Korean, like any language, has a rich and varied vocabulary when it comes to describing family. In this chapter of our eBook, we'll focus on the most basic words and phrases you'll need to know to describe your family in Korean.
Basic words for family members
In Korean, the words for family members are quite specific, depending on whether you're talking about the family on your mother's or father's side. Here are some of the most basic words you'll need to know:
- 가족 (gajok) - Family
- 부모님 (bumonim) - Parents
- 어머니 (eomeoni) - Mother
- 아버지 (abeoji) - Father
- 동생 (dongsaeng) - Younger brother or sister
- 형 (hyeong) - Elder brother (used by men)
- 누나 (nuna) - Big sister (used by men)
- 오빠 (oppa) - Elder brother (used by women)
- 언니 (eonni) - Big sister (used by women)
- 할머니 (halmeoni) - Grandmother
- 할아버지 (harabeoji) - Grandfather
Basic phrases to describe the family
Now that you know the basic words to describe family members, here are some phrases you can use to talk about your family in Korean:
- 저의 가족은 네 명입니다. (jeoui gajogeun ne myeongibnida.) - My family consists of four people.
- 저는 언니가 한 명 있습니다. (jeoneun eonniga han myeong itsseumnida.) - I have an older sister.
- 제 아버지는 의사입니다. (je abeojineun uisaimnida.) - My father is a doctor.
- 제 어머니는 선생님입니다. (je eomeonineun seonsaengnimibnida.) - My mother is a teacher.
Additional words and phrases
In addition to the basic words and phrases above, there are some additional words and phrases that may be helpful when talking about your family in Korean:
- 친척 (chincheok) - Relative
- 조카 (joka) - Nephew or niece
- 사촌 (sachon) - Cousin or cousin
- 외동딸 (oedongttal) - Only child
- 외동아들 (oedongadeul) - Only child
- 저는 외동딸입니다. (jeoneun oedongttalibnida.) - I am an only child.
- 제 사촌은 학생입니다. (je sachoneun hagsaengibnida.) - My cousin is a student.
We hope this chapter has helped you expand your Korean vocabulary and feel more confident when talking about your family. Remember, practice is key to mastering any language, so keep using these words and phrases in your everyday life to become more fluent in Korean.
