It was interesting. I've heard some of these words earlier - but Your explanation here is better and more detailed. It's so much different from our habits - I have friends or colleagues that are much older than me, like 10, 15 or even more years older, and I call them with their names. And I even have and had some of my bosses, some directors at work, that I call with their names. It's nothing unusual. Tbh, I think it's easier to live with not so many formal societal rules.
It's not just Korea. All of Asia is way more formal about honorifics and this sort of thing than the West is. I'm from the US and have friends, past and present, of all ages. If they are a friend, I call them by their first name. Older, younger, it doesn't matter. I've even had bosses that were older than me who I addressed by their first name. It's so much more casual here, in that respect. The only exception, for me, are doctors. I always address them as Doctor and then their last name, even if they are much younger than me. They usually address me by my first name, however. Very interesting video. Thank you.
❤ Thank you so much for sharing this and other information! You are helping me learn about my Korean heritage as I was born in the US. ❤ Sending you and your beautiful fiancée positive vibes from Southern California. - Nuna
It all seems very exhausting and formal. But as they say when in Rome. Respect other cultures. I’m old. !!!! Thank you not sure what to call you😊 very informative video. Sometimes older people are referred to eg Mr or Mrs and the surname.
I have come to understand the cultural differences in age from Korea and the rest of the world, i find it quite fascinating albeit confusing as the amount of greetings that one has to remember is daunting when we are trying to learn as we get older. I wasn’t aware of the use of “friend” however now understand it is for same age (birth year). The word friend is much more broadly used in Canada, although personally i use “friend” when it is someone that i can trust and rely on, colleague (work) with someone i work with and not too familiar with outside of the office, acquaintance with others whom i only know casually and hasn’t risen to someone i can trust and rely on. Cheers.
This kind of respect, addressing the elders with certain kind of honored tittles is pretty common among other Asian cultures, not only in Korea. For the Chinese, the tittle or honored name given also identify how a person is related to his/her father or mother side of the family. When too many generations are involved, it gets too complicated to use the appropriate tittle. That's when the simplified version is used. Simply call him "Uncle" or her, "Aunty" as respect. In Singapore & Malaysia, "Uncle" & "Aunty" are also widely used to address anybody older than us as a sign of respect, regardless of race, religion & one's own mother tongue or local language.
Good evening. All very complex but as they when in Rome. So if you know someone very well and they are a month older you can’t call them your friend.!!! Thank you for explaining this to us. We use to call older people years ago using their surname Mr or Mrs. Followed by their surname. This doesn’t really happen much now. Good Night.
Lately i've been just watching "I’m 50 years old Japanese man struggling with midlife crisis" or "I'm 32 year old average Korean man" and i'm pretty happy about that.
It sounds very strange to me, but that is the nice thing about getting to know each other's culture. I never experience someone asking my age, only on a birthday and then it's all about not estimating someone older than they actually are. (Everyone wants to look younger except teenagers). Our behavior towards that person does not change. It stays the same towards younger and older. How does it work in Korea, for example, if you want to go to the movies or out for dinner (not romantic) and you don't want to be alone, can you only bring someone your own age (friend) or does it not matter? can you ask people who are 15 years younger or older? For me, I rather go alone or not go all,. Where I live i am a great exception and this is not seen as normal and regarded as socially ill (i am not autistic or anything, social but find people mostly so exhausting) It would be nice if a country would not look at it as strange and unhealthy to be more comfortable alone. Am i more normal in korea then?
🤔say what could you say all that again ? Just kidding 😊 thank you so much for that information like others I really am interested in learning Korean culture. I watch a lot of Korean on RUclips but some things are never uploaded with English captions. I really would love to learn to read in Korean.
Very good to know ☺️ Thank you 🙏🏽 I was born in May also we are both 🐂♉ not telling what year 🤭 I was born let say we're not going to be "Friends" 😂. Sending blessings 🙏🏽❤😊
I could not imagine myself using all of these Korean terms to describe age instead of “friend,” because it is so specific and not as simple like the USA. In the USA, we use different terms to describe our relationship with people. If we know someone but we do not hang out, we call that person an acquaintance. If we hang out with a friend every once in a while and act civilly, we call that person a small friend. If we hang out with someone all the time and share secrets and so forth, we call that person a close friend. There is also the term “BFF- Best Friends Forever” for friends who have been talking and hanging out platonically for years.
Thank you, for sharing and explaining the Korean cultural reasons for the reckoning of age and the shades of defining friends. While I live in the States, I have developed my own definition of "friend," and like to add "acquaintance" to the mix. To me, a friend is one who has been in my life and passed the test of time. I would say that I have seven friends. I also have a number of acquaintances, those folks I interact with day to day. I do think this all stems from being that "functional introvert" and also growing up as an only child.
I am not even trying to explain our different forms of addressing people (you know, know a bit better, are friends with, don’t know at all, male, female, children and adult) but the Korean way reminds me a little bit on the Japanese forms of addressing someone younger, older, male, female. Nim=sama, san, chan, kun; and the murky waters of senpai, kōhai, sensei, O nee-san,O jii-san ect.
Once again, a very informative video! However, I thought recently South Korea stopped using the Korean age system altogether? I would be your 누님! Born 1985! 🥰
I would like to make a correction about your opinion about the meaning of friend in other part of the world. I am in America I do have neighbors that I am friendly with .but they are not my friends. There an also associated who a not my friends. A friend to is someone who am very close that I can talk share things with who is there for me and the same I am for them and it is not prohibited by age I understand addressing the elders by Mr or Mrs. Because we was thought to do that. But if u are my brother or sister why am I not able to call u by ur given name u was given a name for a reason right. And if I can to visit ur and someone ask me my age I will consider it rude in my culture.
What do you call somebody that is your same age but is not a friend because you are just meeting that person for the first time? can you call them by the name?
When you meet someone for the first time, you say 저기요(excuse me), 선생님(teacher or Sir) things like these. Even when you find out that he/she is younger than you, you don't call by his/her name. You have to ask for his/her permission and if he/she allows you call by the name, you can do that. So you can call by someone's name after building up some kind of relationship
Very interesting, so in a business setting if you have a room of older men are they all Hyung-nim? How would you specify a certain person without saying their name? Love the videos btw.
You call your parents as mom and dad. If you have older siblings, you use one of the words I talked about in the video. If you have younger siblings you call them by their names. And of course your parents would call you by your name 😄
As far as I know from Korean Newspapers last year in June your age system changed to the international age system. There are some exceptions for military etc. for the transition. Can it be that you all accept it for the public but intern you still use the „old“ system because you are used to it? My daughter is learning your language now for about 3 years and she told me a lot about your rules of speaking the correct way when being in SK, for a foreigner it is a bit confusing but every country‘s got its own rules…
Korean age is not officially used anymore in government offices but still used a lot when talking to each other because things don't change in a sudden
Cultural differences can be quite tricky at times. The problem here is all my Korean "friend" are slightly younger than me. So whenever we meet, they will addressed me as 형님 and used formal Korean whenever talking to me. It sounds a little odd (as I'm not Korean), they talk among themselves in casual Korean. Till now, they still think I'm an "older brother" than a friend😂.
And who do You call in Korean "Ahjumma" and "Ahjussi"? People in which age? What does it mean exactly? And are there some more honorifics in Korean, that are commonly used?
You call people a lot older than you as 아저씨 or 아줌마 for example, I could be 아저씨 to an elementary student. But people who are in their 30s won't call me that.
@@average_korean_man I wonder how much older - like being Your 30s would You call like this those in their 40s (e.g. being 40 or 41) already, or older, in their 50s or more.
There is no specific age. It's very hard to say...if the person looks much older, then you can use those words but Noone wants to be called as 아저씨 or 아줌마 because they feel like they are old. It's better to call them 선생님, 사장님, 저기요 etc
You just demonstrated how suffocating the hierarchy (Confusionism) is to everybody including Koreans. It's no wonder why the younger generations despise 존댓말 and why Korea dropped that ridiculous age system.
No actually you are very misinformed my friend. Korea dropped the Korean age system because they want to unify internationally since it can be quite confusing. And young generations don't despise 존댓말. People don't like others who act like they are the kings or queens only because they are older. So they don't want to use 존댓말 to those who don't deserve to be respected. They don't hate 존댓말 itself
Once again I have learned a lot of new information, thanks a million!
It was interesting. I've heard some of these words earlier - but Your explanation here is better and more detailed. It's so much different from our habits - I have friends or colleagues that are much older than me, like 10, 15 or even more years older, and I call them with their names. And I even have and had some of my bosses, some directors at work, that I call with their names. It's nothing unusual. Tbh, I think it's easier to live with not so many formal societal rules.
Very tricky but good information.
It's not just Korea. All of Asia is way more formal about honorifics and this sort of thing than the West is. I'm from the US and have friends, past and present, of all ages. If they are a friend, I call them by their first name. Older, younger, it doesn't matter. I've even had bosses that were older than me who I addressed by their first name. It's so much more casual here, in that respect. The only exception, for me, are doctors. I always address them as Doctor and then their last name, even if they are much younger than me. They usually address me by my first name, however. Very interesting video. Thank you.
❤ Thank you so much for sharing this and other information! You are helping me learn about my Korean heritage as I was born in the US. ❤ Sending you and your beautiful fiancée positive vibes from Southern California. - Nuna
It all seems very exhausting and formal. But as they say when in Rome. Respect other cultures.
I’m old. !!!! Thank you not sure what to call you😊 very informative video. Sometimes older people are referred to eg Mr or Mrs and the surname.
I have come to understand the cultural differences in age from Korea and the rest of the world, i find it quite fascinating albeit confusing as the amount of greetings that one has to remember is daunting when we are trying to learn as we get older. I wasn’t aware of the use of “friend” however now understand it is for same age (birth year). The word friend is much more broadly used in Canada, although personally i use “friend” when it is someone that i can trust and rely on, colleague (work) with someone i work with and not too familiar with outside of the office, acquaintance with others whom i only know casually and hasn’t risen to someone i can trust and rely on. Cheers.
This kind of respect, addressing the elders with certain kind of honored tittles is pretty common among other Asian cultures, not only in Korea. For the Chinese, the tittle or honored name given also identify how a person is related to his/her father or mother side of the family.
When too many generations are involved, it gets too complicated to use the appropriate tittle.
That's when the simplified version is used. Simply call him "Uncle" or her, "Aunty" as respect.
In Singapore & Malaysia, "Uncle" & "Aunty" are also widely used to address anybody older than us as a sign of respect, regardless of race, religion & one's own mother tongue or local language.
Thank you again for all the information you give to us, I find your channel so informative 🫶
Thank you, SO interesting!🙂
wow this is very interesting, did not know this.
Good evening. All very complex but as they when in Rome. So if you know someone very well and they are a month older you can’t call them your friend.!!! Thank you for explaining this to us. We use to call older people years ago using their surname Mr or Mrs. Followed by their surname. This doesn’t really happen much now. Good Night.
Lately i've been just watching "I’m 50 years old Japanese man struggling with midlife crisis" or "I'm 32 year old average Korean man" and i'm pretty happy about that.
He is a good man 😎
Very interest ,thank you!!
It sounds very strange to me, but that is the nice thing about getting to know each other's culture. I never experience someone asking my age, only on a birthday and then it's all about not estimating someone older than they actually are. (Everyone wants to look younger except teenagers). Our behavior towards that person does not change. It stays the same towards younger and older. How does it work in Korea, for example, if you want to go to the movies or out for dinner (not romantic) and you don't want to be alone, can you only bring someone your own age (friend) or does it not matter? can you ask people who are 15 years younger or older? For me, I rather go alone or not go all,. Where I live i am a great exception and this is not seen as normal and regarded as socially ill (i am not autistic or anything, social but find people mostly so exhausting) It would be nice if a country would not look at it as strange and unhealthy to be more comfortable alone. Am i more normal in korea then?
🤔say what could you say all that again ? Just kidding 😊
thank you so much for that information like others I really am interested in learning Korean culture. I watch a lot of Korean on RUclips but some things are never uploaded with English captions. I really would love to learn to read in Korean.
Thank you for this interesting topic!
I truly respect your culture and it is always nice learning something new❤
Very good to know ☺️ Thank you 🙏🏽 I was born in May also we are both 🐂♉ not telling what year 🤭 I was born let say we're not going to be "Friends" 😂. Sending blessings 🙏🏽❤😊
Good information little confusing for french culture but I understand and respect
I could not imagine myself using all of these Korean terms to describe age instead of “friend,” because it is so specific and not as simple like the USA. In the USA, we use different terms to describe our relationship with people. If we know someone but we do not hang out, we call that person an acquaintance. If we hang out with a friend every once in a while and act civilly, we call that person a small friend. If we hang out with someone all the time and share secrets and so forth, we call that person a close friend. There is also the term “BFF- Best Friends Forever” for friends who have been talking and hanging out platonically for years.
Good explanation thanks 😊
Thank you, for sharing and explaining the Korean cultural reasons for the reckoning of age and the shades of defining friends. While I live in the States, I have developed my own definition of "friend," and like to add "acquaintance" to the mix. To me, a friend is one who has been in my life and passed the test of time. I would say that I have seven friends. I also have a number of acquaintances, those folks I interact with day to day.
I do think this all stems from being that "functional introvert" and also growing up as an only child.
Your washing mashine is good. I think its one by LG.
I heard confusion-ism, then I realized you said, Confucianism. That’s very interesting. Can you speak more about Confucianism?
I am not even trying to explain our different forms of addressing people (you know, know a bit better, are friends with, don’t know at all, male, female, children and adult) but the Korean way reminds me a little bit on the Japanese forms of addressing someone younger, older, male, female. Nim=sama, san, chan, kun; and the murky waters of senpai, kōhai, sensei, O nee-san,O jii-san ect.
I thought they got rid of Korean age system too or does some still choose to use it?? Good video❤
The Korean age system stopped since last year! They have only a few different rules for military etc. for transition…
Yes Korea has announced to not use the Korean age but people still do because you know old habits don't change all of a sudden
Once again, a very informative video! However, I thought recently South Korea stopped using the Korean age system altogether? I would be your 누님! Born 1985! 🥰
Yes Korea has announced to not use the Korean age, but people still do. You know old habits don't change all of a sudden
I would like to make a correction about your opinion about the meaning of friend in other part of the world. I am in America I do have neighbors that I am friendly with .but they are not my friends. There an also associated who a not my friends. A friend to is someone who am very close that I can talk share things with who is there for me and the same I am for them and it is not prohibited by age I understand addressing the elders by Mr or Mrs. Because we was thought to do that. But if u are my brother or sister why am I not able to call u by ur given name u was given a name for a reason right. And if I can to visit ur and someone ask me my age I will consider it rude in my culture.
Please define same age. what if the person is half a year older? or When is the cutoff?
Oh you explained it later on
Good topic 😊😊🤍
What do you call somebody that is your same age but is not a friend because you are just meeting that person for the first time? can you call them by the name?
When you meet someone for the first time, you say 저기요(excuse me), 선생님(teacher or Sir) things like these.
Even when you find out that he/she is younger than you, you don't call by his/her name. You have to ask for his/her permission and if he/she allows you call by the name, you can do that. So you can call by someone's name after building up some kind of relationship
What's up from NYC! I enjoy your videos! :D
🤓👍🏾
that seems very tedious, a lot of formal things in Korea
Very interesting, so in a business setting if you have a room of older men are they all Hyung-nim? How would you specify a certain person without saying their name? Love the videos btw.
I think you use their last name and or title. Like secretary Kim, or operations manager Lee.
@@bethmendoza1847 ok thank you
No in businesses you call by their position. For example boss, cheif etc
The words I told you are between friendly people
Good morning from Huangdao.😂
I wonder do you use honorifics for your immediate family members (like mother, father, sister, or brother), and do you use nick names?
You call your parents as mom and dad. If you have older siblings, you use one of the words I talked about in the video. If you have younger siblings you call them by their names. And of course your parents would call you by your name 😄
Basically, I know about it, but I've also heard that it's strange when foreigners use these terms.
As far as I know from Korean Newspapers last year in June your age system changed to the international age system. There are some exceptions for military etc. for the transition. Can it be that you all accept it for the public but intern you still use the „old“ system because you are used to it? My daughter is learning your language now for about 3 years and she told me a lot about your rules of speaking the correct way when being in SK, for a foreigner it is a bit confusing but every country‘s got its own rules…
Korean age is not officially used anymore in government offices but still used a lot when talking to each other because things don't change in a sudden
Man, that’s complex. Lol😂
Hahaha yes it can be difficult to foreigners
Greetings from Denmark 🙂
Cultural differences can be quite tricky at times. The problem here is all my Korean "friend" are slightly younger than me. So whenever we meet, they will addressed me as 형님 and used formal Korean whenever talking to me. It sounds a little odd (as I'm not Korean), they talk among themselves in casual Korean. Till now, they still think I'm an "older brother" than a friend😂.
🤣🤣😂😂 yea that happens
It's a bit confusing. 🤔 Mindset is what brings me to call someone a friend.
Haha I’m 59 so I think I’ll be everyone’s 아줌마 🤣😊
And who do You call in Korean "Ahjumma" and "Ahjussi"? People in which age? What does it mean exactly? And are there some more honorifics in Korean, that are commonly used?
You call people a lot older than you as 아저씨 or 아줌마 for example, I could be 아저씨 to an elementary student. But people who are in their 30s won't call me that.
@@average_korean_man I wonder how much older - like being Your 30s would You call like this those in their 40s (e.g. being 40 or 41) already, or older, in their 50s or more.
There is no specific age. It's very hard to say...if the person looks much older, then you can use those words but Noone wants to be called as 아저씨 or 아줌마 because they feel like they are old. It's better to call them 선생님, 사장님, 저기요 etc
@@average_korean_man Thanks for explanation.
Interesting to learn! So because I am slightly older than you, I would be 형 to you.
Hey 형님!
In what way are you average?
Rich Korean man
You just demonstrated how suffocating the hierarchy (Confusionism) is to everybody including Koreans. It's no wonder why the younger generations despise 존댓말 and why Korea dropped that ridiculous age system.
No actually you are very misinformed my friend.
Korea dropped the Korean age system because they want to unify internationally since it can be quite confusing.
And young generations don't despise 존댓말. People don't like others who act like they are the kings or queens only because they are older. So they don't want to use 존댓말 to those who don't deserve to be respected.
They don't hate 존댓말 itself
@@average_korean_manTruth of the matter is it has more to do with the younger generation not having the same level of respect for elders than before.
You have no "friends".
First