Korean pronouns pose some difficulty to speakers of English due to their complexity. The Korean language makes extensive use of speech levels and honorifics in its grammar, and Korean pronouns also change depending on the social distinction between the speaker and the person or persons spoken to. In general, Koreans avoid using second person singular pronouns, especially when using honorific forms.

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  • Korean pronouns pose some difficulty to speakers of English due to their complexity. The Korean language makes extensive use of speech levels and honorifics in its grammar, and Korean pronouns also change depending on the social distinction between the speaker and the person or persons spoken to. In general, Koreans avoid using second person singular pronouns, especially when using honorific forms. This is done by either by: Leaving out the subject of the sentence if it can be implied by the context. In English, sentences need explicit subjects, but this is not so in conversational Korean. Use the person's name. However this is only done when talking to someone younger than yourself. With people older than you, it is custom to use either a title or kinship term (see next point). Use one of the following: 언니 (eonni, "older sister" if speaker is female), 누나 (nuna, "older sister" if speaker is male), 오빠 (oppa, "older brother" if speaker is female, can mean "boyfriend"), 형 (hyeong, "older brother" if speaker is male), 아줌마 (ajumma, "middle aged woman"), 아주머니 (ajumeoni, also "middle aged woman" but more polite), 아저씨 (ajeossi, "middle aged man"), 할머니 (halmeoni, "grandmother") of 할아버지 (harabeoji, "grandfather"). In Korea it is common to use kinship terms for people who are not family at all. The term 아가씨 (agassi, "young lady") is preferable when addressing a young girl of unknown age. It is mostly seen used in public places like restaurants. But it will also sometimes be used by men in pick-up lines. It should be noted that by definition the actual difference between 아가씨 and 아줌마 reside in marriage status and not age. Use the appropriate title. For example, if you are talking to a teacher, you can use 선생님 (seonsaengnim, "teacher", although 선생님 is also often used as a general honorific term for other professions like managers etc. ) Use the plural 여러분 (yeoreobun) where applicable.
  • Les pronoms personnels coréen sont nombreux, il en existent pour chaque différent registre de langue (neutre, formel...).
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  • Korean pronouns pose some difficulty to speakers of English due to their complexity. The Korean language makes extensive use of speech levels and honorifics in its grammar, and Korean pronouns also change depending on the social distinction between the speaker and the person or persons spoken to. In general, Koreans avoid using second person singular pronouns, especially when using honorific forms.
  • Les pronoms personnels coréen sont nombreux, il en existent pour chaque différent registre de langue (neutre, formel...).
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  • Korean pronouns
  • Pronoms personnels coréen
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