Key Facts
- Hangul: 아이; Revised Romanization: ai
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral everyday word; also used for one's own child in speech.
Child in Korean: What Does 아이 Mean?
아이 is neutral and flexible: child, kid, and your own child in speech. In casual talk it shrinks to 애.
How Do You Pronounce 아이?
Two vowels in a row: a then i, said as two quick beats (a-i). The syllables are not blended into an English eye sound.
Example Sentences with 아이
아이가 자요.
aiga jayo.
The child is sleeping.
아이가 marks the sleeping child as the subject, and 자요 is the polite verb for sleeping.
저는 아이가 둘 있어요.
jeoneun aiga dul isseoyo.
I have two children.
Here 둘 is the native number two, and 있어요 means to have. The sentence is how a parent states family size.
아이들이 놀이터에서 놀아요.
aideuri noriteoeseo norayo.
The children play at the playground.
The plural suffix 들 turns the word into children, and 놀이터에서 locates the play.
Phrases Built on 아이
Parenting vocabulary uses 아이 as the object of two verbs.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 아이를 키우다 | to raise a child |
| 아이를 낳다 | to give birth to a child |
| 아이 같다 | to be childlike |
The Mistake to Avoid
Mistake: assuming the general word 아이 expresses special respect for another person’s son or daughter in a formal family conversation.
Better: use 자녀 (children, more formal) or the honorifics 아드님 (son) and 따님 (daughter) when that extra respect fits the conversation.
아이 Compared with Similar Words
어린이 suits children as an age group or in official wording. 애 is the casual contraction of 아이.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 어린이 | child (age group) | 어린이 is used for children as a group or in official contexts. |
| 애 | kid (short form) | 애 is the casual contraction of 아이. |
Where Does 아이 Come From?
아이 is native Korean with no hanja.
Two Parents at the Playground
Two parents watch their children playing. One asks which child belongs to the other parent, then asks about age.
Parent A
어느 아이가 따님이에요?
Eoneu aiga ttanimieyo?
Which child is your daughter?
Parent B
저기 모자를 쓴 아이예요.
Jeogi mojareul sseun aiyeyo.
She’s the child wearing a hat over there.
Parent A
몇 살이에요?
Myeot sarieyo?
How old is she?
Parent B
다섯 살이에요.
Daseot sarieyo.
She’s five.
어느 아이 asks “which child”, and 따님 respectfully identifies the other parent’s daughter. The reply uses 아이 to describe the child by her hat. This shows how the neutral word and a respectful family term can appear naturally in the same conversation. 다섯 살 gives age; 살 is the counter for years of age.
Is 아이 Impolite When It Refers to Someone Else’s Child?
아이 is a neutral word and is not automatically rude. A parent, teacher, or neighbor can use it when identifying a child, as in the dialogue. 자녀 is a more formal word for someone’s children. 아드님 and 따님 add respect when you specifically mean another person’s son or daughter.
The relationship and purpose guide the choice. At a playground, identifying the child wearing a hat naturally uses 아이. When asking a customer about their family, a respectful family term may fit better. There is no need to replace every occurrence of 아이 with an honorific word.
애 is the everyday shortened form. 애들 means kids, corresponding to 아이들. It suits familiar conversation, while 아이들 is a useful neutral choice when you want less casual wording. 어린이 appears in names for children’s services, events, and facilities, so it is especially useful when reading signs.
What Do Common Phrases with 아이 Imply?
아이를 키우다 describes raising a child over time: caring for them as they grow. 아이를 돌보다 means looking after a child and may concern a shorter period of care. Someone who watches a child for an afternoon can 돌보다 without being the person raising that child.
아이를 낳다 means giving birth to a child. It describes the birth rather than the years of care afterward. The shared object 아이를 does not make 낳다 and 키우다 interchangeable; their verbs identify different events in a family’s life.
아이 같다 literally means “like a child”. Depending on the situation, it may suggest innocence, playfulness, or immaturity. English “childlike” and “childish” carry different judgments, so listen to the speaker’s tone and reason for the comparison before choosing one translation.
Where Will You Hear 아이?
Parents often use 우리 아이, literally “our child”, when speaking about their own child. Korean 우리 can be natural even when just one parent is speaking. It expresses the family connection, so the English translation may simply be “my child”.
In stories, 아이 can identify a young character without giving a family relationship. In family conversation, it can mean someone’s son or daughter. The word does not itself tell you the child’s gender. Use 아들 or 딸 when that detail matters, rather than trying to read it into 아이.
Family and Care Words to Learn Next
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 아들 | son | Identifies the family relationship and gender. |
| 딸 | daughter | 따님 is the respectful counterpart for another person’s daughter. |
| 부모 | parents | Useful when describing a child’s family. |
| 놀이터 | playground | The place where the existing example’s children play. |
The people and relationships lesson teaches family relationships around 아이. Learning a relationship word beside the general word “child” helps you explain whose child you mean without repeating a name.
Quick Self-Test
- Can 아이 refer to a girl as well as a boy?
- Which phrase means looking after a child: 아이를 돌보다 or 아이를 낳다?
- Does 우리 아이 always require the English translation “our child”?
Show answers
- Yes. 아이 does not specify gender.
- 아이를 돌보다. 아이를 낳다 means giving birth to a child.
- No. A parent may naturally mean “my child”.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say child in Korean?
Say 아이 (ai). It also means kid.
What is 애?
애 is the casual short form of 아이.
When should I use 어린이 instead?
Use 어린이 for children as a group or in official contexts.
How do I speak about someone else's child respectfully?
자녀 is a more formal choice for children, and 아드님 or 따님 respectfully names another person's son or daughter. 아이 itself is neutral and can still be natural when identifying a child.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: People and relationships words places 아이 among its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.