TOPIK I Core Vocabulary · Family & Greetings ②

Family words & saying sorry — 아버지, 동생, 할아버지, 할머니, 죄송합니다

This lesson adds four more family words and one polite apology. It also shows two common sound changes.

01아버지abeoji

father · the standard polite word for your father; more formal than 아빠.

Note 아버지 is more polite and more formal than 아빠, which means dad. Many people say 아빠 when they talk to their father.

Examples 아버지가 일하다 (father works) · 아버지를 돕다 (to help one's father)

아버지가 회사에 가세요. My father is going to work.  |  회사 = company, workplace  |  가세요 contains -시-, a marker that shows respect for the subject. Here it shows respect for the speaker's father

02동생dongsaeng

younger sibling · covers both brother and sister.

Note In English you must pick brother or sister. 동생 works for either one. If the difference matters, say 남동생 (younger brother) or 여동생 (younger sister).

Examples 동생이 있다 (to have a younger sibling) · 동생과 놀다 (to play with one's younger sibling)

저는 동생이 한 명 있어요. I have one younger sibling.  |  한 명 = one person  |  있어요 = polite form of 있다 (to have, to exist)

03할아버지harabeoji🔊 [하라버지]

grandfather · your mother's father or your father's father. You can also use it for an elderly man.

Pronunciation [하라버지]. The final consonant ㄹ in 할 moves to the start of the next syllable.

Examples 할아버지께 인사하다 (to greet one's grandfather) · 할아버지가 계시다 (grandfather is here)

할아버지께서 신문을 읽으세요. My grandfather is reading the newspaper.  |  신문 = newspaper  |  께서 replaces 이/가 and shows respect for the person you are talking about. 읽으세요 is the respectful form of 읽다

04할머니halmeoni

grandmother · your mother's mother or your father's mother. You can also use it for an elderly woman.

Examples 할머니께 드리다 (to give to one's grandmother) · 할머니와 함께 (together with grandmother)

할머니와 함께 살아요. I live with my grandmother.  |  함께 = together  |  살아요 = polite form of 살다 (to live)

05죄송합니다joesonghamnida🔊 [죄송함니다]

I'm sorry · a formal, polite apology. It is safe in public and in respectful situations.

Pronunciation [죄송함니다]. When ㅂ comes before ㄴ, you say it as ㅁ. You also see this in 감사합니다 and other -ㅂ니다 endings.

Other forms 죄송해요 (friendlier and less formal) · 미안합니다 (friendlier; you lower yourself less than 죄송합니다)

늦어서 죄송합니다. I'm sorry I'm late.  |  늦어서 = 늦다 (to be late) with an ending that gives the reason  |  The pattern -아/어서 죄송합니다 means sorry for ~ing

Quick check3 questions

Fill in each blank in Korean. Every answer appears above.

1. 저는 __________이 한 명 있어요. (I have one younger ______.)
2. __________와 함께 살아요. (I live with my ______ — my parent's mother.)
3. 늦어서 __________. (______ I'm late.)

Show answers

1. 동생   2. 할머니   3. 죄송합니다

Study tip 감사합니다 and 죄송합니다 have the same ending. You say it as [-함니다]. Learn them as a pair, and both forms stay together in your memory.