아저씨

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Hanbul jajeon (韓佛字典 / 한불자전), 1880, as Early Modern Korean 아자씨 (Yale: acassi).

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [a̠d͡ʑʌ̹ɕ͈i]
• Phonetic hangul: [아저씨]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	ajeossi
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	ajeo'ssi
McCune–Reischauer?	ajŏssi
Yale Romanization?	ace.ssi

Noun

아저씨 • (ajeossi)

1. middle-aged elder male
2. uncle
3. mister, gentleman
4. (North Korea) sister's husband

Usage notes

The term 아저씨 (ajeossi) is used to refer to a male several years older than the speaker, often as a polite replacement for a second person singular pronoun 너 (neo) or 당신 (dangsin).

Related terms

• 오빠 (oppa, “elder brother of a female”)
• 형 (兄, hyeong, “elder brother of a male”)
• 아줌마 (ajumma, “middle aged woman; older female”)
• 할아버지 (harabeoji, “grandfather; senior male”)

Descendants

• → English: ahjussi, ahjushi, ajussi, ajushi, ajeossi, ajeoshi
• → Japanese: アジョシ (ajoshi), アジョッシ (ajosshi)
• → Mandarin: 阿加西 (ājiāxī), 阿扎西 (āzhāxī), 阿澤西／阿泽西 (āzéxī)