Korean · People & Family
"Brother-in-law" in Korean: 처남 / 매형 / 시동생
처남 / 매형 / 시동생cheonam / maehyeong / sidongsaeng
Note: Examples only; the correct title depends on the exact family relationship.
Brother-in-law in Korean is 처남 / 매형 / 시동생 (cheonam / maehyeong / sidongsaeng). 처남 is a wife’s brother, 매형 an older sister’s husband for a male speaker, and 시동생 a husband’s younger brother. These do not cover every in-law relation.
Talking about family
제 처남이 집에 있어요.je cheonami jibe isseoyo.
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How to pronounce 처남 / 매형 / 시동생
Say it
cheonam
/tɕʰʌnam/
처남 (cheonam) has 2 Hangul syllables. 처남 ends with a nasal m sound. Keep that ending when reading the noun alone.
"Brother-in-law" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 처남cheonam | Brother-in-law Basic dictionary noun. | Basic dictionary noun. |
| 처남과 매형cheonamgwa maehyeong | wife’s younger brother and older sister’s husband A useful combination with 처남. | A useful combination with 처남. |
| 처남을cheonameul | Brother-in-law (as an object) Use 을 when 처남 is the object of an action. | Use 을 when 처남 is the object of an action. |
| 매형maehyeong | Brother-in-law An alternative shown alongside 처남; choose according to the meaning. | An alternative shown alongside 처남; choose according to the meaning. |
| 시동생sidongsaeng | Brother-in-law An alternative shown alongside 처남; choose according to the meaning. | An alternative shown alongside 처남; choose according to the meaning. |
How to use 처남 / 매형 / 시동생 in real life
- 1Talking about family
제 처남이 집에 있어요.
je cheonami jibe isseoyo.
My brother-in-law is at home.
처남이 marks 처남 as the subject.
- 2Explaining who came
처남과 같이 왔어요.
cheonamgwa gachi wasseoyo.
I came with my brother-in-law.
처남 appears in a complete sentence for brother-in-law.
- 3Making family plans
오늘 처남을 만나요.
oneul cheonameul mannayo.
I am meeting my brother-in-law today.
처남을 uses 을 to mark an object.
Mistakes English speakers make with 처남 / 매형 / 시동생
Incorrect: 제 처남가 집에 있어요.
Correct: 제 처남이 집에 있어요.
When practicing brother-in-law, use the correct particle or copula after 처남; the final sound determines whether a linking consonant is needed.
Incorrect: 처남예요.
Correct: 처남이에요.
When practicing brother-in-law, when identifying something as 처남, use 처남이에요. The linking 이 follows a consonant-final noun.
Good to know
처남 is a wife’s brother, 매형 an older sister’s husband for a male speaker, and 시동생 a husband’s younger brother. These do not cover every in-law relation. The combination 처남과 매형 (cheonamgwa maehyeong) means wife’s younger brother and older sister’s husband.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led people and family study exercise: two sentences with 처남 / 매형 / 시동생
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 처남이 집에 있어요.
je cheonami jibe isseoyo.
My brother-in-law is at home.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
처남과 같이 왔어요.
cheonamgwa gachi wasseoyo.
I came with my brother-in-law.
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-law" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Brother-in-law" in Korean
What does 처남 mean in Korean?
Brother-in-law in Korean is 처남 / 매형 / 시동생 (cheonam / maehyeong / sidongsaeng). 처남 is a wife’s brother, 매형 an older sister’s husband for a male speaker, and 시동생 a husband’s younger brother. These do not cover every in-law relation.
How do I use 처남과 매형?
처남과 매형 (cheonamgwa maehyeong) means wife’s younger brother and older sister’s husband. 처남 is a wife’s brother, 매형 an older sister’s husband for a male speaker, and 시동생 a husband’s younger brother. These do not cover every in-law relation.
Which object particle goes after 처남?
The object form is 처남을 because 처남 ends in a consonant.
How is 처남 pronounced?
처남 (cheonam) has 2 Hangul syllables. 처남 ends with a nasal m sound. Keep that ending when reading the noun alone.
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