What Does 동생 (Dongsaeng) Mean in Korean?
Written and reviewed by Jun and Jin, native Korean speakers
Published · How we write & review
After this page, you can introduce a younger sibling or friend as your 동생 (dongsaeng) — while calling them by name to their face.
10-second answer
What does Dongsaeng (동생) mean?
동생 (dongsaeng) means a younger sibling — or, by extension, a close younger friend. Unlike 오빠·형·언니·누나 (oppa, hyung, unnie, noona), it is used by anyone regardless of gender. But here's the catch: you usually don't address a younger person as 동생 — you just call them by name.
Quick check — did that land?
1. How do you normally get your younger brother Jiho's attention?
동생 means younger sibling.
Quick Examples
제 동생은 고등학생이에요.
je dongsaeng-eun godeunghaksaeng-ieyo.
My younger sibling is a high school student.
남동생이 하나 있어요.
namdongsaeng-i hana isseoyo.
I have one younger brother.
지수는 제가 아끼는 동생이에요.
jisu-neun jega akkineun dongsaeng-ieyo.
Jisu is a younger friend I care about.
동생 describes the relationship when talking ABOUT someone.
See also: 오빠 (oppa) — what it means
The Key Difference: Reference vs Address
오빠, 형, 언니, 누나 are used both to talk about someone and to address them directly ("오빠, 뭐 해?"). 동생 is different — it mostly describes the relationship. Face to face, Koreans call a younger person by their name.
| Situation | What you say |
|---|---|
| Talking about your younger brother | 제 동생이에요 — "He's my dongsaeng." |
| Calling your younger brother over | 지호야! — his name + 야 (not "동생아!") |
| Introducing a close younger friend | 친한 동생이에요 — "a close younger friend." |
친한 동생 ("close dongsaeng") is a very common phrase for a younger friend you treat like a younger sibling — it signals warmth without romance.
남동생 vs 여동생
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 동생 (dongsaeng) | Younger sibling (gender unspecified) |
| 남동생 (namdongsaeng) | Younger brother (남 = male) |
| 여동생 (yeodongsaeng) | Younger sister (여 = female) |
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Addressing someone as 동생
Shouting "동생!" at a younger person sounds like a line from a historical drama. Use their name (+야/아 for casual closeness).
Mistake #2 — "동생 is only family"
Koreans routinely call close younger friends 동생 when describing the relationship — friendship circles often mirror family structure.
Mistake #3 — Assuming gender
동생 alone doesn't tell you brother or sister. If it matters, Koreans say 남동생 or 여동생.
Mini Quiz
2. What does 여동생 mean?
3. Someone introduces a friend: "친한 동생이에요." What does it mean?
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
동생 is "younger than me"; 막내 is "the youngest of the whole group" — a word K-pop fans see constantly.
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