Korean Dictionary
How to say "Old-Fashioned" in Korean
“Old-Fashioned” in Korean is 꼰대 (pronounced "kkondae").
꼰대
kkondae
Usage & Context
Describing someone as old-fashioned, stubborn, or having outdated views. Often used by younger people to criticize older generations.
Example Sentence
그 사람 진짜 꼰대야.
That person is really old-fashioned.
How to use 꼰대 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Old-Fashioned” is 꼰대, romanized as kkondae.
Usage tip
Use slang only with friends or people who already speak casually with you. It can sound rude in formal Korean.
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 꼰대.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'kkohn-deh' — the double 'kk' is a sharp, tense consonant with no puff of air. 'Kkon' rhymes with 'con' and 'dae' rhymes with 'day.' Spit it out quickly.
Formal & Casual Forms
Casual (반말)
꼰대
kkondae
The word is already slangy — there's no formal version, though you can soften it by saying 어른 (adult) instead
More Example Sentences
venting to a coworker about a boss
저 부장님은 전형적인 꼰대야.
That department head is a textbook kkondae.
a thirty-something reflecting on their behavior
나도 꼰대처럼 보일까 봐 조심해요.
I'm careful not to come across as a kkondae myself.
sharing a personal resolution
꼰대 말고 어른이 되고 싶어요.
I want to become a real adult, not a kkondae.
Cultural Context
꼰대 was originally 1960s schoolboy slang for an overbearing father or teacher, but it exploded into mainstream Korean culture in the late 2010s as a critique of authoritarian workplace and generational behavior — think the boss who insists on mandatory after-work 회식 (drinking dinners) and lectures younger employees about 'back in my day.' The BBC even published a famous 2019 article on 꼰대, introducing the word globally. The newer term '젊은 꼰대' (young kkondae) extends the concept to any age: a 25-year-old who gatekeeps hobbies or lectures a 23-year-old qualifies. There's also a cultural 'Kkondae Test' floating around online with questions like 'Do you correct people's grammar unsolicited?' — saying yes means you've become what you feared.
Editorial note
We flag slang like 꼰대 for register and audience, since Korean slang can shift quickly and may sound rude outside close friendships.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
꼰대 같아.
You're acting like a kkondae.
꼰대 짓 하지 마.
Stop doing kkondae stuff.
꼰대 문화
kkondae culture
Related Expressions
젊은 꼰대
jeolmeun kkondae
'young kkondae' — a younger person acting kkondae-ish
라떼
latte
'back in my day' (from 나 때는, 'when I was...')
고지식하다
gojisikhada
to be rigidly old-fashioned / inflexible
세대 차이
sedae chai
generation gap
More Slang Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Old-Fashioned and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
