What does 형 (hyung) mean?
- 형hyung
Older brother (said by males)
Casual: friends and people younger than you
형 (hyung) means "older brother" and is used by boys and men to talk to or about an older male. Guys use it for real brothers and also for older male friends, teammates, and coworkers they are close to.
Where it comes from
형 comes from the Chinese character 兄, meaning older brother. The honorific form is 형님.
How to use 형
Only males say 형 in everyday speech. A woman calling an older man uses 오빠 (oppa) instead. You can say 형 on its own or after a name, like 준호 형.
It shows friendly respect: you are close, but you still recognize the age difference. In K-pop groups, younger members call older members 형 all the time.
형님 is more respectful and is used for an older brother-in-law, for someone you look up to, or in a rough, gangster-movie style. Plain 형 is the normal choice among friends.
Examples
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Checking on an older friend
Cheering for an older teammate
Introducing your family
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 형님 | older brother (respectful) | Honorific form. Also used for an older brother-in-law. |
| 형아 | big bro | Childlike form, used by little kids or as a cute joke. |
| 친형 | my biological older brother | Makes clear you mean a real brother. |
| 형들 | older brothers / hyungs | Plural. |
Hear it in songs
Real lines from songs broken down on Hanbok. Open a song to see every line explained.
- 파스텔의 부서진 형태 색별로 모여있는 맘과 같애The shattered form of pastel, like a heart gathered in separate colors.Love Untold · Hyunjin
- 형 형 형 저기봐 저기봐 진짜 예뻐Bro, bro, bro, look over there, look over there, she's really pretty.Wow · 3RACHA
- 저기 뒤에서 누나 예쁘다고 하는 형들이The older guys behind me are saying you're pretty.Wow · 3RACHA
- 이걸 고민하고 또 하고 또 하고 또 해보니 형들이 놀리려는 거지After agonizing over it and doing it again and again, I realized the older guys were just teasing me.Wow · 3RACHA
Questions learners ask
Can girls say hyung?
Normally no. Women call older men 오빠 (oppa). You may occasionally hear a woman use 형 in a joking or tomboyish way, but it is unusual.
What is the difference between hyung and hyungnim?
형님 is the more respectful version. Friends say 형, while 형님 is for someone you want to show extra respect to, such as an older brother-in-law.