Yeodongsaeng

Yeodongsaeng is a Korean term that refers to a younger sister. It is a compound word, with "yeo" meaning "female" and "dongsaeng" meaning "younger sibling." Therefore, yeodongsaeng specifically denotes a sibling who is both female and younger than the speaker.

The term is commonly used in everyday conversation within Korean families and among Koreans. It distinguishes a younger sister from an older sister (unni for males, noona for females) and a younger brother (namdongsaeng). The use of "yeodongsaeng" is important in the context of Korean kinship terms, which often denote age and gender differences within family relationships.

When referring to a specific younger sister, one might use the term directly, for example, "My yeodongsaeng is in college." Alternatively, if the speaker is addressing their younger sister, they might use a more intimate term like "aigoo" or her name, but the term "yeodongsaeng" still defines her relationship to them. The concept of yeodongsaeng underscores the hierarchical nature of Korean family structures, where age and gender play significant roles in how individuals address and relate to each other.