What does 선배 (sunbae) mean?
- 선배sunbae
Senior (at school or work)
Fine in most situations
선배 (sunbae) means "senior," someone who started at your school, club, or workplace before you did. Koreans use it both to describe that person and as a respectful way to address them.
Where it comes from
선배 comes from Chinese characters: 先 (first, before) and 輩 (group or generation). So it means someone from an earlier group.
How to use 선배
선배 is about who joined first, not strictly about age. A person who entered university a year before you is your 선배, even if you are the same age. The person who joined after you is your 후배 (hoobae).
To address a senior politely, add 님: 선배님. This is safest at work or with seniors you do not know well. Close friends from school often drop the 님 and just say 선배.
You also hear it in entertainment, where younger actors and idols call those who debuted earlier 선배님.
Examples
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Greeting a senior at the office
Offering a drink to a senior you're close to
Introducing someone to a friend
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 선배님 | senior (respectful) | The polite way to address a senior. |
| 선배들 | seniors | Plural. |
| 학교 선배 | senior at school | Someone ahead of you at school. |
| 직장 선배 | senior at work | Someone who joined the company before you. |
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between sunbae and hoobae?
선배 is someone who started before you, and 후배 is someone who started after you. They are a pair.
Should I say sunbae or sunbaenim?
선배님 is more polite and is the safe choice at work or with someone you are not close to. Plain 선배 is fine with seniors you know well.