Korean word

후배

Pronunciation

Romanizationhubae

Meaning

  • nounjunior

Example

후배가 먼저 인사했어요.hu bae ga meon jeo in sa hae sseo yo

The junior said hello first.

Illustration for 후배 (junior)

More examples

새로 온 후배를 소개했어요.sae ro on hu bae reul so gae hae sseo yo

I introduced the junior who had just joined.

Core concept

A later entrant in the same school or workplace group as another person.

Common phrases

  • 후배에게 인사하다hu bae e ge in sa ha da

    greet a junior

  • 후배와 친해지다hu bae wa chin hae ji da

    become close with a junior

  • 후배를 소개하다hu bae reul so gae ha da

    introduce a junior

Similar words

선배seonbae: A member of the same group who joined earlier or has more experience.
후임huim: A person who takes over the same job or role after another person.
동기tonggi: A peer who entered the same school or workplace during the same period.
연하yeonha: A person who is younger in age than another person.

Definition in Korean

같은 학교나 직장 등에서 나보다 나중에 들어온 사람을 이르는 말.ka teun hak kkyo na chik jjang teung e seo na bo da na jung e teu reo on sa ra meul i reu neun mal

Word origin

The word comes from Sino-Korean elements meaning later and group member, which together describe a person who joins a shared group afterward.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English junior, this word often follows school or workplace entry order rather than age, so a younger person can still hold this role.

Other meanings

  • underclassmannoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 선후배seonhubaeseniors and juniorsnoun
  • 후배사원hubaesawonjunior employeenoun

Word lists with this word