How To Say Father In Korean

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Family relations are an important part of Korean culture. After all, the father is the head of the household traditionally

Wouldn’t learning to address your father in Korean be a sweet gift?

Just like mom, we have many ways to refer to our dad in Korean, and there’s a good reason for that.

Whether you’re using the word “아빠[appa] in Korean” or a more polite term 아버지 [abeoji], knowing how to pronounce dad in Korea and using these words can be a big help.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to say dad in Korean in informal, polite, and formal situations and all about parents’ day with examples and exercises. 

How To Say Dad In Korean

To say "dad" in Korean, you can use the word "아빠" (ah-ppa). This word is a casual way to address your father, and it is commonly used in everyday conversation.

If you want to be more formal or polite, you can use the word "아버지" (ah-beo-ji). This word is more respectful and is often used when speaking to an older person or someone you don't know well.

In Korean culture, it is customary to address your parents using honorific titles. The honorific title for "dad" is "아버님" (ah-beo-nim). This title is used when speaking to or about your father in a formal or respectful setting, such as at a wedding or in a business setting.

Here’s how to say father or dad in Korean language in informal, polite, and formal situations. 

  • 아빠 [a-ppa] – Informal
  • 아버지 [a-beo-ji] – Polite
  • 아버님 [a-beo-nim] – Formal

 

The Standard “father” in Korean

아버지 [a-beo-ji] is the standard way to say father in Korean.

You can use it in most situations and you will never sound rude. 

Again, if you wanted to say “my dad in Korean" in a polite way, you could use the expression "우리 아버지" literally translated as “our father."

When to use

  • Older/middle-aged generations usually this form while talking with their dad in Korean. But the newer generation doesn’t use this when talking directly to their own parents. 
  • Instead, it’s more common for Koreans to talk to or about someone else’s father in Korean. 

How to use 

Ben’s a wonderful father. 

벤은 정말 좋은 아버지예요.

You’re as tall as your father. 

네 키가 아버지만큼 크구나

 

The meaning of 아빠 appa in Korean

The informal way to say father/dad in Korean language is 아빠 [a-ppa]. You can use it to address your own father in Korean.

If you want to say “My dad in Korean", just say the word "우리 아빠 [u-ri appa]," which means "our dad" where " (uri)” is translated as "our " and appa in Korean means "father."

When to use

You can use this form while talking about your own parents with friends.

How to use 

What does your daddy look like? 

너희 아빤 어떻게 생겼니?

Dad is retired now. 

우리 아빠는 이제 은퇴하셨어요.

Is it OK if I borrow the car, Dad? 

아빠, 저 차 좀 빌려 가도 돼요?

Formal father in Korean

The formal way to say father in Korean is 아버님 [a-beo-nim]. As this is a formal word, you can use it when addressing your father in formal situations or in situations when you just want to sound extra respectful.

When to use

You can use this form when you are meeting a friend's parents for the first time.

If you are Meeting your girlfriend or boyfriend's dad for the first few times, you can use the Korean word for dad “아버님 [a-beo-nim]” to address him with respect. 

How to use 

We’re sorry to hear that your father’s in the hospital again. 

당신 아버님께서 또 입원하셨다니 안됐군요.

Did you hear about Mary’s father? 

메리 아버님 소식 들었어요?

What does your father do? 

아버님은 무슨 일을 하세요?

How do you say "This is my father" in Korean?

To say "This is my father" in Korean, you can use the phrase 이게 제 아빠입니다 (ee-geh jeh ah-ppa-ib-ni-da).

Here is how you can break down the sentence:

이게 (ee-geh) = this

제 (jeh) = my (informal)

아빠 (ah-ppa) = dad

입니다 (ib-ni-da) = is (polite form)

So, the entire sentence can be translated as "This is my dad."

It's also worth noting that you can use the formal term for "father," 아버지 (ah-beo-ji), in place of 아빠 (ah-ppa) if you want to show more respect or formality.

Parent day in Korea

In Korea, Parents' Day is celebrated on May 8th each year. It is a national holiday that is dedicated to honoring and showing appreciation for parents.

On Parents' Day, people usually give gifts and cards to their parents, and may also spend time with them doing activities or having a special meal. Some people also visit their parents' graves to pay respects to their ancestors.

Parents' Day is a relatively new holiday in Korea, as it was first established in 1973. It is meant to recognize the important role that parents play in their children's lives, and to show appreciation for the love and care that parents give to their families.

Conclusion

Great job. You finally know how to say dad in Korean.

If you are ever unsure of how to say father in Korean, then it is best to stick with what you know and use 괜찮아요 (Gwaenchanayo),괜찮아 (Gwaenchana),알았어 (arasseo),네 (ne)

All these words are widely used and accepted in Korea.

Well, it’s time for you to apply it in real life and improve your pronunciation.

So go out and next time you got a chance to say father in Korean, just use any of these as much as you can.

Koreans will understand you even if you got it wrong. 

Looking for more a ultimate guide on how to sat dad in Korean langaue  and when to use them you can check out the original articles on this topic by fluenttongue.