Korean · People & Family
"Brother" in Korean: 형 / 오빠 / 남동생
형 / 오빠 / 남동생hyeong / oppa / namdongsaeng
Note: 형: male speaker, older brother; 오빠: female speaker, older brother; 남동생: younger brother.
Brother in Korean is 형 / 오빠 / 남동생 (hyeong / oppa / namdongsaeng). A man calls his older brother 형 and a woman calls hers 오빠; 남동생 is a younger brother.
Talking about family
제 형이 집에 있어요.je hyeongi jibe isseoyo.
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How to pronounce 형 / 오빠 / 남동생
Say it
hyeong
/hjʌŋ/
형 (hyeong) has 1 Hangul syllable. 형 ends with a nasal ng sound. Keep that ending when reading the noun alone.
"Brother" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 형hyeong | Brother Basic dictionary noun. | Basic dictionary noun. |
| 제 형je hyeong | my brother A useful combination with 형. | A useful combination with 형. |
| 형을hyeongeul | Brother (as an object) Use 을 when 형 is the object of an action. | Use 을 when 형 is the object of an action. |
| 오빠oppa | Brother An alternative shown alongside 형; choose according to the meaning. | An alternative shown alongside 형; choose according to the meaning. |
| 남동생namdongsaeng | Brother An alternative shown alongside 형; choose according to the meaning. | An alternative shown alongside 형; choose according to the meaning. |
How to use 형 / 오빠 / 남동생 in real life
- 1Talking about family
제 형이 집에 있어요.
je hyeongi jibe isseoyo.
My brother is at home.
형이 marks 형 as the subject.
- 2Explaining who came
형과 같이 왔어요.
hyeonggwa gachi wasseoyo.
I came with my brother.
형 appears in a complete sentence for brother.
- 3Making family plans
오늘 형을 만나요.
oneul hyeongeul mannayo.
I am meeting my brother today.
형을 uses 을 to mark an object.
Mistakes English speakers make with 형 / 오빠 / 남동생
Incorrect: 제 형가 집에 있어요.
Correct: 제 형이 집에 있어요.
When practicing brother, use the correct particle or copula after 형; the final sound determines whether a linking consonant is needed.
Incorrect: 형예요.
Correct: 형이에요.
When practicing brother, when identifying something as 형, use 형이에요. The linking 이 follows a consonant-final noun.
Good to know
A man calls his older brother 형 and a woman calls hers 오빠; 남동생 is a younger brother. The combination 제 형 (je hyeong) means my brother.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led people and family study exercise: two sentences with 형 / 오빠 / 남동생
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
제 형이 집에 있어요.
je hyeongi jibe isseoyo.
My brother is at home.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
형과 같이 왔어요.
hyeonggwa gachi wasseoyo.
I came with my brother.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Brother" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Brother" in Korean
What does 형 mean in Korean?
Brother in Korean is 형 / 오빠 / 남동생 (hyeong / oppa / namdongsaeng). A man calls his older brother 형 and a woman calls hers 오빠; 남동생 is a younger brother.
How do I use 제 형?
제 형 (je hyeong) means my brother. A man calls his older brother 형 and a woman calls hers 오빠; 남동생 is a younger brother.
Which object particle goes after 형?
The object form is 형을 because 형 ends in a consonant.
How is 형 pronounced?
형 (hyeong) has 1 Hangul syllable. 형 ends with a nasal ng sound. Keep that ending when reading the noun alone.
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