What does 선생님 (seonsaengnim) mean?
- 선생님seonsaengnim
Teacher / respectful title
Polite: safe with most people
선생님 (seonsaengnim) means "teacher" and is the respectful way to address one. Koreans also use it as a polite title for doctors and other respected professionals.
Where it comes from
선생 is Sino-Korean, from characters meaning "born first," and 님 is an honorific suffix.
How to use 선생님
Students call their teachers 선생님, either alone or after the surname, like 김 선생님. Koreans do not usually call teachers by their first name.
It is also how you address doctors, nurses, counselors, lawyers and artists. When you are unsure what to call a professional adult, 선생님 is often a safe, respectful choice.
Students casually shorten it to 쌤. That is fine among students, but do not say 쌤 to a teacher you are not close with.
Examples
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Raising your hand in class
Thanking a doctor after an appointment
Calling the school office
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 쌤 | teacher (slang) | Casual student shortening. |
| 김 선생님 | Teacher Kim | Surname plus title. |
| 선생 | teacher | Without 님 it can sound like you are talking down, so use it only when not addressing someone. |
Questions learners ask
Can I call my Korean tutor seonsaengnim?
Yes, that is exactly right and shows respect, even if your tutor is young.
Why do Koreans call doctors seonsaengnim?
선생님 is a general title of respect for professionals, so patients use it for doctors, much like saying "Doctor" in English.
What does ssaem mean?
쌤 is a casual student shortening of 선생님, used among students and with teachers they are close to.