Talking about family is a common topic when getting to know someone in Korea. Koreans place great importance on family relationships, so being able to introduce your family members and talk about them respectfully is very helpful.
In this lesson, you’ll learn essential vocabulary related to family members, phrases to describe relationships, and useful expressions to share about your family in Korean.
Essential Family Vocabulary
- 가족 (gajok) – Family
- 부모님 (bumonim) – Parents (honorific)
- 아버지 (abeoji) – Father
- 어머니 (eomeoni) – Mother
- 형 (hyeong) – Older brother (for males)
- 오빠 (oppa) – Older brother (for females)
- 누나 (nuna) – Older sister (for males)
- 언니 (eonni) – Older sister (for females)
- 동생 (dongsaeng) – Younger sibling
- 아들 (adeul) – Son
- 딸 (ttal) – Daughter
Talking About Your Family
You can start by saying “제 가족은...” meaning “My family is...” and then list your family members. For example, “제 가족은 부모님과 형, 그리고 제가 있어요” means “My family has my parents, older brother, and me.”
If you want to introduce someone’s relationship to you, you can say “~은 제 [relation] 이에요/예요.” For example, “아버지는 제 아버지예요” or more simply “아버지예요.”
Example Sentences
A: 가족이 몇 명이에요?
B: 다섯 명이에요. 부모님, 형, 동생 그리고 저예요.
A: 형이 있어요?
B: 네, 형이 한 명 있어요.
A: 자녀가 있어요?
B: 네, 아들과 딸이 있어요.
Grammar Tips
Use “은/는” to mark the subject when introducing family members. The verb “있다” is used to say someone exists or you have someone in your family. The endings “이에요/예요” are polite forms of “to be.”
Cultural Notes
Family hierarchy and respect for elders are very important in Korean culture. It’s common to use different words for older brothers and sisters depending on the speaker’s gender. Also, when talking about parents, honorifics are used to show respect.
Practice Challenge
Try introducing your family in Korean using the vocabulary and phrases learned today. Practice with a language partner or record yourself speaking to improve fluency.
Next Up
Next lesson will teach you how to express your feelings and emotions in Korean.
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