hyeong

Hyeong (형) is a Korean kinship term and honorific written in Hangul as 형. It is used by a younger male to address an older male, such as an older brother, a senior classmate, a colleague, or a mentor. The term signals familiarity and a social gap in age or experience, but it is less formal than titles like 선배 (seonbae) or 님 (nim) used in more formal contexts. It is primarily a male-specific form of address; in contrast, females use 언니 (eonni/unni) or 누나 (nuna) for older sisters or older female peers, and 오빠 (oppa) for older male friends or brothers when spoken by a female speaker.

Romanization and variations: The standard Revised Romanization of Korean renders the word as hyeong, while the informal, widely used spelling hyung also appears in English-language media and online. In martial arts and some casual contexts, hyung may be used to refer to a form or pattern in addition to its role as a term of address; however, modern taekwondo commonly uses poomsae to describe forms.

Etymology and usage notes: 형 derives from the native Korean word for “older brother.” The term remains a core part of everyday speech in male-to-male interactions, reflecting age hierarchy and social bonds without implying formal authority. Its appropriateness depends on relationship and setting; in strictly formal situations, a name with a title or the formal 님 form is preferred.

See also: seonbae, oppa, nuna, unni, kinship terms.