Curious to know what hyung means in Korean?
I’ll explain all the meanings of hyung and how Koreans use it in different contexts!
Quick Summary
- Hyung in Korean literally means older brother, used by men.
- However, its meaning extends beyond a biological brother.
- Hyung can refer to an older male cousin, an older male friend, or even an older male acquaintance.
1. Biological Older Brother
The most basic and literal meaning of hyung is an older brother by blood.
If a boy has an older male sibling, he will always call him hyung, never his name.
To emphasize that he’s an actual big brother, Koreans will add and say
- Chin hyung: Biologically older brother, to differentiate from a close friend.
- Woori hyung: Our older brother, to say in a warm and inclusive way. Koreans like to say “woori (our)” not “nae (my).”
What does it mean when Koreans don’t call their brother hyung?
In Korea, younger brothers call their older brothers hyung as a sign of respect. But there are situations where this doesn’t happen.
Sometimes, especially among twins or brothers born in the same year, the younger one might skip the hyung altogether. Since the age gap is minimal, the sense of hierarchy feels less rigid.
But in more serious cases, when a younger brother calls his older brother by name despite an age gap, it usually signals a really strained relationship. It shows that the younger brother doesn’t see his older brother as deserving of respect. He doesn’t recognize him as a hyung at all!
And in Korean culture, where hierarchy and respect are important, it’s considered deeply disrespectful, even humiliating, when a younger brother refers to his older brother as “you” instead of hyung.
2. Older Male Cousin
In Korean, sachon means cousin.
So an older male cousin equals sachon hyung when speaking about him to others.
However, when directly addressing an older male cousin, we simply call him hyung, just like they would with an actual older brother.
3. Older Guy Friend
Hyung isn’t just for family. It’s also commonly used between male friends.
- If a guy is even one year older, younger males will naturally call him hyung.
- This creates a sense of hierarchy and respect.
- Close male friends, especially in school or the military, always use hyung to address their senior peers.
Using hyung makes relationships feel more familiar and warm, helping younger men form bonds with older guys in a friendly yet respectful way.
The Variations of Hyung
There are many ways to say hyung.
- Hyung-ah: A cute, affectionate version often used by younger boys.
- Hyung-nim: A more respectful or hierarchical form, often used in formal or mafia-like settings. BUT, a woman also uses “hyungnim” to call a sister-in-law (more specifically, their husband’s older sister or noona) or the wife of their husband’s older brother.
- Hangnim or Ham: Dialect variations used in Busan and Gyeongsang Province.
When Can You Call Someone Hyung?
Hyung is generally well-received and encouraged.
Most Korean men enjoy being called hyung because it acknowledges their seniority while maintaining a friendly tone.
But there are a few things to keep in mind!
- If guys insist you call them hyung right away, they might either want to establish dominance in the relationship or they like you enough to be friendly.
- When a guy tells you to call him hyung after meeting a few times, it means he wants to befriend you or take care of you in a big-brotherly way.
- If the person starts talking down to you or acting bossy after you call them hyung, you can always reconsider whether you want to keep that dynamic or not.
Hyung is a term of respect, familiarity, and even affection between Korean men.
Having a good hyung in your corner can make or break your time in Korea.
