Nuance Dictionary / Column
어머니 / 아버님 eo-meo-ni / a-beo-nim
Mother / Father (respectful) — used for strangers a generation older, or for a spouse's parents
What does 어머니 / 아버님 mean?
어머니 / 아버님 (eo-meo-ni / a-beo-nim) means: Mother / Father (respectful) — used for strangers a generation older, or for a spouse's parents.
A more elevated register than 이모/삼촌, used the same fictive-kinship way but reserved for people who read as 'parent generation' rather than 'aunt/uncle generation,' or for addressing someone else's actual parent (in-laws, a friend's parent) with real warmth instead of cold formality.
🔊 From the story above
이모님 — I-mo-nim
이모 — *i-mo*
저기요 — *jeo-gi-yo*, the neutral "excuse me"
언니 — *eon-ni*
삼촌 — *sam-chon*, "paternal uncle"
사장님 — *sa-jang-nim*, "owner/boss"
어머니 — *eo-meo-ni*, "mother"
아버님 — *a-beo-nim*, "father," in its most respectful honorific form
How it's actually used
- 어머니, 김장김치 정말 맛있게 잘 먹고 있어요.
eomeoni, gimjanggimchi jeongmal masitge jal meokgo isseoyo.
Mother, I'm really enjoying the winter kimchi you made.
💡 Used warmly when addressing one's mother-in-law. - 아버님, 이번 주말에 부모님 댁으로 저녁 먹으러 갈게요.
abeonim, ibeon jumare degeuro jeonyeok meogeureo galgeyo.
Father, we're coming over to your place for dinner this weekend.
💡 Respectful address to a father-in-law or elderly respected figure. - 어머니, 연세도 있으신데 날씨 춥니 조심하세요.
eomeoni, yeonsedo isseusine de nalsi chumni josimhaseyo.
Ma'am, you're getting up there in years, please be careful in this cold weather.
💡 Warm, respectful term used for an elderly female stranger.
Related words in Column
바람쐬러 가자 ba-ram-sswe-reo ga-ja내가 가만 안둬 nae-ga ga-man an-dwo난 끝까지 네 편이야 nan kkeut-kka-ji ne pyeon-i-ya내가 있잖아 nae-ga it-jan-a