BASIC KOREAN LANGUAGE

Lesson 4 : Kinship Terms

Unlike English nouns denoting kinship or family relations which is pretty straightforward, Korean's way of addressing family members or relatives differ and to some degree may be difficult to those who are not familiar with the Korean culture.

Common terms which can be used by both male and female related:

조부모, 조부모님 (chobumo, chobumonim) – grandparents

할아버지, 할아버님 (harabeoji, harabeonim) – grandfather

할머니, 할머님 (halmeoni, halmeonim) – grandmother

부모, 부모님 (bumo, bumonim) – parents

아버지, 아버님 (aboeji, aboenim) – father

어머니, 어머님 (eomeoni, eomeonim) – mother

아이, 애 (ai, ae) – children

아들, 아드님 (adeul, adeunim) – son

딸, 따님 (ddal, ddanim) – daughter

손주, 손주아이 (sonju, sonjuai) – grandchildren

손자 (sonja) – grandson

손녀(-딸) (sonnyeo-ddal) -grandaughter

사위 (saui) – son in law

며느리 (myeoneuri) – daughter in law

사촌 (sachon) – cousin

아저씨 (ajeosshi) – uncle

아주머니 (ajumeoni) – auntie

조카 (joka) – nephew

조카 딸 (joka ddal) – niece

동생 (dongsaeng) – younger siblings

You may also hear 아빠 (appa) and 엄마 (eomma) when kids call their father and mother respectively. This is considered as term of endearment. Koreans are likewise used to calling married man and women with 아저씨 and 아주머니. This is a respectful way of addressing older people.

오빠 (Oppa) is likewise used by girls to call a guy who is close but older than her; same goes with guys who calls girls who are close but older than him as 누나 (Noona). Boyfriend and Girlfriend are likewise called this way. The use of these terms denote respect. 

So don't be confused when wathcing movies and dramas, if you hear the stars call their lovers on screen as 오빠 or 누나, this is not incest (to think Koreans are very conservative) but part of their culture.