When talking about men in Korean, you'll often encounter a few different words, and knowing when to use each can be really helpful. While 남성 (nam-seong) literally means 'male' and is quite a formal term, you'll hear it in specific contexts like official documents or statistics. Think of it as a more clinical or objective way to refer to males as a group or category. For everyday conversations, especially when referring to an individual man you know or see, you're much more likely to hear 남자 (nam-ja), which directly translates to 'man' or 'boy' depending on the context.
When talking about men in Korean, you'll often encounter two main words: 남자 (nam-ja) and 남성 (nam-seong). While both translate to 'man' in English, there's a subtle but important difference in their usage, especially as you progress to more advanced levels like C1.
남자 (nam-ja) is the more common and general term for 'man' or 'boy.' It's what you'll typically use in everyday conversations. For example, '저 남자는 내 친구야' (jeo nam-ja-neun nae chin-gu-ya) means 'That man is my friend.'
On the other hand, 남성 (nam-seong) carries a more formal or academic nuance. It often refers to 'males' in a broader, perhaps biological or demographic sense, rather than an individual man you're acquainted with. You'll frequently see 남성 (nam-seong) used in surveys, official documents, or when discussing gender in a more abstract way. For instance, '남성 비율이 높다' (nam-seong bi-yul-i nop-da) means 'The proportion of males is high.'
Think of it this way: if you're talking about a specific man you know or see, 남자 (nam-ja) is usually the right choice. If you're discussing the male gender or men in a general, often statistical or formal context, then 남성 (nam-seong) is more appropriate.
Mastering this distinction will help you sound more natural and precise in your Korean, moving beyond basic vocabulary to a more nuanced understanding of the language.
Fun Fact
Like many Sino-Korean words, '남성' is composed of two Chinese characters. '남' (男) means 'male' or 'man', and '성' (性) means 'nature' or 'gender'. While it can refer to an individual man, it often implies the male gender in a broader sense, distinguishing it from a more general term like '남자' (namja) which solely means 'man'.
Grammar to Know
Nouns can be used as subjects in sentences, often followed by the subject markers -이/가.
남성이 왔어요. (A man came.)
Nouns can be used as objects in sentences, often followed by the object markers -을/를.
남성을 보았어요. (I saw a man.)
Nouns can be used with descriptive adjectives. The adjective comes before the noun.
잘생긴 남성 (A handsome man)
Nouns can be combined with other nouns to form compound nouns. The first noun modifies the second.
남성복 (Men's clothing)
Nouns can be used with possessive marker -의 to show possession.
남성의 차 (The man's car)
Examples by Level
남성은 키가 커요.
The man is tall.
Describes a man's height.
이 남성은 의사입니다.
This man is a doctor.
Identifies the profession of a man.
남성 두 명이 있어요.
There are two men.
Indicates the quantity of men.
저 남성은 누구입니까?
Who is that man?
Asks for the identity of a man.
남성은 커피를 마셔요.
The man drinks coffee.
Describes an action of a man.
남성복은 이쪽에 있습니다.
Men's clothing is on this side.
Refers to clothing for men.
그 남성은 제 친구예요.
That man is my friend.
Identifies a man as a friend.
남성은 책을 읽어요.
The man reads a book.
Describes a leisure activity of a man.
남성은 여성보다 평균적으로 키가 더 큽니다.
On average, men are taller than women.
그 남성은 직장에서 중요한 프로젝트를 이끌고 있습니다.
That man is leading an important project at work.
어떤 남성들은 스포츠에 열정적입니다.
Some men are passionate about sports.
남성복 매장에서는 다양한 스타일의 옷을 찾을 수 있습니다.
You can find various styles of clothing in a men's clothing store.
이 연구는 남성의 건강에 미치는 영향을 조사합니다.
This study investigates the impact on men's health.
그녀는 남성 친구들과도 잘 어울립니다.
She gets along well with her male friends too.
많은 남성들이 육아에 적극적으로 참여하고 있습니다.
Many men are actively participating in childcare.
그 남성은 자신의 의견을 분명하게 표현했습니다.
That man clearly expressed his opinion.
Idioms & Expressions
"남성미"
masculinity; manly charm
그 배우는 강한 남성미를 가지고 있다. (That actor has strong masculinity.)
neutral"남성복"
men's clothing
백화점 3층은 남성복 매장입니다. (The third floor of the department store is the men's clothing section.)
neutral"남성 우월주의"
male chauvinism; male supremacy
그는 남성 우월주의적인 사고방식을 가지고 있다. (He has a male chauvinistic way of thinking.)
neutral"남성 호르몬"
male hormone (e.g., testosterone)
남성 호르몬은 남성의 특징을 발달시키는 데 중요합니다. (Male hormones are important for developing male characteristics.)
neutral"남성 가장"
male head of the household
그는 가족의 남성 가장으로서 책임을 다한다. (He fulfills his responsibilities as the male head of the household.)
neutral"남성적이다"
to be masculine; manly
그는 외모도 성격도 남성적이다. (He is masculine in both appearance and personality.)
neutral"남성 가수"
male singer
제가 가장 좋아하는 남성 가수는 김범수입니다. (My favorite male singer is Kim Bum-soo.)
neutral"남성용 화장품"
men's cosmetics
요즘은 남성용 화장품 종류도 많다. (These days, there are many types of men's cosmetics.)
neutral"남성 대 여성"
men vs. women
남성 대 여성의 성비는 거의 비슷합니다. (The ratio of men to women is almost similar.)
neutral"남성 의류"
men's apparel; men's wear
새로운 남성 의류 컬렉션을 구경하고 싶어요. (I want to see the new men's apparel collection.)
neutralWord Family
Nouns
Adjectives
Tips
Use with '이다' to mean 'is a man'
To say something is a man, you combine 남성 with the verb 이다 (to be). For example, 남성이다 (nam-seong-i-da) means it is a man.
Combine with '분' for politeness
When referring to a man politely, especially someone you don't know well or someone older, you can add 분 (bun), a honorific noun for person. So, 남성분 (nam-seong-bun) means gentleman or male person.
Often used in formal contexts
남성 is often used in more formal settings, like in written documents, news, or surveys, when classifying people by gender. In everyday conversation, you might hear other words more frequently.
Distinguish from '남자'
While 남성 refers to an adult male human being, 남자 (nam-ja) is a more common and general term for man or boy, used more broadly in daily speech. 남성 has a slightly more formal or scientific feel.
Listen for it in announcements
You might hear 남성 in public announcements or formal messages. For example, a sign for a restroom might say 남성 화장실 (nam-seong hwa-jang-sil) meaning men's restroom.
Remember the Hanja origins
남성 is a Sino-Korean word, meaning it comes from Chinese characters. 남 (nam) means male and 성 (seong) means gender or nature. Understanding this can help you remember its meaning.
Practice with simple sentences
Try making simple sentences. For instance, 그는 남성이다 (geu-neun nam-seong-i-da) means He is a man. This helps solidify your understanding and usage.
Use with descriptive adjectives
You can describe 남성 using adjectives. For example, 젊은 남성 (jeol-meun nam-seong) means young man, and 나이 많은 남성 (na-i ma-neun nam-seong) means elderly man.
Compare with '여성'
The opposite of 남성 (nam-seong) is 여성 (yeo-seong), which means woman or female. Learning these pairs can be very effective for vocabulary building.
Context is key
Always consider the context when you hear or use 남성. In some situations, a more casual term like 남자 might be more appropriate. Pay attention to how native speakers use it.
Word Origin
Sino-Korean (hanja: 男性)
Original meaning: male sex/gender
Sino-KoreanCultural Context
In Korean culture, the term '남성' is often used in more formal or categorical contexts, such as '남성복' (men's clothing) or '남성 심리' (male psychology). When referring to an individual man in everyday conversation, '남자' (namja) is much more common and natural. '남성' can also be used to emphasize the masculinity or male characteristics of a person or group.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Describing someone's gender
- 그 사람은 남성입니다. (That person is a man.)
- 이 모임에는 남성이 많습니다. (There are many men in this gathering.)
- 남성분들, 앞으로 나와주세요. (Gentlemen, please come forward.)
Referring to men in general or a group of men
- 남성 건강에 좋은 음식. (Food that is good for men's health.)
- 남성 의류 코너. (Men's clothing section.)
- 대부분의 남성들은 축구를 좋아합니다. (Most men like soccer.)
In formal or official settings, like forms or surveys
- 성별: 남성/여성 (Gender: Male/Female)
- 남성 고객 만족도 조사. (Male customer satisfaction survey.)
- 남성용 화장실. (Men's restroom.)
When contrasting with women (여성)
- 남성과 여성의 차이점. (Differences between men and women.)
- 남성 대 여성 비율. (Male to female ratio.)
- 남성들은 보통 이성적이고 여성들은 감성적입니다. (Men are usually rational, and women are emotional.)
In discussions about societal roles or characteristics associated with men
- 전통적인 남성의 역할. (Traditional role of men.)
- 남성적인 매력. (Masculine charm.)
- 남성성을 강조하는 광고. (Advertisements emphasizing masculinity.)
Conversation Starters
"주변에 기억에 남는 남성분이 있나요? (Is there a memorable man in your surroundings?)"
"남성들이 가장 중요하게 생각하는 것은 무엇이라고 생각하세요? (What do you think men value most?)"
"한국 사회에서 남성의 역할은 어떻게 변화하고 있다고 생각하세요? (How do you think the role of men in Korean society is changing?)"
"남성복 쇼핑은 자주 하는 편인가요? (Do you often shop for men's clothing?)"
"남성들만 모이는 특별한 모임이나 클럽에 참여해 본 적이 있나요? (Have you ever participated in a special gathering or club just for men?)"
Journal Prompts
자신이 생각하는 이상적인 남성상은 어떤 모습인가요? (What does your ideal image of a man look like?)
살면서 만난 남성들 중 당신에게 가장 큰 영향을 준 사람은 누구이며, 그 이유는 무엇인가요? (Among the men you've met in your life, who has had the greatest impact on you, and why?)
미디어에서 묘사되는 남성의 이미지는 현실과 얼마나 일치한다고 생각하나요? (How much do you think the image of men portrayed in media aligns with reality?)
남성으로서의 삶에 대해 어떤 점이 가장 만족스럽거나 어려운가요? (As a man, what aspects of life are most satisfying or challenging?)
남성과 여성의 관계에서 존중과 이해를 증진하기 위해 어떤 노력이 필요하다고 생각하나요? (What efforts do you think are needed to promote respect and understanding in relationships between men and women?)
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsThe Korean word for 'man' or 'an adult male human being' is 남성 (nam-seong). It's a formal or general term often used in writing or when talking about groups of people.
남성 specifically refers to an adult male human being. While it can broadly refer to males, its core meaning points to adulthood.
No, it's generally not used for boys. For boys, you'd typically use words like 소년 (so-nyeon) for a young boy or 남자아이 (nam-ja-a-i) for a male child.
Both refer to 'man' or 'male.' 남성 (nam-seong) is a more formal or general term, often used in categories, statistics, or formal speech. 남자 (nam-ja) is more common in everyday conversation and can be used for 'man' or 'boy' depending on context, though it leans more towards 'man' when referring to adults.
You might use 남성 in contexts like:
- 남성 옷 (nam-seong ot) - men's clothing
- 남성 화장품 (nam-seong hwa-jang-pum) - men's cosmetics
- 남성 비율 (nam-seong bi-yul) - male ratio
Yes, for example:
- 남성복 (nam-seong-bok) - men's wear
- 남성미 (nam-seong-mi) - masculinity (literally 'male beauty')
Yes, 남성 is a neutral and polite term. It doesn't carry any negative connotations.
It's pronounced nam-seong. '남' (nam) sounds like 'nahm' and '성' (seong) sounds like 'sung' but with a slightly softer 'ng' sound, similar to the 'ng' in 'sing'.
While it's primarily a noun, it can function in a way similar to an adjective when combined with other nouns to specify 'male' or 'men's,' like in 남성복 (men's wear).
The opposite of 남성 (male) is 여성 (yeo-seong), which means 'female' or 'woman'.
Test Yourself 36 questions
저는 한 명의 ___입니다. (I am one ___.)
The sentence is 'I am one ___.' and '남성' means 'man'.
그는 키가 큰 ___입니다. (He is a tall ___.)
The sentence is 'He is a tall ___.' and '남성' means 'man'.
여기에 ___ 한 명이 있습니다. (There is one ___ here.)
The sentence is 'There is one ___ here.' and '남성' means 'man'.
저 ___은 제 친구입니다. (That ___ is my friend.)
The sentence is 'That ___ is my friend.' and '남성' means 'man'.
이 ___은 친절합니다. (This ___ is kind.)
The sentence is 'This ___ is kind.' and '남성' means 'man'.
우리 가족에는 ___이 세 명 있습니다. (There are three ___ in my family.)
The sentence is 'There are three ___ in my family.' and '남성' means 'man'.
Write a short sentence using '남성' to describe a man you see.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
저 남성은 키가 커요. (That man is tall.)
Translate the following sentence into Korean: 'He is a man.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
그는 남성입니다.
Complete the sentence using '남성': 저는 한 명의 ___을(를) 보았어요. (I saw one ___.)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
저는 한 명의 남성을 보았어요.
This passage is about a Korean...
Read this passage:
이 사람은 한국 남성입니다. 그는 학생입니다.
This passage is about a Korean...
The passage says '한국 남성' which means 'Korean man'.
The passage says '한국 남성' which means 'Korean man'.
What is true about my friend?
Read this passage:
제 친구는 남성입니다. 그는 스물 살입니다.
What is true about my friend?
'제 친구는 남성입니다' means 'My friend is a man.' '그는 스물 살입니다' means 'He is 20 years old.'
'제 친구는 남성입니다' means 'My friend is a man.' '그는 스물 살입니다' means 'He is 20 years old.'
How many men are in 'our family'?
Read this passage:
우리 가족에는 남성이 두 명 있습니다.
How many men are in 'our family'?
'남성이 두 명 있습니다' means 'there are two men'.
'남성이 두 명 있습니다' means 'there are two men'.
'그' (that) + '남성은' (man, topic particle) + '키가' (height, subject particle) + '커요' (is tall) makes a grammatically correct sentence meaning 'That man is tall.'
'저' (that, far) + '남성은' (man, topic particle) + '한국' (Korea) + '사람이에요' (is a person) forms 'That man is Korean.'
'이' (this) + '남성은' (man, topic particle) + '제' (my) + '친구예요' (is a friend) constructs 'This man is my friend.'
그는 키가 크고 잘생긴 ___이다.
문맥상 '크고 잘생긴'이라는 묘사는 사람, 특히 성인 남성을 가리키므로 '남성'이 적절합니다.
이 단체는 ___과 여성을 위한 프로그램을 제공합니다.
'여성'과 대조되는 개념으로 성별을 나타내는 단어가 필요합니다. 따라서 '남성'이 올바른 선택입니다.
___들만 입장할 수 있는 특별한 모임이었다.
'~들만 입장할 수 있는'이라는 표현은 특정 집단을 의미하며, 문맥상 '남성'이 가장 자연스럽습니다.
그 회사에는 ___ 직원이 많아서 분위기가 활기차다.
'직원'을 수식하며 특정 성별의 직원이 많다는 의미를 전달할 때 '남성'이 적합합니다.
경찰은 용의자로 보이는 ___을(를) 쫓고 있었다.
'용의자'는 사람을 가리키며, 뒤에 '을(를) 쫓고 있었다'는 동사가 오므로 '남성'이 문맥상 적절합니다.
그는 진정한 ___다운 모습을 보여주었다.
'~다운 모습'이라는 표현은 특정 집단의 특성을 나타낼 때 사용되며, 문맥상 '남성'이 가장 자연스럽습니다.
그는 전형적인 현대 ___의 표본이라고 할 수 있습니다.
문맥상 '현대의 성인 남성'을 의미하므로 '남성'이 적절합니다.
이번 연구는 한국 사회의 ___들이 겪는 스트레스 요인에 초점을 맞추었습니다.
주어가 '한국 사회의 성인 남성들'이므로 '남성'이 와야 합니다.
그는 사회적 편견에 맞서 ___으로서의 정체성을 굳건히 지켰습니다.
'성별적 정체성'을 의미하므로 '남성'이 가장 적합합니다.
과거에는 ___의 역할이 가족 부양에 한정되는 경우가 많았습니다.
전통적인 성별 역할을 언급하고 있으므로 '남성'이 적절합니다.
이번 드라마는 한국 사회에서 ___이 겪는 갈등과 애환을 심도 있게 다룹니다.
성인 남자의 삶을 다루는 맥락이므로 '남성'이 맞습니다.
그는 시대가 요구하는 이상적인 ___의 상을 구현하려 노력했습니다.
'이상적인 성인 남자'를 의미하므로 '남성'이 적절합니다.
The man is tall and handsome.
Gentlemen, please come this way.
The role of men in society is important.
Read this aloud:
남성복 매장은 어디에 있나요?
Focus: 남성복
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
그 남성은 매일 아침 조깅을 합니다.
Focus: 조깅을 합니다
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
남성 건강에 좋은 음식은 무엇인가요?
Focus: 무엇인가요?
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
Use with '이다' to mean 'is a man'
To say something is a man, you combine 남성 with the verb 이다 (to be). For example, 남성이다 (nam-seong-i-da) means it is a man.
Combine with '분' for politeness
When referring to a man politely, especially someone you don't know well or someone older, you can add 분 (bun), a honorific noun for person. So, 남성분 (nam-seong-bun) means gentleman or male person.
Often used in formal contexts
남성 is often used in more formal settings, like in written documents, news, or surveys, when classifying people by gender. In everyday conversation, you might hear other words more frequently.
Distinguish from '남자'
While 남성 refers to an adult male human being, 남자 (nam-ja) is a more common and general term for man or boy, used more broadly in daily speech. 남성 has a slightly more formal or scientific feel.
Example
그는 강하고 책임감 있는 남성이다.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Grammar Rules
More society words
수용하다
B2To accept, take in, or accommodate ideas, opinions, people, or external influences.
성인
A1An adult; a person who is fully grown or developed.
선진화
B1The process of making something advanced or modernized to reach the level of developed nations. It often refers to systems, technology, or social consciousness.
가중되다
B2To be increased or aggravated, especially in terms of pressure, burden, or negative circumstances.
지향
B2The act of aiming for a certain direction, goal, or ideal state.
소외
B2The state of being isolated or excluded from a group or society; alienation.
또한
A1Also; in addition; moreover.
대안
B2A plan, proposal, or option that can replace an existing one, usually to solve a problem. It is a key word in IELTS Task 2 for suggesting solutions.
비록
A1Although; even though.
도래
B1The arrival or beginning of a significant period, event, or era. It often describes the start of a new technology-driven age.
