Lesson 12: Korean Family Terms - 50+ Essential Sentences

Understanding how to refer to family members and discuss relationships is an essential part of learning any language. In this lesson, we will introduce you to the vocabulary of family and relationships in Korean. You’ll learn how to talk about your family members, ask about others' families, and use these terms in everyday conversations. This post includes over 50 example sentences to help you practice and become comfortable with these terms.

1. Basic Korean Family Terms

Here are some essential terms you need to know when talking about family in Korean:

• Father - 아버지 (Abeoji)
• Mother - 어머니 (Eomeoni)
• Older Brother (for males) - 형 (Hyeong)
• Older Brother (for females) - 오빠 (Oppa)
• Older Sister (for males) - 누나 (Nuna)
• Older Sister (for females) - 언니 (Eonni)
• Younger Brother - 남동생 (Namdongsaeng)
• Younger Sister - 여동생 (Yeodongsaeng)
• Grandfather - 할아버지 (Harabeoji)
• Grandmother - 할머니 (Halmeoni)

2. Talking About Your Family Members

Knowing how to introduce and talk about your family is important in everyday conversations.

Examples:

1. 저의 아버지는 의사예요. (Jeoui abeoji neun uisayeoyo.) - My father is a doctor.
2. 저의 어머니는 선생님이에요. (Jeoui eomeoni neun seonsaengnimieyo.) - My mother is a teacher.
3. 저는 형이 두 명 있어요. (Jeoneun hyeongi du myeong isseoyo.) - I have two older brothers.
4. 제 여동생은 학생이에요. (Je yeodongsaeng eun haksaengieyo.) - My younger sister is a student.
5. 우리 할머니는 요리를 잘하세요. (Uri halmeoni neun yorireul jalhaseyo.) - My grandmother is good at cooking.

3. Asking About Someone’s Family

These phrases will help you ask others about their family members.

Examples: 6. 형제가 몇 명 있어요? (Hyeongje ga myeot myeong isseoyo?) - How many siblings do you have? 7. 부모님은 어디에 사세요? (Bumonim eun eodie saseyo?) - Where do your parents live? 8. 형이 있어요? (Hyeongi isseoyo?) - Do you have an older brother? 9. 언니가 결혼했어요? (Eonniga gyeolhon haesseoyo?) - Is your older sister married? 10. 할아버지는 건강하세요? (Harabeojineun geongang haseyo?) - Is your grandfather healthy?

4. Describing Relationships Within Your Family

Here are some sentences for describing different relationships in your family.

Examples: 11. 우리 가족은 다섯 명이에요. (Uri gajok eun daseot myeongieyo.) - My family has five members. 12. 우리 아버지는 엄격하세요. (Uri abeoji neun eomgyeok haseyo.) - My father is strict. 13. 우리 어머니는 친절하세요. (Uri eomeoni neun chinjeol haseyo.) - My mother is kind. 14. 제 형은 회사에 다녀요. (Je hyeong eun hoesae danyeoyo.) - My older brother works at a company. 15. 제 누나는 대학생이에요. (Je nuna neun daehaksaengieyo.) - My older sister is a college student.

5. Discussing Family Members’ Occupations

Here’s how you can talk about the jobs and roles of your family members.

Examples: 16. 우리 아버지는 공무원이세요. (Uri abeoji neun gongmu wonsieyo.) - My father is a government employee. 17. 제 어머니는 요리사세요. (Je eomeoni neun yorisaseyo.) - My mother is a chef. 18. 제 오빠는 엔지니어예요. (Je oppa neun enjinieoyeoyo.) - My older brother is an engineer. 19. 제 남동생은 군인이에요. (Je namdongsaeng eun gunin ieyo.) - My younger brother is a soldier. 20. 우리 할아버지는 은퇴하셨어요. (Uri harabeoji neun euntwehaseosseoyo.) - My grandfather is retired.

6. Expressing Family Dynamics

Understanding family dynamics can help you express your feelings and relationships better.

Examples: 21. 우리 가족은 아주 가까워요. (Uri gajok eun aju gakkawoyo.) - My family is very close. 22. 우리 형제들은 자주 싸워요. (Uri hyeongjedeul eun jaju ssawoyo.) - My siblings and I often fight. 23. 제 어머니는 가족을 돌봐요. (Je eomeoni neun gajok eul dolbwayo.) - My mother takes care of the family. 24. 우리 부모님은 서로 많이 사랑하세요. (Uri bumonim eun seoro mani sarang haseyo.) - My parents love each other very much. 25. 저의 오빠는 저를 잘 챙겨줘요. (Jeoui oppa neun jeoreul jal chaenggyeo jwoyo.) - My older brother takes good care of me.

7. Talking About Extended Family

Here are some phrases to talk about your extended family.

Examples: 26. 저는 이모가 네 명 있어요. (Jeoneun imo ga ne myeong isseoyo.) - I have four aunts (mother's sisters). 27. 우리 삼촌은 미국에 살아요. (Uri samchon eun miguk e sarayo.) - My uncle lives in the United States. 28. 저의 조카는 아주 귀여워요. (Jeoui joka neun aju gwiyowoyo.) - My niece/nephew is very cute. 29. 사촌들과 자주 만나요. (Sachondeul gwa jaju mannayo.) - I often meet my cousins. 30. 우리 외할머니는 시골에 사세요. (Uri oeharmeoni neun sigol e saseyo.) - My maternal grandmother lives in the countryside.

8. Discussing Marital Status and Family Life

You may want to talk about your own or others' marital status and family life.

Examples: 31. 저는 아직 결혼하지 않았어요. (Jeoneun ajik gyeolhon haji anasseoyo.) - I’m not married yet. 32. 제 형은 두 아이의 아버지예요. (Je hyeong eun du ai ui abeoji yeyo.) - My older brother is the father of two children. 33. 우리 부모님은 30년 전에 결혼하셨어요. (Uri bumonim eun samsimnyeon jeone gyeolhon haseosseoyo.) - My parents got married 30 years ago. 34. 제 누나는 내년에 결혼해요. (Je nuna neun naenyeon e gyeolhon haeyo.) - My older sister is getting married next year. 35. 저는 큰 가족을 원해요. (Jeoneun keun gajok eul wonhaeyo.) - I want a big family.

9. Expressing Love and Affection for Family

Expressing love for your family is an important part of relationships.

Examples: 36. 저는 제 가족을 사랑해요. (Jeoneun je gajok eul sarang haeyo.) - I love my family. 37. 우리 부모님을 존경해요. (Uri bumonim eul jongyeong haeyo.) - I respect my parents. 38. 저는 할머니를 자주 찾아뵈요. (Jeoneun halmeoni reul jaju chajabwoyo.) - I often visit my grandmother. 39. 제 남동생은 정말 소중해요. (Je namdongsaeng eun jeongmal sojunghaeyo.) - My younger brother is really precious. 40. 저의 아버지는 저에게 많은 것을 가르쳐 주셨어요. (Jeoui abeoji neun jeoege maneun geoseul gareuchyeo jusyeosseoyo.) - My father taught me many things.

10. Discussing Family Events and Gatherings

Family gatherings are common topics of conversation.

Examples: 41. 우리 가족은 주말마다 모여요. (Uri gajok eun jumal mada moyeoyo.) - My family gathers every weekend. 42. 우리는 설날에 가족들과 함께 해요. (Urineun Seollal e gajok deulgwa hamkke haeyo.) - We spend Lunar New Year with our family. 43. 다음 주에 가족 모임이 있어요. (Daeum jue gajok moimi isseoyo.) - We have a family gathering next week. 44. 우리 할아버지의 생신을 축하해요. (Uri harabeoji ui saengsin eul chukahaeyo.) - We celebrate my grandfather's birthday. 45. 저는 가족과 함께 여행을 가요. (Jeoneun gajok gwa hamkke yeohaeng eul gayo.) - I go on trips with my family.

Talking About Special Family Moments: 46. 저의 아버지 생신은 특별해요. (Jeoui abeoji saengsin eun teukbyeol haeyo.) - My father's birthday is special. 47. 우리는 추석에 다 같이 모여요. (Urineun Chuseok e da gachi moyeoyo.) - We all gather for Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving). 48. 우리 가족은 매년 크리스마스를 함께 보내요. (Uri gajok eun maenyeon keuriseumaseu reul hamkke bonaeyo.) - My family spends Christmas together every year. 49. 저의 어머니는 항상 가족 사진을 찍어요. (Jeoui eomeoni neun hangsang gajok sajineul jjigeoyo.) - My mother always takes family photos. 50. 가족과 함께 보내는 시간이 소중해요. (Gajok gwa hamkke bonaeneun sigani sojunghaeyo.) - The time spent with family is precious.

Conclusion

Mastering Korean family terms is essential for effective communication, especially when discussing personal and social topics. This lesson provided over 50 examples to help you learn and practice the vocabulary of family and relationships in Korean. Whether you're talking about your family, asking about others', or expressing love and respect, these sentences will help you navigate conversations with ease.

Keep practicing these phrases to enhance your Korean language skills and make your interactions more meaningful and personal. Understanding and using family terms will bring you one step closer to fluency.