형
Used by males to address an older male — biological older brother, older male friend, mentor, or older teammate.
- Meaning: Used by males to address an older male — biological older brother, older male friend, mentor, or older teammate.
- Pronunciation: /hjʌŋ/ (hyung)
- Part of speech: noun (kinship / address term)
- Formality: Casual — for friends, family, and close peers.
- Literal: older brother (used by males)
What does 형 mean?
형 (hyung) is the male-to-male equivalent of 오빠. A boy or man uses 형 to address any older male he is close to: actual older brother, older male friend, older cousin, mentor, older bandmate, or older teammate. Korean male culture places enormous weight on age hierarchy, so 형 is far more than a kinship word — it signals brotherhood, loyalty, and earned respect. K-pop fans hear it constantly when boy-group members address each other. Soldiers in Korean military service use 형 with older squadmates. Male athletes and idols use it within their teams. Critically, 형 only flows from younger male to older male; it is NEVER used by females (who say 오빠 instead).
Examples in context
When to use 형
- Male speaker addressing an older male in a close relationship
- Sports teams, military, K-pop boy groups, male friend groups
- Talking ABOUT an older male brother / friend ("우리 형")
- Indicating respect mixed with affection toward a male senior
When NOT to use 형
- Female speakers — use 오빠 (oppa) instead
- Strangers, formal business contexts (use a name + title)
- Anyone younger than you
- When precision matters — pair with 친형 (chinhyung, biological) if needed
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 female — biological older sister, older female friend, or older female romantic partner.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What does 형 (hyung) mean in Korean?
형 (hyung) means "older brother" and is used by male speakers only — to address any older male they are close to: actual older brother, older male friend, mentor, or older teammate. Women do not say 형; they say 오빠 instead.
Why do K-pop boy group members call each other 형?
Korean male culture is built on age hierarchy. Younger members of a boy group call older members 형 (or 형님 hyungnim, more polite) to acknowledge their seniority. It signals respect, brotherhood, and group cohesion — a fundamental part of male Korean social etiquette.
Is 형 the same as 오빠?
They mean the same thing ("older brother") but differ by speaker gender. Men say 형 to older males; women say 오빠 to older males. Mixing them is one of the most common Korean-learning mistakes.
How is 형 pronounced?
형 is pronounced [hjʌŋ] — "hyung" with a glide between the H and the vowel, and a final "ng" nasal sound like in English "song." The Y is closer to a semivowel than a full Y.
Further reading
External references for cross-checking the information on this page.
- Korean kinship — Wikipedia
Male-to-male older-brother address term in Korean kinship.
More Korean slang?
Browse the full Korean Slang Dictionary or read the deep-dive: Korean Slang Ultimate Guide.