What does 형 mean?

형 (hyeong)

형 (hyeong) means an older brother or a close older male friend in Korean.

Korean word 형 meaning older brother or close older male friend

Definition & nuance

Core meaning and shades learners miss.

(hyeong)

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.

Real-world examples

  • 형, 오늘 뭐 해?

    hyeong, o-neul mwo hae?, hyeong, o neul mwo hae?

    This is a friendly way a younger male or friend asks an older male.

  • 여자 친구가 형을 좋아해요.

    yeo-ja chin-gu-ga hyeong-eul joh-a-hae-yo., yeo ja chin gu ga hyeong eul joh a hae yo.

    Here 형 means an older brother in the family.

  • 형, 저 좀 도와주세요.

    hyeong, jeo jom do-wa-ju-se-yo., hyeong, jeo jom do wa ju se yo.

    '도와주세요' is polite but 형 is informal, so they don't match.

  • 나는 형이다.

    na-neun hyeong-i-da., na neun hyeong i da.

    This sentence states that the speaker is the older brother.

  • 형, 오늘 학교 갔어요?

    hyeong, o-neul hak-gyo gass-eo-yo?, hyeong, o neul hak gyo gass eo yo?

    '갔어요' is polite, but 형 is informal, so they don't match.

  • 형, 이거 봐!

    hyeong, i-geo bwa!, hyeong, i geo bwa!

    A natural informal way to speak to an older male friend.

Quick quiz

  1. Who do you call 형?

    형은 누구를 부를 때 쓰나요?(hyeong-eunnu-gu-reulbu-reulttaesseu-na-yo?, hyeongeunnugureulbureulttaesseunayo?)
  2. What does a female use to address an older male friend?

    여자가 남자에게 친근하게 부를 때 사용하는 말은?(yeo-ja-ganam-ja-e-gechin-geun-ha-gebu-reulttaesa-yong-ha-neunmal-eun?, yeojaganamjaegechingeunhagebureulttaesayonghaneunmaleun?)
  3. Which sentence uses 형 incorrectly?

    다음 중 형을 잘못 쓴 문장은?(da-eumjunghyeong-euljal-mossseunmun-jang-eun?, daeumjunghyeongeuljalmossseunmunjangeun?)

More meaning guides

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