Korean word

형

Pronunciation

Romanizationhyeong

Meaning

  • nounolder brother

Example

나에겐 형이 한 명 있다.na e gen hyeong i han myeong it tta

I have one older brother.

Illustration for 형 (older brother)

More examples

어제 형에게서 전화가 왔어.eo je hyeong e ge seo cheon hwa ga wa sseo

I got a call from my older brother yesterday.

Core concept

A male speaker's familiar term for an older brother, also used for an older male friend.

Common phrases

  • 제 형che hyeong

    my older brother

  • 우리 형u ri hyeong

    our older brother

Similar words

오빠oppa: A female speaker's familiar title for an older brother or another close older man.
누나nuna: A younger man's familiar title for an older sister or another older woman.
언니eonni: A younger woman's warm title for an older sister or another familiar older woman.
형님hyeongnim: A respectful title for an older man who is treated like an older brother.

Definition in Korean

나보다 나이가 많은 남자 형제를 가리키는 말이며, 친구 사이에서는 나이가 많은 남자를 친근하게 부르는 호칭으로도 쓰인다.na bo da na i ga ma neun nam ja hyeong je reul ka ri ki neun ma ri myeo chin gu sa i e seo neun na i ga ma neun nam ja reul chin geun ha ge pu reu neun ho ching eu ro do sseu in da

Word origin

The word is a long-established Korean kinship term with uncertain precise history, and linking it to an older brother gives a reliable memory anchor.

Usage tips

  • Korean uses different family terms by the speaker's gender, so a male speaker uses this term for an older brother while a female speaker uses another term.

Other meanings

  • punishmentnoun
  • typenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word