어르신

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Beonyeok Bak Tongsa (飜譯朴通事 / 번역박통사), before 1517, as Middle Korean 얼우신 (Yale: elGwusin), honorific form with 시 (-si-) of 얼〯운〮 (Yale: ělGwún, “adult”), modern 어른 (eoreun). Note that this is possible because the noun is derived from a verb.

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈɘ(ː)ɾɯɕʰin]
Phonetic hangul: [어(ː)르신]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization^?	eoreusin
Revised Romanization (translit.)^?	eoleusin
McCune–Reischauer^?	ŏrŭsin
Yale Romanization^?	ēlusin

Noun

어르신 • (eoreusin)

(polite) elder; the elderly
어르신을 위한 보험 ― eoreusin-eul wihan boheom ― an insurance for the elderly

Related terms

어른 (eoreun, “adult”)