형 (hyeong) is a term used by males to address an older male, either a brother or a close older male friend. In family, a younger brother calls his older brother '형', and among friends, it is used to address an older male in a friendly way.
Nuances
- Used by younger brothers for older brothers in family
- Expresses closeness among male friends
- Females use '오빠' for older males
- Can be used even if age gap is small if close
When to use
Family, Among friends, Casual conversation
In context
형 is used only by males to address an older male or a close older male friend. It is not used for females or younger people. In sentences, it functions as a form of address or pronoun and is informal rather than polite.
