Are 언니, 오빠, 선생님 etc. also used when referring to someone in the third person?
Can these terms be used instead of the equivalents for 'he' or 'she'?

For example:

"오늘은 친구를 만났어요. 언니는 매우 예뻐요."
"Today I met my friend. She is very pretty"

Question

Are 언니, 오빠, 선생님 etc. also used when referring to someone in the third person?
Can these terms be used instead of the equivalents for 'he' or 'she'?

For example:

"오늘은 친구를 만났어요. 언니는 매우 예뻐요." 
"Today I met my friend. She is very pretty"

Answer

In a way, yes, but ultimately each has it's own meaning. 언니 is what younger girls use to address older girls that are or like their older sisters. 오빠 technically means older brother but only girls use it for guys older than them. 선생님 is actually what you'd address a teacher as. There are also the terms 누나 and 형.

Answer

your example is right. but NOT to all people you meet. [언니, 오빠] expresses some kind of familiarity. this means that you KNOW about that person in personal and you have closeness, familiarity for them.

Answer

Yes i think you can use them .. as u know the ppl u talk about but, not with strangers

Answers · 4

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