아저씨

Korean

Etymology

First attested as Late Old Korean 丫查秘 in the Jīlín lèishì (鷄林類事 / 계림유사)[1], 1103. In the hangul script, first attested in the Dictionnaire coréen-français (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

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 (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).

  • 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

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