English

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Etymology

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Calque of Korean 형 라인 (hyeong rain), composed of 형(兄) (hyeong, hyung; elder brother of a man) and 라인 (rain, members with a shared characteristic), ultimately from English line. By surface analysis, hyung +‎ line.

Refer to 라인 (rain, members with a shared characteristic) for more information.

Pronunciation

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  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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hyung line (plural hyung lines)

  1. (South Korean idol fandom) The elder members of a male K-pop group as a collective.
    Coordinate terms: unnie line, maknae line
    • 2017 May, “Get 'Suho-fied'”, in Chogitimes, volume 1, page 12:
      Born on 22nd May 1999, belongs to the Hyung line of EXO being the second oldest after Xiumin.
    • 2019, Katy Sprinkel, The Big Book of BTS: The Deluxe Unofficial Bangtan Book, unnumbered page:
      RM, Suga, Jin, and J-Hope comprise BTS's hyung line.
    • 2019, Spike Koarau, "NCT 127 in Paris", HALLYU Magazine, Summer 2019, page 5:
      A break comes with some ment[sic] from the Maknae line and the Hyung line who decide to show some sexiness.

Translations

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