What does 삼촌 (samchon) mean?
- 삼촌samchon
Uncle
Fine in most situations
삼촌 (samchon) means "uncle," traditionally your father's younger, unmarried brother. Today Koreans also use it loosely for other uncles and as a friendly name for a man close to the family.
Where it comes from
삼촌 is Sino-Korean and means "three 촌." A 촌 is a step of family distance, and an uncle is three steps away from you. A cousin is 사촌, four steps away.
How to use 삼촌
Strictly, 삼촌 is your father's brother who is not yet married. Once he marries, many families switch to 작은아버지 (younger uncle) or 큰아버지 (older uncle). Your mother's brother is 외삼촌.
Kids often call their parents' close male friends 삼촌, a bit like "Uncle Mike" in English. Some adults also call a younger male shop or restaurant worker 삼촌 to sound friendly.
An uncle often calls himself 삼촌 when talking to a nephew or niece, as in "Come play with Uncle!"
Examples
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A child asking an uncle for money on a holiday
Telling your mom that her brother arrived
An uncle inviting his little nephew to play
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 외삼촌 | uncle (mom's brother) | 외 marks the mother's side. |
| 작은아버지 | uncle (dad's younger married brother) | Traditional title once he marries. |
| 큰아버지 | uncle (dad's older brother) | For your father's older brother. |
| 사촌 | cousin | Four 촌 away from you. |
Questions learners ask
Is samchon on the mom's side or dad's side?
삼촌 is traditionally your father's brother. Your mother's brother is 외삼촌, though in casual talk people often just say 삼촌.
Why do Korean kids call family friends samchon?
It is a warm way to treat a close family friend like a relative, much like calling someone "Uncle" in English even when he is not related.