun

Word lists with this word