#what does 후배 mean?

[heo-gu]

what r the korean honorifics? because everytime i hear one im so confused

ok so these go according to age and/or status

님 (nim) — this basically means mrs/mr. in english people might actually feel uncomfortable being called this bc it makes them feel old, but in korean it’s like the best way to show respect to someone older you don’t know. so say i were talking to seokjin, i would say seokjin-nim (석진님)

씨 (ssi) — this doesn’t really have a direct translation. it’s basically an even more respectful and professional honorific. so say if i were at the doctors office, the secretary would probably say 윤진씨 (yunjin ssi).

형 (hyeong) — a younger male calls an older male this. pretty self explanatory. my brother would call jay this, basically

누나 (nuna) — a younger male calls an older female this. my brother would call chaewon this

오빠 (oppa) — a younger girl calls an older male this. kinda like saying older brother, but it doesn’t always mean that. girls actually often call their boyfriends this, i think chaewon does LMAO

언니 (unnie) — a younger girl calls an older girl this. i actually call a lot of my female friends this lmao and i get called this a lot

*if you wanna call someone any of the four above, just ask, people, especially guys, see it as a compliment and will actually urge you to*

선배 (sunbae) — you call somebody older or more senior this. likeeeee, i call my best friends dad this lmao

후배 (hubae) — you call somebody younger or less senior this. like someone’s little sister or a kindergartener you’re tutoring

there’s also a bunch of family member rules, like paternal and maternal grandparents but i’m not gonna write all that out rn

[koreanstudyjunkie]

Korean Speech Levels & Titles

What are Korean honorifics?

They are ways of speaking in Korean that communicate the relationship between the speaker and the subject or the listener. Korean has this built into the language with special words, titles, and grammar.

Korean has different speech levels. These levels are demonstrated in the verb endings. The speech levels that are used most often are formal speech, polite/casual speech, and Informal speech. You may also see them listed as high, middle, and low.

Korean Honorifics

Korean honorifics can be thought of as a special speech level. In Korean culture, respect is given high importance in everyday life. This is evident in the Korean language. Koreans use honorific language to communicate respect between the speaker and the subject/listener. Honorifics are used to communicate relative positions in a hierarchy. Typically Korean honorifics are used to show respect to someone higher in the hierarchy or a person who holds a high social status.

Formal & Polite

The formal speech level is used when you’re speaking to someone older than you, someone who holds a higher position than you, or someone who belongs to a higher social hierarchy. Sentences using the formal speech level usually ends with ~ㅂ니다.

The polite speech level or also known as the standard speech can be used in most situations. You can use this speech level when you’re speaking with people you know, but don’t have a close relationship with them. Sentences using this speech level usually end with 요.

Informal speech level

The informal speech level or also known as casual speech can be used when you’re speaking with people with who you have close relationships such as friends and family. This is also the speech level you can use with those younger than you or of lesser seniority.

Korean Speech Levels vs Honorifics

Korean speech levels can be thought of as politeness levels. Typically they are verb endings that demonstrate the formality of a situation. For example, you might use an informal speech level with friends, someone the same age as you, or someone younger than you. You would use the standard speech level for everyday communication. You could use the formal version when giving a speech or a news broadcast. You can use different speech levels to talk about yourself.

Honorifics are used to show respect to the listener or the third person you’re talking about. Honorifics are usually special words (nouns, verbs, verb endings, pronouns, etc) used to show respect. Korean honorifics are typically used for speaking to someone older than you or higher than you in the social hierarchy. You cannot use honorifics to talk about yourself.

What are Honorific Terms in Korean?

Honorific terms in Korean are special titles, words, and verbs that are used to refer to people older than you or higher than you in the social hierarchy.

Honorifics in Korean

The word “honorifics” in Korean can be expressed in 2 ways. The first one is 존댓말. The other word for “honorifics” in Korean is 높임말.

존댓말 is about how you convey or show respect in your sentences while 높임말 is about the choice of respectful words you use in your sentences. 반말 can be translated as the use of informal or casual speech.

KOREAN SUFFIXES

님 = a high-level honorific used to show respect to someone. This suffix is used with people’s names and titles. Koreans can call you using your full name or first name + 님. That is a common way to address someone with respect.

You’ll see the 님 suffix added to job titles. A common 님 usage is with the title of teacher - 선생님.

씨 = used to address people that are roughly on the same level of the social hierarchy. (slightly older or younger than you) An example of this might be two students in class.

This is used with a person’s name + 씨. For example, your classmate is named 배지훈. You address your classmate as 지훈 씨.

아/야 = used with people who are close to you and younger. The format used is name + 아/야. If the name ends in a consonant, then you’ll use name + 아. ㅑIf the name ends in a vowel, then you can use name + 야.

KOREAN TITLES:

오빠

- Literal meaning: “older brother”

- Is also used to call: A male friend or a male sibling who’s older than you (as a female)

- Is used by: A younger female to call an older male friend or sibling

형

- Literal meaning: “older brother”

- Is also used to call: A male friend or a male sibling who’s older than you (as a male)

- Used by: A younger male to call an older male friend or sibling

언니

- Literal meaning: “older sister”

- Is also used to call: A female friend or a female sibling who’s older than you (as a female)

- Used by: A younger female to call an older female or sibling

누나

- Literal meaning: “older sister”

- Is also used to call: A female friend or a female sibling who’s older than you (as a male)

- Used by: A younger male to call an older female or sibling

선배

- Literal meaning: “senior”

- Is used to call: A female or male student who’s older than you at school/university

- Used by: A younger female or male student

- Example: If you’re a senior at a university and your friend is a freshman, you’re 선배 to them.

- Opposite word of 선배 is 후배

후배

- Literal meaning: “junior”

- Is used to call: A female or male student who’s younger than you at school/university

- Used by: An older student to call someone who’s younger than him/her

- Example: If your friend is a freshman at a university and you’re a senior, your friend is 후배.

동생

- Literal meaning: “younger sibling”

- Is used to call: A younger male or female sibling or any friend who’s younger than you (as a female/male)

- Used by: An older male/female or an older sibling to one who’s younger than them

- Side note: You don’t use this word when you call them. Call them by name.

여동생

- Literal meaning: “younger sister”

- Is used to call: A younger female sibling or any female who’s younger than you (as a female/male)

남동생

- Literal meaning: “younger brother”

- Is used to call: A younger male sibling or any male who’s younger than you (as a female/male)

Why Do Koreans Use Honorifics?

This hierarchical culture is followed strictly.  Not only just for differences in status but differences in age as well: even a 1-year age difference is considered enough to warrant honorificity.

In many situations, you will see Koreans become overjoyed when they learn that their conversation partner is the same age.

This is because they can speak freely and comfortably to people of the same age, so they will refer to each other as 친구 (chingu, meaning friend), even if they are not close. But if their conversation partner is older, they must use a more polite and formal way of speaking. If they don’t, it could be thought of as disrespectful, embarrassing, or socially insensitive.

You’ll also see 아/어 드리다 in place of 아/어 주다.

The structure of the first phrase is: verb stem + 아/어/여해드릴게요. This is commonly used to tell someone that you will do something for them. You can translate it to “I will do … for you.”

If you form this phrase as a question, it will be: verb stem + 아/어/여해드릴까요?

 This is commonly used to ask someone if they would like you to do something for them? It translates to “Shall I do … for you?”.

[studykoreanwithlogan]

반말 (INFORMAL) vs 존댓말 (FORMAL)

There are four factors which you must consider in determining which level of speech to use.  

1. Difference in Age between Speaker and Listener. 

If all else is equal, your age relative to the listener will determine the level of speech to use. If you are in your twenties and start a conversation with an elderly Korean man, you are the 후배 (junior) and he is the 선배 (senior). You will address him using 존댓말 (formal) and he may address you using 반말 (informal). But the age difference does not need to be large. If you meet someone for the first time and learn that they are one year older than you, then you should definitely be using 존댓말 (formal) when you speak to them. And it’s perfectly acceptable for the person you just met to use 반말 (informal) with you, if they choose.

Koreans are obsessed with people’s age, and for good reason! It is such an important part of establishing conversational tone. This is why Koreans will almost always ask you how old you are when you first meet.  It’s a common question that’s built into normal introductions. Sometimes it takes different forms, though. One person may come right out and ask you for your age. Others will ask what year you graduated high school or college. Koreans have nearly turned this into an art form — with a million clever variations of questions that only serve to determine the listener’s age.

2. Difference in Social Status between Speaker and Listener.

If all else is equal, your social status relative to the listener will determine the level of speech to use. Imagine you’ve been working for a Korean company for the past four years. If you are introduced to someone who is higher in rank or job title than you are, then you are the 후배 (junior) and the other person is your 선배 (senior). If you’re both the same rank in the company but he joined the company one year after you, then you would be the 선배 (senior) and he would be your 후배 (junior).

▪ What if you are higher ranking than the listener but he is clearly much older than you? What then?

You should probably both be using 존댓말 (formal) until you mutually agree to drop the formal endings (반말).

▪ What if you work for different companies with entirely different organizational structures? Who’s higher ranking? Don’t know? Well, then let’s find out who’s older!

3. Psychological Distance between Speaker and Listener.

This is a little trickier to explain. This axis ranges from ‘Complete Stranger’ at one end all the way up to things like best friends, intimate lovers, and family members at the other. This is essentially how “close” you and the listener are. And it can completely trump the age and social status factors already discussed. 

Example:

I once met a young lady who owned a tiny little coffee shop in Seoul. She was in her twenties and I was in my mid-thirties. But we had mutual interests and soon became good friends. It wasn’t long before we were speaking to one another in 반말 (informal). I was older than her, so if we hadn’t been close, she should have been using 존댓말 (formal) with me. I, being older, had a slightly more established and traditional career, so my social status would have also demanded that she address me with 존댓말 (formal). However, once we became friends that changes. Friends don’t speak to one another in 존댓말 (formal). Work colleagues do. Acquaintances do.  But not friends. Friends use 반말 (informal).

Level of speech in Korean is such a strong indicator of psychological closeness that it is, literally, a precursor to becoming friends. If I had never invited my new friend to drop the formal ending when she spoke to me, we wouldn’t have become friends at all. Likewise, if I had continued to address her using formal speech, it would have been a clear indicator that I intended to keep a certain measure of psychological distance between us. So, not only does the level of speech indicate the psychological distance between speaker and listener, it can also determine it.

4. Environment in which the Conversation Takes Place. 

Just as psychological distance can override considerations of age and social status, the environment where the conversation takes place can make the appropriate level of speech rise or fall. Consider the example above of my friend in her early twenties, me in my mid-twenties. Even though we were friends and completely comfortable using 반말 (informal) with one another, there are many situations where it would be inappropriate to do so. As I mentioned, she owned a coffee shop and I would often stop in from time to time, sometimes bringing along work colleagues or other friends who are roughly the same age as I am. In this situation it would be inappropriate for her to walk up and address me using 반말 (informal). In the context of this situation, she was the service provider and I was the customer. Furthermore, the fact that I was with several others who were also older than her dictated that she use 존댓말 (formal) in this situation.

Now, imagine that one day we decide to meet at a nearby department store. I arrive to find that she is finishing up something else with several of her friends — all of whom are younger than I am. You might think that because she is younger, and because I could be considered socially higher in status, that it would be perfectly acceptable to use 반말 (informal) with her in this situation. I mean, we’re really good friends who use 반말 (informal) all the time, so what’s the problem? The problem is the context of the conversation. Imagine what her friends would think about an older guy walking up and speaking to her in such a blunt or intimate manner. It would probably imply a much closer relationship which was not the case. Instead, the polite thing would be to use 존댓말 (formal) while her friends were present and then shift down into 반말 (informal) once it was just me and her again.

[csyng]

(` KR:daily / 선배 - 후배! )

( ` prompt week: 7/24 - 7/31! ) ( ` completion points: 10354! )

Sunbae (선배, 先輩) is a word that refers to people with more experience (at work, school, etc)

Which seniors does your idol have a strong relationship with? 

There’s not really many seniors in the industry left for Sooyoung. The group she’s in has existed for the past decade, and there’s few groups and idols who’ve held up this long. She’s close to the sunbaes within her company (i.e. BoA, TVXQ and Super Junior), but most idols she’s friendly with have quit the trade by now.

Which seniors are they acquaintances with? Explain each relationship, how it formed, and what it’s like. 

Most of her current sunbaes are those she’s met through acting. She’s been doing acting for a few years now, but she gets the opportunity to do her acting thing with well-established names within the trade. She’s had her first acting role back in 2008, but she never really counted that as one, and since her frequent appearance on dramas over the last few years, she’s found some people she considers close. The relationships mostly are text-based, as the busy schedules tend to keep them from meeting up. 

Hoobae (후배, 後輩) refers to people with less experience. Generally, hoobaes have to use jondaetma l(존댓말, honorific language) to sunbaes, meaning they have to speak very politely and treat them with respect.

How does your muse act with their juniors? 

Sooyoung tries to be the fun unnie / noona who just generally makes people feel comfortable around her. She’s not the type to get really offended if people don’t address her formally, she has no speaking ground as she’s known for never addressing people older than her with oppa and unnie. She’s also the type to spoil them when she gets close enough to them, going out of her way to spend time with them where she can. She’s incredibly supportive, even if she’s not always the one to show her support openly. 

Which juniors are your muse close with? Try to describe their relationship as best as you can.

Although there’s many people Sooyoung at least considers close, one of the main people she simply adores would be Red Velvet’s Seulgi. She loves all members of the girl group, as well as the other juniors within her company (and she’s spoken out about liking T-ARA, TWICE and a few other groups before), but Seulgi holds a special place in her heart. The main reason for that is that Sooyoung sees a lot of herself reflected in the younger. They share a birthday, Seulgi has trained with SM Entertainment for seven years, and so had Sooyoung. Whenever the older idol would sense Seulgi going through a hard time, she’d make a point of it to go out and cheer the younger up. She knows firsthand how hard it can be to be training for nearly a decade, never quite having the comfort of knowing your future, and she wanted to do everything she could to keep Seulgi from feeling too bad about anything, as Seulgi is a lot more talented than she is herself. Even now, after Seulgi has established her position in the Korean entertainment industry with Red Velvet, Sooyoung still likes to check in with her every once in a while to make sure she’s being treated the way she should be. 

[gyyeoms]

KR: KYG / 선배 - 후배

sunbae (선배, 先輩) is a word that refers to people with more experience (at work, school, etc)

which seniors does your idol have a strong relationship with? 

2PM, JYP, BTS 

which seniors are they acquaintances with? explain each relationship, how it formed, and what it’s like.

yugyeom is very close friends with many of the 2PM members, many of whom he respects deeply. their bond happened because they share the same company - thus it was natural for them to get more acquainted with each other. he looks up to them greatly. 

another senior group that he’s really close to is BTS, he is specifically close to one of the members (jeongguk) as they share the same age. he views them as amazing artists, and a group that he can look up to and learn from. 

hoobae (후배, 後輩) refers to people with less experience. generally, hoobaes have to use jondaetma l(존댓말, honorific language) to sunbaes, meaning they have to speak very politely and treat them with respect.

how does your muse act with their juniors?

with his juniors, he is the same as he would be with his sunbae’s. he is respectful, but playful at the same time. he knows there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed no matter what the standing is. 

which juniors are your muse close with? try to describe their relationship as best as you can.

twice, monsta x, astro, seventeen, x1 - those are a few of the junior groups that have members he is extremely closed to. although relationships with each of them vary, the one thing that can be shared in common is the sense of respect he still holds for his juniors. he never looks down on them, and wants to do as much as possible to cheer for them, and be there not just as a mentor but as a friend.