How to say “younger sibling” in Korean
- 동생dongsaeng
younger sibling
"Younger sibling" in Korean is 동생 (dongsaeng), and it works for both boys and girls no matter who is speaking. To be specific, say 남동생 (namdongsaeng) for a younger brother and 여동생 (yeodongsaeng) for a younger sister.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 동생 dongsaeng | Any | Any younger sibling. Also used for a younger friend you treat like family. |
| 남동생 namdongsaeng | Any | Younger brother. 남 means male. |
| 여동생 yeodongsaeng | Any | Younger sister. 여 means female. |
| 막내 maknae | Any | The youngest in a family or group. K-pop fans know it as the youngest member of a band. |
Examples
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Introducing your younger sibling
Talking about your family
Asking about someone's sister
Tips
Unlike 오빠, 언니, 형 and 누나, the word 동생 is not used to call your sibling. Older siblings just call a younger one by name.
동생 is the same no matter if the speaker is male or female, which makes it easier than the words for older siblings.
Koreans also call a younger friend 동생 when describing the relationship, for example 친한 동생 (a younger friend I'm close to).
Questions learners ask
How do you say "little brother" in Korean?
Say 남동생 (namdongsaeng). In casual talk many people just say 동생 when it is clear.
How do you say "little sister" in Korean?
Say 여동생 (yeodongsaeng).
Do I call my younger sibling dongsaeng?
Usually not to their face. Koreans call younger siblings by their name and use 동생 when talking about them.