Korean word

친언니

Pronunciation

Romanizationchineonni

Meaning

  • nounolder sister

Example

친언니가 생일 선물을 줬어요.chi neon ni ga saeng il seon mu reul chwo sseo yo

My older sister gave me a birthday present.

Illustration for 친언니 (older sister)

More examples

친언니랑 얘기했어요.chi neon ni rang yae gi hae sseo yo

I talked with my biological older sister.

Core concept

An older female sibling connected by blood to the speaker.

Common phrases

  • 친언니랑 이야기하다chi neon ni rang i ya gi ha da

    talk with my biological older sister

  • 친언니를 도와주다chi neon ni reul to wa ju da

    help my biological older sister

  • 친언니의 결혼식chi neon ni ui kyeol hon sik

    my biological older sister's wedding

Similar words

언니eonni: A friendly title used by a girl or woman for an older sister or a familiar older woman.
누나nuna: A boy's or man's familiar title for an older sister or another older woman.

Definition in Korean

혈족으로서 나보다 연상인 여성 형제를 이르는 말.hyeol jo geu ro seo na bo da yeon sang in yeo seong hyeong je reul i reu neun mal

Word origin

The word combines 친 (chi, "blood-related") with 언니 (neonni, "older sister used by a female speaker") to specify a blood-related older sister.

Usage tips

  • The added idea of a blood relationship makes this word useful when ordinary context does not clearly show that the older sister is a family member.

Opposites

  • 의붓언니uibuseonniolder stepsisternoun
  • 이복언니ibogeonniolder half-sisternoun

Related words

Word lists with this word