Korean Dictionary

How to say “Senior / Sunbae” in Korean

선배

Sunbae

Usage & Context

선배 (sunbae) refers to a person senior to you in school, workplace, or any organization. The sunbae-hoobae relationship is a fundamental social dynamic in Korea, where seniors are expected to guide and treat juniors, often buying meals. Respecting your 선배 is a key social expectation.

Example Sentence

선배가 밥을 사줘서 감사했어요.

I was grateful that my senior bought me a meal.

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