In Korean culture, age isn’t just a number — it determines how people address each other, what language form they use, and the hierarchy in social settings. From the first introduction to close friendships, age influences it all.
1. Asking and Telling Age
- 몇 살이에요?
How old are you? - 연세가 어떻게 되세요?
May I ask your age? (Honorific) - 스무 살이에요.
I’m 20 years old.
In casual speech, you can drop “살”:
스물이에요. — I’m 20.
2. Talking About Your Birth Year
Koreans often ask what year you were born instead of your age:
- 몇 년생이에요?
What year were you born? - 저는 05년생이에요.
I was born in 2005.
3. Chinese Zodiac Year (띠)
Another way to guess someone’s age is by asking their zodiac sign:
- 무슨 띠예요?
What’s your Chinese zodiac sign? - 저는 닭띠예요.
I’m born in the Year of the Rooster.
In Korea (as well as in China, Vietnam, and historically in Japan), the 12-year zodiac cycle is used to describe one’s birth year symbolically.
Here are the 12 zodiac signs with general traits:
- 쥐 (Rat) – clever and resourceful
- 소 (Ox) – diligent and patient
- 호랑이 (Tiger) – brave and strong
- 토끼 (Rabbit) – gentle and kind
- 용 (Dragon) – confident and charismatic
- 뱀 (Snake) – wise and mysterious
- 말 (Horse) – energetic and free
- 양 (Goat) – creative and calm
- 원숭이 (Monkey) – witty and curious
- 닭 (Rooster) – sharp and hardworking
- 개 (Dog) – loyal and honest
- 돼지 (Pig) – generous and warm
4. 연상, 동갑, 연하: Age Terms
- 연상 – someone older
- 동갑 – same age
- 연하 – someone younger
그 사람은 저보다 연상이에요.
They are older than me.
우리는 나이가 같아서 금방 말 놓고 친해졌어요.
We’re the same age, so we quickly got close and started speaking casually.
동갑내기 is a friendly noun for “same-age friend.”
그 친구랑 저는 동갑내기예요.
That friend and I are the same age.
남자친구가 연하예요.
My boyfriend is younger than me.
5. Comparing Age
나이가 많다 — to be older
저보다 두 살 많아요. — He’s two years older than me.
민수 형은 저보다 세 살 많아요. — Minsoo-hyung is three years older than me.
나이가 어리다 — to be younger
그 친구는 저보다 두 살 어려서 제가 누나처럼 챙겨줘요.
She’s two years younger, so I look after her like an older sister.
지훈이는 나보다 어리지만 생각은 정말 어른 같아요.
Jihoon is younger, but very mature.
나이가 같다 — to be the same age
우리는 나이가 같아서 금방 말 놓고 친해졌어요.
We’re the same age, so we quickly got close and started speaking casually.
나이 차이 나다 — to have an age difference
오빠랑 저랑 다섯 살 차이예요.
Oppa and I are five years apart.
나이 차이 많이 나는 사람이랑 사귀는 건 힘들더라고.
Dating someone with a large age gap is hard, I realized.
6. 호칭: How You Call Older People
If you’re female:
- Older male → 오빠
- Older female → 언니
If you’re male:
- Older male → 형
- Older female → 누나
지현 오빠는 저보다 세 살 많아요.
Jihyun-oppa is three years older than me.
소영 언니는 항상 저를 잘 챙겨줘요.
Soyeong-unnie always takes good care of me.
7. 말을 놓다: Dropping Honorifics
When people get close or are the same age, they may use informal speech — this is called 말을 놓다.
우리 이제 말 편하게 놓을까?
Shall we speak casually now?
동갑이라서 말 놓기로 했어요.
We’re the same age, so we decided to drop honorifics.
Even if someone is older, it’s possible to switch if both agree:
저보다 세 살 많지만, 서로 말 놓기로 했어요.
He’s three years older, but we agreed to speak casually.
8. 말 편하게 하다 / 말씀 편하게 하다
A softer way to suggest casual speech — often used in polite settings.
말 편하게 하셔도 돼요.
You can speak casually to me.
편하게 말씀하세요.
Feel free to speak comfortably.
선생님, 저한테는 말씀 편하게 하셔도 됩니다.
Teacher, you can speak comfortably with me.
🗣 Bonus Dialogue
A: 안녕하세요. 나이가 어떻게 되세요?
Hello. May I ask your age?
B: 네, 안녕하세요. 저는 스무 살이에요. 05년생 닭띠예요.
Hi! I’m 20. Born in 2005, Year of the Rooster.
A: 오, 저랑 동갑이시네요!
Oh, we’re the same age!
B: 오! 그럼 우리 말 편하게 해요.
Oh! Then let’s speak casually.
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