Etiquette when you call someone's name

[님 = nim]

 When you taking someone on the web, this appellation is usually added to the end of the name to show respect to the other person, or people who serve customers such as hospitals or government offices and hotels often attach it to the end of the customer's name. 

For example, if the nickname of a user active on an internet community site is 'squid', it is better to call him squid-nim when you send a message to him. if you take out the title 'nim' and just call him 'squid', he may be offended or think you are rude. In Korea, the internet community culture is active, so it is good to keep these netiquettes. 

Second, when you check in at a hospital, government officer or hotel, write your name down and they will call you by adding 'nim' to your name. 

For example, if your name is Mike, they will call you Mike-nim. However, since most Koreans are more accustomed to adding 'nim' to the end of their Korean name than foreigners, they often do not use 'nim' when they call you as a foreigner. 

It's not that they don't respect you, it's that they respect your language and culture so you can call them that, so there's no need to be offended or misunderstood.

[씨 = ssi]

This is the most commonly used name. Put it after the name of the person you are talking to. 

For example, suppose the name of the person you are talking to is 'Heung-Min Son'. Heung-Min Son has met you for the first time or has just met, so you and he are not very close.

In this case, you call him by adding 'ssi' to his name. Note that it should be added after the first name, not after the last name. In Korea, the last name comes first and the first name goes last. So, Heung-Min Son's Korean name is Son Heung-Min. 

So you can call him Son Heung-Min ssi or Heung-Min ssi. In Korea, you have to add 'ssi' unless you have promised to call each other comfortably. So people in a relationship who are friends don't add 'ssi', just call them by name. 

Also, when an older person calls a younger person by name, ssi is added. 

[저기요 = jugiyo]

So, how do you call someone when you don't know their name? You may have though of the word 'you'. However, if you say 'Dangsin', which means you in Korea, the other person may think you are strange. 

So the other person will take your words unnaturally. So in general, when you call someone, you just say 'jugiyo'. In English, it's like hey. In fact, most Koreans use this word when talking to someone on the street. 

Use this title when you do not know the name of other person. If the other person let you know his name, try adding ssi and nim to his name. Your dignity will rise even higher. 

[형 = hyeong]

Suppose you came to Korea, met someone you knew, had a drink with him, ate and became friends him, how should you call him? 

If you want to maintain a business relationship partner with him, you better call him by adding ssi and nim to the end of his name. 

But if you want to develop a friendly relationship like a local friend, you can add 'hyeong' to the end of his name if he's a man older than you. In Korea, if you want to develop a personal relationship with someone, you have to change the title of calling him. remember it. 

[누나 = nuna]

So, if you develop a personal relationship with a woman older than you, what should you call her? 

You can call her 'nuna' after her name or just nuna. (Same for hyeong) For example, if her name is Sun-young, you can call her Sun-young nuna. 

But, If you want to keep her business relationship with her, you can call her with 'ssi' or 'nim' instead of 'nuna'. easy? 

[언니 = eonni]

Same situation as above. If you are a woman. Then the person you want to keep a close personal relationship with is older than you. You can call her by adding eonni to her name or just call her eonni. 

But if you want to remain her business partner with her, just add ssi or nim. 

[오빠 = oppa]

If you're a woman. The guy you want to be close with in person is older than you. You can call him by appending oppa to his name or just call him oppa. 

But if you want to remain a business partner with him, just add ssi or nim. 

[아줌마 = ajumma, 아저씨 = ajeossi]

Guess what kind of person this title refers to. It is a title that refers to a woman who is married or looks older. 

But even if it's actually a married woman or woman of a lot of age, woman these days don't like to hear thing like that. Because there are a lot of women who are not married even when they are old. 

The same goes for ajeossi title. There are many unmarried men over the age of 35 who do not marry. 

So I would you to be careful when using this title for her or him. 

[선생님 = seonsaengnim]

This title was originally used for teachers. however, as another meaning, you can use the title 'seonsaengnim' for someone who looks old. 

This title is more often used by older generations than by younger generation. If you're trying to use this title, try it on its own, not after a name.

[선배님 = seonbaenim]

This title is used to refer to a senior in a common profession or common learning experience and school. 

If you are from Seoul National University and there is someone who has graduated form university before you, you can use the word 'seonbaenim' to refer to that person. 

You can also use this title for people who are older than you who have studied the dame discipline as you or who are in the same industry as you. But if he's younger than you, you should't use this title. 

Note that if he is younger than you, you can title him 'hubaenim'. you can put it after his name or just say it. 

[어르신 = eoleusin]

This title is ofter used to refer to the elderly in Korea over the age of 60. However, please don't use this title your boss or anyone you have business relationship with. 

I hope you will use this title on your neighbors over the age of 60 who are a little familiar with you. 

[영감님 = yeong-gamnim]

This title refers to the elderly over 70 years of age. Likewise, if you would like to use this title, Please use it for your neighbors or the elderly close to you. 

to finish...

If you use these titles I have introduced so far in the right situation, you can build trust in other people, gain a crush on them, or get close to them.

These titles are great tools for determining the distance between you and others.

I hope that in Korea, you can make good use of this title to increase the number of people you have a good a relationship with.