What does 형님 (hyungnim) mean?
- 형님hyungnim
Respected older brother
Polite: safe with most people
형님 (hyungnim) is the respectful form of 형 (hyung), so it means a respected "older brother." Men use it for older men they look up to, and it is also an important in-law title in Korean families.
Where it comes from
형님 is 형 (older brother) plus the honorific suffix 님.
How to use 형님
A man calls an older man 형님 when he wants to show extra respect, for example a much older friend, a senior at work, or a brother-in-law. In movies, gang members famously call their boss 형님.
In families, a woman calls her husband's older brother's wife 형님, and often her husband's older sister too. A man calls his wife's older brother or his wife's older sister's husband 형님.
With a close older friend, plain 형 is enough. Using 형님 there can sound stiff or jokingly formal.
Examples
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Two men meeting again after years
Pouring a drink for an older man at dinner
A woman helping her sister-in-law cook during the holidays
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 형 | older brother (by males) | Casual, everyday form. |
| 형님들 | respected older brothers | Plural. |
| 큰형님 | eldest brother / big boss | Used in families and in gangster movies. |
Questions learners ask
Can a woman say hyungnim?
Yes, in one special case: married women call certain female in-laws, like the husband's older brother's wife, 형님. Otherwise women say 오빠 or 오라버니.
Why do gangsters say hyungnim?
In crime movies and dramas, 형님 shows loyalty and respect to the boss, so the word is strongly linked with that image.
Is hyungnim more polite than hyung?
Yes. 님 adds respect, so 형님 is more formal and respectful than 형.