후배
A person who is younger or has less experience than you in a school or workplace.
Explanation at your level:
You use 후배 for a younger student or a new worker. If you started school first, they are your 후배. It is a very important word in Korea.
In Korea, we have 후배 for juniors. If you are a senior, you are a 선배. If you are a junior, you are a 후배. It helps people know who to respect.
The term 후배 defines your role in a group. It is not just about age; it is about experience. When you are a 후배, you should listen to your senior's advice. It is a core part of Korean office culture.
Using 후배 correctly requires understanding social nuance. While it defines a junior, using it too casually can sound patronizing. It is best to use it when discussing your team structure or explaining your history in a company.
The sociolinguistic weight of 후배 is significant. It implies a reciprocal relationship of guidance and loyalty. In academic or professional settings, the 후배 is expected to be proactive, while the senior provides networking opportunities and mentorship.
Beyond the literal meaning, 후배 represents the preservation of social order. It is deeply rooted in Confucian ethics, where the hierarchy is essential for harmony. Mastering the usage of this term is key to navigating the complex social fabric of Korean society.
واژه در 30 ثانیه
- Junior colleague or student.
- Based on entry date, not age.
- Essential for Korean social hierarchy.
- Often paired with 'sunbae'.
The word 후배 (hubae) is a fundamental concept in Korean social dynamics. It literally translates to 'later-born' or 'following batch.' It describes anyone who is your junior in a specific environment, such as a university or a job.
Unlike in many Western cultures where age might be the only factor, 후배 is strictly about your entry date. Even if you are the same age, if they joined the company a year after you, they are your 후배. It creates a bond of mentorship where the senior (sunbae) looks after the junior.
The word comes from Sino-Korean roots: 후 (後, meaning 'after' or 'behind') and 배 (輩, meaning 'group' or 'class'). Historically, it reflects the Confucian values of hierarchy and respect for seniority.
It evolved from traditional academic settings where students were grouped by their year of entrance. Over time, it became a standard term in corporate settings to maintain order and clear communication channels within a team.
You use 후배 when referring to someone with less experience. It is often used as a direct address or a way to categorize colleagues. Common collocations include 직장 후배 (work junior) or 학교 후배 (school junior).
Be careful: while you might call someone 'hubae' when talking about them, it is often more polite to use their name + 씨 or their job title when talking to them directly in professional settings.
1. 선후배 관계 (Sunbae-hubae relationship): The dynamic between seniors and juniors. 2. 후배를 챙기다 (To take care of a junior): Mentoring someone. 3. 후배 양성 (Training juniors): Developing new talent. 4. 후배 기수 (Junior batch): People who joined in a later group. 5. 후배님 (Junior - polite): Adding -nim makes it respectful.
The word is a standard noun and does not change form for pluralization. In Korean, pluralization is context-dependent. The pronunciation is [hu-bae].
It is often used with the suffix -님 (nim) to show respect. It does not require articles like 'a' or 'the' because Korean grammar functions differently, but it acts as a specific social label.
Fun Fact
It is based on the same characters as the Japanese 'kohai'.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'who-bay'.
Sounds like 'who-bay'.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing '후' as 'hu' instead of 'hoo'.
- Stressing the wrong syllable.
- Dropping the 'ae' sound.
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
moderate
moderate
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
پیشرفته
Grammar to Know
Noun + 이다
후배이다
Noun + 에게
후배에게
Noun + 를
후배를
Examples by Level
그는 나의 후배입니다.
He is my junior.
Simple sentence.
그 후배는 일을 아주 잘해요.
저는 후배에게 밥을 샀습니다.
학교 후배를 만났어요.
그는 저의 가장 친한 후배예요.
후배가 질문을 많이 해요.
회사 후배가 새로 왔어요.
후배를 도와주는 선배가 되세요.
저는 후배들과 자주 놀아요.
후배 양성에 힘쓰고 있습니다.
선배로서 후배를 잘 이끌어야 합니다.
그는 저의 대학 후배입니다.
후배가 예의가 바르네요.
후배들의 의견을 들어보세요.
저는 후배들에게 인기가 많아요.
후배와 함께 프로젝트를 합니다.
후배에게 조언을 해주었습니다.
후배 관계가 아주 엄격한 곳도 있습니다.
그는 후배들 사이에서 존경받는 선배입니다.
후배를 챙기는 것은 선배의 도리입니다.
후배 기수가 벌써 들어왔군요.
후배들과의 소통이 중요합니다.
그녀는 저의 직장 후배로 들어왔습니다.
후배의 성장을 보는 것은 기쁜 일입니다.
후배에게 업무를 가르쳐주세요.
후배 양성은 기업의 미래를 결정합니다.
선후배 관계를 넘어 친구처럼 지냅니다.
그는 후배들의 롤모델이 되었습니다.
후배에게 책임을 맡겨보세요.
후배 기수와의 갈등을 해결해야 합니다.
전통적인 선후배 문화가 변하고 있습니다.
후배를 아끼는 마음이 느껴집니다.
후배들에게 귀감이 되는 선배입니다.
유교적 가치관이 선후배 문화에 녹아있습니다.
후배를 양성하는 것은 조직의 핵심 역량입니다.
선후배 간의 위계질서가 명확한 조직입니다.
그는 후배들의 멘토 역할을 자처했습니다.
후배 기수의 역량이 매우 뛰어납니다.
선후배 관계는 한국 사회의 근간입니다.
후배를 이끌어주는 리더십이 필요합니다.
후배들의 고충을 이해하려는 노력이 필요합니다.
ترکیبهای رایج
Idioms & Expressions
"선후배 관계"
The relationship between senior and junior.
선후배 관계가 아주 좋습니다.
neutral"후배를 아끼다"
To cherish or care for one's junior.
그는 후배를 아끼기로 유명해요.
neutral"후배 기수"
The group of juniors.
후배 기수들이 열심히 하네요.
neutral"후배 챙기기"
The act of taking care of juniors.
후배 챙기기가 쉽지 않네요.
casual"후배 양성"
Training juniors.
후배 양성은 중요한 일입니다.
formalEasily Confused
They are opposites.
Senior vs Junior.
선배는 가르치고, 후배는 배웁니다.
Both are colleagues.
Same time vs Later time.
동기는 친구 같고 후배는 동생 같습니다.
Both mean lower status.
Hubae is specific to entry order.
아랫사람은 더 넓은 의미입니다.
Both refer to new people.
Sin-ip is specifically 'newly arrived'.
신입은 후배가 될 수 있습니다.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 후배 + 이다
그는 나의 후배이다.
후배 + 에게 + Verb
후배에게 밥을 샀다.
후배 + 를 + Verb
후배를 도와주세요.
후배 + 님 + Verb
후배님, 안녕하세요.
선배 + 로서 + 후배 + 를 + Verb
선배로서 후배를 이끌다.
خانواده کلمه
Nouns
مرتبط
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
اشتباهات رایج
Age/entry order matters.
Hierarchy is important.
It's for established relationships.
It's about entry date.
Respect is needed.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a line of people; the one behind is the hubae.
Native usage
Use it to show you are the mentor.
Insight
It's about respect.
Shortcut
Add -nim for respect.
Say it right
Ho-bae.
Avoid
Don't use it to strangers.
Fact
Shared with Japanese culture.
Study
Use it in sentences.
Plural
Just add -deul.
Context
Very common in dramas.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Who is the bay (junior)?
Visual Association
A younger student following a senior.
Word Web
چالش
Ask a Korean friend who their hubae is.
ریشه کلمه
Sino-Korean
Original meaning: Person who follows in a group.
بافت فرهنگی
Can be used to establish dominance if misused.
No direct equivalent; 'junior' or 'mentee' is close but lacks the cultural weight.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- 후배를 교육하다
- 후배와 점심 먹기
- 후배 기수 관리
At school
- 학교 후배 만남
- 후배에게 조언
- 후배 동아리 활동
Social
- 후배와 술 한잔
- 후배 챙기기
- 친한 후배
Mentorship
- 후배 양성
- 후배 멘토링
- 후배 가이드
Conversation Starters
"당신에게 후배가 있나요?"
"어떤 선배가 좋은 선배라고 생각하세요?"
"후배와 어떻게 친해지나요?"
"직장 후배를 어떻게 가르치나요?"
"학교 후배와 연락하나요?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a hubae you have.
Describe what makes a good senior.
How does the hubae system affect work?
Reflect on a time you were a hubae.
سوالات متداول
8 سوالNo, they joined later.
Use name + ssi or hubae-nim.
Never!
Sunbae.
No, it's a Korean cultural term.
Yes, if you start a new job.
It defines social roles.
H-U-B-A-E.
خودت رو بسنج
그는 나의 ___입니다.
He is my junior.
What is a hubae?
Junior.
Hubae is always younger.
It is about entry date.
Word
معنی
Opposites.
Please take care of the junior.
امتیاز: /5
Summary
A hubae is a person who joined your group after you, and they deserve your guidance and mentorship.
- Junior colleague or student.
- Based on entry date, not age.
- Essential for Korean social hierarchy.
- Often paired with 'sunbae'.
Memory Palace
Imagine a line of people; the one behind is the hubae.
Native usage
Use it to show you are the mentor.
Insight
It's about respect.
Shortcut
Add -nim for respect.
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این کلمه در زبانهای دیگر
واژههای بیشتر education
백점
A2A perfect score, typically 100 points, in a test or exam.
능력
B1The possession of the means or skill to do something; talent or capacity to perform a task.
결석
B1The state of being absent from a place or event, especially a school or university class.
결석하다
A2To be absent from school or work.
학업성취도
B2The extent to which a student has achieved their short or long-term educational goals, usually measured by grades or test scores.
학업 성취
B2The extent to which a student or institution has achieved their educational goals, typically measured by grades or test scores.
학문
B1A field of study or the pursuit of knowledge through systematic research and learning.
학문적
B1Relating to education, scholarship, or schools; focused on theoretical study rather than practical application.
학술
B1Relating to education and scholarship, especially at a college or university level; academic pursuits or studies.
학원
A2A private educational institute for supplementary learning.
