아저씨 (ajusshi)
A casual address term for a middle-aged or older man you do not know — roughly "mister" or "uncle," though tone determines whether it sounds friendly or rude.
- Meaning: A casual address term for a middle-aged or older man you do not know — roughly "mister" or "uncle," though tone determines whether it sounds friendly or rude.
- Pronunciation: /a.dʑʌ.ɕi/ (ajusshi)
- Part of speech: noun (address term for an unrelated older male)
- Formality: Casual — for friends, family, and close peers.
- Literal: mister / unrelated older man
What does 아저씨 mean?
Ajusshi (아저씨) is a casual address term for a middle-aged or older man you do not know — roughly "mister" or "uncle." Tone is everything: said to a clearly older stranger it is neutral or friendly, but said to a man who still thinks of himself as young it can sound insulting.
아저씨 (ajusshi, sometimes romanized "ahjussi") is the term for an unrelated middle-aged man. It is the male counterpart of 아줌마 (ajumma). Unlike kinship terms (오빠, 형), 아저씨 is for strangers — a taxi driver, a shopkeeper, the man behind you in line. The tone is casual but tricky: addressing a man as 아저씨 when he is younger than you imagine yourself to be can sound rude or aging. Younger men generally do not want to be called 아저씨. The 2010 thriller film 아저씨 ("The Man from Nowhere") starring Won Bin made the word globally recognizable. In K-dramas it usually appears in market scenes, taxi rides, or when characters address strangers casually.
Examples in context
Addressing a stranger in service settings
The everyday use — a shopkeeper, taxi driver, or restaurant worker you do not know.
Talking ABOUT an unknown older man
Used in the third person for a male stranger, often with 저 (that) or 어떤 (some).
The "rude if he's too young" trap
Calling a man 아저씨 when he still feels young can offend — he hears "you look middle-aged."
As a movie / pop-culture reference
The 2010 Won Bin film 아저씨 made the word a recognizable cultural touchstone.
Polite alternatives (what to say instead)
When 아저씨 feels too blunt, Koreans switch to a title — 기사님 (driver), 사장님 (boss), 선생님 (sir).
아저씨in K-pop & K-drama
"The Man from Nowhere" (아저씨, 2010)
Won Bin's 2010 action thriller 아저씨 ("The Man from Nowhere") turned the plain word into an icon: a quiet neighborhood "ajusshi" who turns out to be a lethal protector. The film was Korea's top box-office hit that year and is many non-Koreans' first encounter with the term.
아재 and 아재개그 (dad jokes)
아재 is the slangy, slightly mocking contraction of 아저씨, and "아재개그" (ajae gag) means "dad jokes" — the groan-worthy puns associated with middle-aged men. The pair shows how 아저씨 carries a whole comic stereotype, not just an age bracket.
삼촌팬 (uncle fans)
Older male fans of young K-pop idols often call themselves 삼촌팬 ("uncle fans") rather than risk the colder 아저씨 — a telling sign of how much Koreans avoid being labeled 아저씨. 삼촌 (uncle) sounds warm and familial; 아저씨 sounds distant and aging.
When to use 아저씨
- Speaking to or about an unrelated middle-aged or older man
- Service settings: market, taxi, restaurant
- Generic stranger reference in casual conversation
- Cultural context — film/K-drama references to "the ajusshi"
When NOT to use 아저씨
- Anyone who is your peer or younger — sounds insulting
- Formal business contexts (use 선생님 / 사장님 / a name with -씨)
- Calling someone 아저씨 to their face when they look young — they may take offense
- Personal acquaintances — use their name + appropriate kinship/honorific term
아저씨 vs. similar terms
How to address a Korean male — by closeness and age
| Term | Addressee | Relationship | Rough English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 형 / 오빠 (hyung / oppa) | Older male you know | close / known | older brother |
| 아저씨 (ajusshi) | Unrelated middle-aged man | stranger | mister / uncle |
| 아줌마 (ajumma) | Unrelated middle-aged woman | stranger | ma'am / auntie |
| 할아버지 (harabeoji) | Elderly man | stranger or known | grandfather |
| 사장님 / 선생님 (sajangnim / seonsaengnim) | Any man, politely | service / formal | sir / boss |
Related terms
More in Honorifics
Address older / younger / unrelated adults the way native speakers do.
Used by females to address an older male — biological older brother, older male friend, romantic partner, or favorite male celebrity.
Used by females to address an older female — biological older sister, older female friend, or favorite female celebrity.
Used by males to address an older male — biological older brother, older male friend, mentor, or older teammate.
Used by males to address an older female — biological older sister, older female friend, or older female romantic partner.
Frequently asked questions
What does 아저씨 (ajusshi) mean in Korean?
아저씨 (ajusshi) is a casual address term for an unrelated middle-aged or older man — similar to "mister" or "uncle" in English. Korean speakers use it for strangers like taxi drivers, shopkeepers, or men encountered briefly in daily life.
Is calling someone 아저씨 rude?
It depends on age. Calling a clearly older stranger 아저씨 is neutral or friendly. Calling a peer-age or younger man 아저씨 can sound insulting because it implies he looks middle-aged. When unsure, use 선생님 (seonsaengnim) or someone's name + 씨.
What is 아저씨 the movie?
아저씨 ("The Man from Nowhere," 2010) is a Korean action thriller starring Won Bin as a mysterious neighborhood man who rescues a young girl from criminals. The film popularized the word 아저씨 globally and remains one of Korea's most iconic action films.
How is 아저씨 pronounced?
아저씨 is pronounced [a.dʑʌ.ɕi] — "ah-juh-shi." The first syllable is a clean "ah," the middle has a soft J ([dʑ]), and the last syllable has a soft Sh-like "shi" sound. Total three syllables, all light and unstressed.
What is the difference between 아저씨 and 아줌마?
아저씨 (ajusshi) addresses an unrelated middle-aged man; 아줌마 (ajumma) is the female counterpart, for an unrelated middle-aged woman. Both are for strangers, both turn on age, and both can offend if the person feels too young to deserve the label.
What is 아재 / 아재개그?
아재 is a slangy, jokier contraction of 아저씨, and "아재개그" (ajae gag) means "dad jokes" — the corny puns stereotypically told by middle-aged men. The terms capture the comedic image attached to 아저씨 in Korean pop culture.
Further reading
External references for cross-checking the information on this page.
- Korean honorifics — Wikipedia
How Korean speech uses age-based address terms like 아저씨.
More Korean slang?
Browse the full Korean Slang Dictionary or read the deep-dive: Korean Slang Ultimate Guide.