형님

Korean

Etymology

In the Hangul script, first attested in the Beonyeok nogeoldae (飜譯老乞大 / 번역노걸대), 1517, as Middle Korean 형님 (Yale: hyeng-nim). The word itself is first attested in the mixed script form as 兄님〯 (Yale: HYENG-nǐm) in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447.

From 형(兄) (hyeong, “older brother of a male”) +‎ 님 (-nim, honorific suffix).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [çʌ̹ŋnim]
• Phonetic hangul: [형님]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	hyeongnim
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	hyeongnim
McCune–Reischauer?	hyŏngnim
Yale Romanization?	hyengnim

Noun

형님 • (hyeongnim) (hanja 兄님)

1. honorific of 형(兄) (hyeong, “older brother of a male”)

   Coordinate term: 누님 (nunim)

2. (of a male) wife's older brother (a type of brother-in-law)
3. (of a male) wife's older sister's husband (a type of co-brother-in-law)
4. (of a female) husband’s older sister (a type of sister-in-law)
5. (of a female) husband’s older brother’s wife (a type of co-sister-in-law)

See also

• 동생(同生) (dongsaeng)
• 아우 (au)
• 오빠 (oppa)
• 형제(兄弟) (hyeongje)