Korean Dictionary
How to say "Bowing to Elders" in Korean
“Bowing to Elders” in Korean is 어른께 절 (pronounced "eoreunke jeol").
어른께 절
eoreunke jeol
Usage & Context
어른께 절 is the practice of bowing deeply to older family members and respected figures in Korean culture. It is performed on major holidays and at important family gatherings as an expression of filial piety. Korean children are taught from a young age how to properly perform 절 as an essential social skill.
Example Sentence
어른들께 절을 드리는 것은 한국 예절의 기본이에요.
Bowing to elders is a fundamental part of Korean etiquette.
How to use 어른께 절 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Bowing to Elders” is 어른께 절, romanized as eoreunke jeol.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 어른께 절.
Pronunciation Guide
어른 (eo-reun) sounds like 'o' in 'son' followed by 'run' with a slightly rolled 'r'. 께 (kke) sounds like 'keh' with a strong, aspirated 'k'. 절 (jeol) sounds like 'jull' with the 'u' as in 'but' and a soft 'l' at the end. The phrase flows together, with a slight emphasis on '절'.
More Example Sentences
Describing a common tradition during Lunar New Year.
설날에는 할머니, 할아버지께 절을 해요.
On Seollal, we bow to grandma and grandpa.
Describing a customary part of a Korean wedding ceremony.
결혼식에서 신랑 신부가 부모님께 절을 올렸어요.
At the wedding, the bride and groom bowed to their parents.
Someone learning Korean etiquette or customs.
어른께 절하는 법을 배우고 있어요.
I'm learning how to bow to elders.
Cultural Context
Performing 절 (jeol), or a deep bow, to elders is a cornerstone of Korean etiquette and a profound expression of respect and filial piety (효, hyo). It's most commonly seen during major holidays like Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Harvest Festival), where younger generations bow to their parents, grandparents, and other senior relatives. It's also customary at weddings, funerals, and when greeting highly respected individuals. There are specific forms of bowing for men and women, and it's taught to children from a very young age as an essential social skill.
Editorial note
We review entries like 어른께 절 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
절을 하다
to bow (general action)
절을 올리다
to offer a bow (more formal/respectful)
세배하다
to perform a New Year's bow
Related Expressions
절하다
jeolhada
to bow (verb form)
세배
sebae
New Year's bow (specific bow on Seollal)
공수
gongsu
hand position for bowing (specific posture)
예절
yejeol
etiquette, manners (broader concept)
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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