Key Facts
- Hangul: 어른; Revised Romanization: eoreun
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral; also means an elder to be respected. 성인 is the legal/formal term for adult.
Adult in Korean: What Does 어른 Mean?
어른 has two senses: "adult" and "elder (respected older person)". The register is neutral. The respect layer shows in 어른께, where the particle 께 is the honorific "to", used when the person addressed is an elder. For the legal category on forms and signs, Korean prefers 성인.
How Do You Pronounce It?
Two syllables, eo-reun. Eo is the vowel ㅓ, made with relaxed, unrounded lips, close to the u in "but" and nothing like English "oh". The r in reun is a single quick tap of the tongue.
Example Sentences with 어른
저는 어른이에요.
jeoneun eoreunieyo.
I am an adult.
A flat self-description. 어른이에요 shows the 이에요 form, used after a noun that ends in a consonant.
어른께 인사하세요.
eoreunkke insahaseyo.
Greet the elders politely.
The honorific 께 and the polite request ending 하세요 tell you the greeting is aimed at someone senior.
어른이 되면 일을 해요.
eoreuni doemyeon ireul haeyo.
When you become an adult, you work.
The sentence links adulthood with work. 되면 means "if you become", from the pattern 어른이 되다.
Common Phrases and Collocations
어른이 되다 is "to become an adult", 집안 어른 is an elder of the family, and 어른 요금 is the adult fare on a price list.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 어른이 되다 | to become an adult |
| 집안 어른 | elder of the family |
| 어른 요금 | adult fare |
The Mistake to Avoid
Mistake: using 어른 on forms, in legal wording and in official notices because it translates as "adult".
Right: those contexts use 성인, the legal and formal term. 어른 is the everyday word, and it also implies maturity and respect. Fare boards are an exception you will meet often: they commonly list 어른 요금.
어른 Compared with 성인 and 아이
The pair that matters is 어른 against 성인 (formal, legal), with 아이 as the everyday opposite.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 어른 | adult | This page's word |
| 성인 | adult (legal/formal) | 성인 is the formal/legal term and is used on forms, laws and signs; 어른 is everyday and also implies maturity and respect. |
| 아이 | child | 아이 is the opposite in everyday speech. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
어른 is native Korean, with no hanja form.
At a Ticket Counter: Two Adults
A visitor is buying admission tickets. The clerk asks whether any children are coming too.
Visitor
어른 두 명이요.
Eoreun du myeongiyo.
Two adults, please.
Clerk
어린이는 없으세요?
Eorinineun eopseuseyo?
Are there no children in your group?
Visitor
네, 어른만 있어요.
Ne, eoreunman isseoyo.
That’s right, just adults.
Clerk
표 두 장 드릴게요.
Pyo du jang deurilgeyo.
I’ll give you two tickets.
The visitor counts people with 명. The clerk counts the tickets with 장. In 어른 두 명이요, the polite ending 이요 turns a short noun phrase into a usable answer at a counter. You do not need to repeat a whole sentence about wanting to buy tickets.
The question is negative, so 네 confirms that there are no children. The visitor adds 어른만, “adults only”, to make the answer clear. This is useful when a yes or no by itself could confuse the listener.
Where Will You See or Hear 어른?
On a fare board, 어른 usually contrasts with 어린이, “children”, and sometimes 청소년, “teenagers” or “youth”. These are ticket categories. Read the venue's age conditions as well as the category name; the word 어른 alone does not tell you the exact cutoff for that ticket.
At a family gathering, 집안 어른 points to a senior family member. Here the important idea is their position in the family, so translating it as “family elder” often makes more sense than “an adult in the house”. It can refer to someone outside the speaker's immediate household.
In a drama, a younger character saying they want to become an 어른 may mean gaining independence or acting maturely. The noun can carry that personal meaning alongside the basic distinction between adults and children.
What Do the Set Phrases Add?
어른이 되다 literally means “become an adult”. The marker 이 belongs with 되다, “become”. The expression can describe growing up physically or becoming more responsible, depending on the story. It does not by itself identify a birthday or a legal milestone.
어른답다 means “to be mature” or “to act like an adult”. The ending 답다 expresses having the qualities expected of something. Someone can be an adult by age yet behave immaturely; that is why this description adds information beyond 어른 alone.
어른스럽다 also describes someone who seems mature or grown-up. It is useful when talking about a child whose behavior seems older than their age. These descriptions concern behavior or appearance, while 어른 요금 is simply a pricing category.
People Words to Learn Alongside 어른
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 어린이 | child | Common on admission boards and children's facilities. |
| 청소년 | teenager / youth | A separate category on some ticket lists. |
| 어르신 | elder, respectfully | A respectful way to refer to an older person. |
| 보호자 | guardian | Names the responsible accompanying person. |
The people and relationships lesson gives the wider set. 어르신 is helpful when respectfully referring to older visitors; it is not the label for every adult passenger. 보호자 describes a role, so an adult ticket and a guardian's role answer different questions.
Quick Self-Test
- At a counter, does 어른 두 명 count people or tickets?
- Which phrase means a senior member of the family?
- Does 어른 요금 tell you the venue's exact age cutoff?
Show answers
- People. 명 counts people; 장 counts tickets.
- 집안 어른.
- No. Read the age conditions beside the fare categories.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "adult" in Korean?
Say 어른 (eoreun) in everyday speech. On legal forms and in official wording the term is 성인.
Does 어른 mean "elder" too?
Yes. It also means an elder to be respected, which is why 어른께 is used for greetings.
What is the opposite of 어른?
In everyday speech it is 아이, meaning "child".
What does 어른 요금 mean?
It is the adult fare, used on price lists and tickets.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: People and relationships words groups 어른 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 어른 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- The natural counterpart is the page for child. See the page for child.