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Additionally, discover the meanings of noona, oppa, hyung, and other honorifics!
Whether you’re casually curious about the Korean language or working towards fluency, 'unnie' is a key honorific term to learn. It translates to 'older sister' and is used exclusively in female-to-female relationships. This guide will cover everything you need to know about 'unnie,' from its meaning and pronunciation to when and how to use it. We will also discuss related honorific titles and explain the distinction between 'unnie' and 'noona.'
The Meaning and Use of 'Unnie' (언니)
'Unnie' is a Korean term used by younger females to refer to their older sisters or female friends. It expresses both respect and affection, often in casual contexts. Female fans use it to address female idols, and the term 'unnie line' refers to the oldest members in a K-pop girl group.
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What does the term 'unnie' mean in Korean?
'Unnie' is an honorific term in Korean that translates to 'older sister.' When a woman addresses her older sister or an older female friend, she uses 'unnie.' This term recognizes the older individual's role as a guide and expresses both respect and closeness. It is informal, so it should be used in casual settings with friends, family, or close colleagues—not with superiors like a boss or teacher.
- How to pronounce 'unnie:' The word has two syllables: 'un' sounds like the beginning of 'under,' and 'nie' rhymes with 'knee.'
- How to write 'unnie:' In Korean, it's written as '언니.' The romanization is 'eonni,' though you may also see it written as 'oni' or 'uni.'
How to use 'Unnie'
Address your older sister with 'unnie.' This is the most common scenario for using 'unnie.' It conveys respect and affection, similar to how 'oppa' is used for an older brother, but it is exclusive to female-to-female relationships.
- 'Unnie, you're amazing!' (언니, 최고야!)
- 'Unnie, would you like to go to the movies tomorrow?' (언니, 내일 같이 영화 보러갈래?)
Use 'unnie' to refer to an older female friend. Whether she is an older classmate, a close colleague, or just a good friend, you can call any older female 'unnie' in informal situations. It's a friendly way to show admiration and warmth.
- 'Unnie, how have you been recently?' (언니, 요즘 어때?)
- 'Thank you so much, Unnie. I really appreciate it.' (언니, 고마워. 너무 고마워.)
Use 'unnie' to address female staff in a restaurant. In Korean restaurants, waitresses are typically busy and may not always wait for you to make an order. To get their attention, you can call out 'unnie' or say 'jeogiyo' (저기요, which means 'excuse me'), while also raising your hand and making eye contact.
- 'Unnie, can we get some extra chopsticks?' (언니, 젓가락 하나 더 주실 수 있나요?)
- 'Unnie, could I get a to-go box?' (언니, 테이크아웃 상자 좀 주실 수 있나요?)
Use 'unnie' to refer to older female idols and celebrities. In K-pop culture, younger female fans often refer to older idols they admire as 'unnie,' even if they have no personal relationship. The term 'unnie line' is commonly used to refer to the oldest members of a girl group.
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Them: 'Who’s your favorite unnie in TWICE?'
You: 'Nayeon!' -
Them: 'Who’s your favorite unnie line?'
You: 'Minji and Hanni from NewJeans!'
'Unnie' vs 'Noona'
'Unnie' is used exclusively by females, while 'noona' is used by males. Both 'unnie' and 'noona' (누나) are honorific terms meaning 'older sister,' but the key difference lies in the gender of the speaker. 'Noona' is used by males to refer to older sisters or female friends, expressing respect and affection. The usage of 'noona' acknowledges the older female's role as a mentor, just like 'unnie' does in female-to-female relationships. Here are some examples of when to use 'noona':
- A brother calling his older sister.
- A boyfriend addressing his older girlfriend.
- A man speaking to his close older female friend.
- A man calling female staff in a restaurant.
How do Koreans feel when someone calls them 'unnie'?
'Unnie' is seen as a warm and respectful term of affection. In Korean society, the use of honorifics is crucial for maintaining respect and social harmony. When you use 'unnie,' it shows that you acknowledge the age or position of the person, clarifying who is older and ensuring respectful behavior in social interactions. Beyond respect, 'unnie' also conveys closeness and affection, creating a personal connection when addressing an older female.
- If you don't use honorifics properly (or ignore them), Koreans may perceive you as disrespectful. Correct usage is essential for fostering good relationships both personally and professionally.
Other Related Honorific Titles
Oppa (오빠) This honorific means 'older brother.' It is used by younger women to refer to older men, such as older brothers, male cousins, friends, or boyfriends.
- 'You can do it, Oppa!' (그 일, 오빠라면 할 수 있어!)
- 'Oppa’s advice was really helpful.' (오빠의 조언이 정말 도움됐어.)
Noona (누나) This honorific is used by men to address older females, such as older sisters or female friends. It's the counterpart to 'oppa.'
- 'Noona, did you get home okay?' (누나, 집에 잘 도착했어요?)
- 'Noona always knows the right thing to say.' (누나는 언제나 옳은 말을 해.)
Hyung (형) This is an honorific used by men to address their older brothers or male friends, similar to how 'unnie' is used by women.
- 'Hyung, what do you think about this?' (형, 이거 어때 보여?)
- 'Thanks for always looking out for me, Hyung.' (형이 항상 나를 지켜줘서 고마워.)
Sunbae (선배) This honorific means 'senior.' It’s used to address individuals who have more experience than you, or hold a higher position than you in work or academic settings. To show extra respect, you can attach the polite suffix 'nim' (님) to the term.
- 'Wow, sunbaenim! Thank you!' (우와, 선배님! 감사합니다!)
- 'Sunbae, could you share your contact information?' (선배, 연락처 알려주시겠어요?)
Hubae (후배) This title means 'junior' and refers to individuals with less experience than you in work or school, such as a younger classmate.
- 'Hubae, did you have a good weekend?' (후배, 주말 잘 보냈어?)
- 'Hubae, would you like an iced americano?' (후배, 아이스 아메리카노 마실래?)
Chingu (친구) This is a casual term for 'friend' in Korean and applies to both males and females. It's similar to calling someone 'buddy' or 'pal' in English.
- 'My friend is so funny.' (내 친구가 너무 재밌어.)
- 'He's a friend of a friend.' (그는 내 친구의 친구야.)
Dongsaeng (동생) This term means 'younger sibling' and can be used to refer to any younger person you’re close to, regardless of whether they are biologically related to you.
- 'My little brother is so annoying.' (내 동생이 짜증나.)
- 'Can you pick up your little sister?' (동생을 데리러 갈 수 있나요?)
Levels of Formality in Korean
In Korean, there are three distinct levels of formality to use, depending on the situation. The level of formality you choose should match the context and the person you are addressing. Learning all three levels is crucial, as they are often paired with appropriate honorific titles:
- Nopimmal (높임말) or formal speech: The most respectful and traditional form of speech, typically used in formal situations or when addressing elders and superiors. Verbs often take the form '-(으)시-' or the formal version of certain verbs and particles.
- Jondaetmal (존댓말) or polite speech: A moderate form of speech that conveys respect without being overly formal. Verbs generally end with '-ㅂ니다.'
- Banmal (반말) or casual speech: The informal speech used among friends, family, and close acquaintances. It’s best avoided when addressing someone of higher status.
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To refine your Korean pronunciation, consider watching YouTube tutorials or enrolling in language courses. There are many resources available to help you perfect your pronunciation, and you can enhance your Korean skills by learning Hangul (the Korean alphabet) and practicing whenever possible.
