Is it just me, or is it annoying when people overuse these terms. I know in Korea it's more of a generic term, and even in Korean american circles it's just something you could say when you don't know someones name (like hey you!) or for celebs and stuff because you want to imply something more respectful than -shii. But sometimes I see other ethnicities using it and i'm like?? What? For instance, there's this viet girl where I work, and everytime she see's me she's like OPPA!!!! *sqeaky high-pitched voice* First of all, she's not even Korean so I don't get why she's using it. And secondly shouldn't it be Sunbae anyway instead of Oppa. (I've been working there for alot longer than her)

-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^

So basically to sum it up, what do you think of people that abuse the words oppa/unnie/hyung/noona?

(Mostly pre-teen girls with squeaky voices)



-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^

I only use it if it's like my actual brother/sister, someone i've known since I was little/ is alot older than me/ Koreans I don't know the names of

I totally agree with you on this. I personally hate it when people (other than koreans) use those terms. It sounds so wannabe-ish. I personally love the Korean culture for their music and k-dramas (I'm Vietnamese by the way), but those Korean words would never escape my mouth when I'm talking to people. I know this Chinese girl who uses "Omo" at the beginning of every sentence. I always wanted to tell her to shut the eff up and stop being such a wannabe. It sounds harsh, but I just get really annoyed.

I know what you mean!!
It can be pretty annoying. Don't they have their own terms to use?? xD

i use noona for beautiful eugene noona

This bugs me a lot too. When people who aren't Chinese start using some slang that's commonly used by Chinese people, it annoys me so much. Most of the time, they don't even know what it means, but they still use it. It sort of makes them desperate to fit in or seem like something they're not. It's such a pet peeve of mine. Obviously I'm Chinese, and when I hear people say this stuff, it just makes me angry and just so annoyed. I don't even know the fine differences between oppa, unnie, hyung, and nuna. I only know that hyung means something like a brother, but I wouldn't use these terms if I don't know the exact meanings.

I also agree with you. It irks me to no end when the person isn't Korean and overuses it. Also when people other than Koreans call someone they know who is or isn't Korean "oppa/unnie".
It's annoying, but hey what can we do?

Oh, I know what you mean about the whole Chinese slang thing!
Like at our school, there's a lot of Koreans & they cuss alot, so other non-Korean kids start doing it too!!
It's so annoying!!

This one guy goes around saying 'Shut your mouth' in Chinese & saying lots of bad words in Korean.

And it's even more annoying because I'm actually Korean & I don't even swear that much!

^haha, that one makes me feel bad because I have alot of Japanese friends, and they sprinkle Japanese in with their English and I picked up some phrases that they use ()* I try to avoid using it when i'm not with them though.

If it's used jokingly, I guess I don't mind much but if people overuse them, it's like being so wannabe-ish. I haven't personally encountered someone like that, thankfully.

so annoying.

especially if they go around calling everyone that. ok, if you have a special relationship with one or two respectable members of your circle then wutever, but running around yelling that at everyone is just stupid, and abusive to the terms/language.

Totally annoying. :|

It's like those wapanese kids overusing konichiwa and all that other stuff.

the only time I see fit for people to say "oppa" and such is when they are fluent (meaning seriously learning korean) in the language. same goes for other languages as well, ie chinese, japanese etc. because otherwise it sounds so stupid and suck up - wanna be to me. and it irritates me when people tries to speak chinese or whatever to impress me when they don't understand the language, the country, the culture at all

its jsut as annoying as people who are obessed with anime start putting random Japanese phrases in their sentences.
;____; i want to slap those people some times.

errr, yeaaa, it's kind of annoying hearing non koreans say these... but what to do? english doesn't have formal calls for older ones?? HEHHEHE~

I don't really care. It's just like how people go around saying "Kawaii!" It's annoying but get use to it. I don't use any of these term, in fact I don't even know what they mean but when your interesting in another culture of course you want to say it. Thats the biggest reason why their are so many japanese obsess

it depends on who is using it...like there are some people that are not korean that use it and i can handle that and it is perfectly fine... but there are some that over use it and call everyone freakn oppa or unni..

ive only seen ppl on the internet say that
and each time i read it i get annoyed bad
i find it weird that non koreans say it.. just my opinon

I guess non-Koreans use it because were use to it (if you're into Koreans/Korean culture).
Like, you see it a lot.. to the point where it slips out every now and then. I have never said Oppa or anything before. However, I have used it on the internet a few times. I understand why Korean people get annoyed though, lol. 'Cause I get so annoyed when people who aren't Vietnamese use "D* Ma". Honestly, wtf? It's more annoying when they can't even pronounce it properly (because Vietnamese has a lot of symbols, so you pronounce things a certain way depending on it's symbol).

i'm not Korean but i use it sometimes. i don't think i overuse it though.
i call my bestfriend unnie because she's older, and when we were starting our korean lessons it stuck.

i call some classmates before in my korean class unnie, just for fun and for the practice of the language.

my korean friends are mostly younger than me, and the one whose really close to me calls me unnie.

for korean friends online, if i found out they are girls and are older than me i make it a point to ask them first if i can call them unnie. 언니라고 불어도돼요?

for guys, i'm not comfortable calling them oppa since it's like calling a boyfried too right? so i'm more careful for guys.

would normally address guys and other koreans -sshi or -nim

for koreans that i met in person and i don't know their name (like in shops/restaurants) i call them ajussi / ajumma. but for older girls that doesn't look like really really old, i call them unnie since i'm afraid to call them ajumma. (is that proper by the way?)

~ i hope i did not annoy anyone

maybe so show some respect? o_O"
but when they do it for just yaah know
thats totally .. a big nono .

It kinda annoys me sometimes. And yeah when I want to annoy someone too I use it. Always works. Lolll

yaaah its annoying like using kawaii over and over again -.-""

but i think its ok if its for like few people that you respect and you know pretty well...i think thats ok

i've never really used oppa,unni, ect a lot..only few times.cuz even for myself kinda...annoying xD so i kinda stick with

-ssi instead..

(but dont fans usually call their idol groups(guys) oppa?hm..i still use -ssi sometimes..haha)

HAHA! That could be annoying, I get what you mean. Koreans at my school use it alot because I have a Korean friend and she's older than most of us and she's called "unni" by her fellow koreans. But I don't use it. >_<; LOL. I don't know, it sounds weird if I say it. ._. >< (didn't mean that in a bad thing)

wow even i find it annoying and i'm not even korean!

OMG! You know how annoying that is!!! >o<
I haven't met anyone that says these korean terms (I hope I don't in future) but yes it is very annoying to hear these sorta terms when they are not even of that race.

Hmm well i'm caucasian, and the only time i've ever used "oppa" or "unnie" is when i'm saying it in a joking way haha. Like to this one Korean guy friend who is older than me i've said "*using high girlish voice* ooh~ oppa you're so cutee! hahahahaha" when we were joking around about something and he was all "i'm cute right? xP call me oppa! ahahah". But other than that, I never really use those terms unless in my Korean class. I think it would be weird if I were to go around calling everyone oppa and unnie o__o haha.

I know what everyone means about the "kawaii" thing though, it gets crazy annoying hearing it all the time from people who know like zero Japanese just a few words. Like my friend is Japanese, and this one guy, everytime he sees her comes up to us and is like "kawaiiii ne?!" except the way he says it, it comes out sounding more like "kowai" [scary] haha, so my friend was all "kowai!? hahaha". So yeah, it's pretty weird when people just randomly say words from a different language, with no intent of learning anything else, just saying it to be "cool".

....I do admit to sometimes saying "aish" or "omo" randomly haha. But it just slips out! >_<;;

i HATE HATE HATE people like that.
I always think, speak your own language.

That's like someone I know.
To say thank you, she uses doh je (Cantonese) in the wrong context when she's supposed to use m-goi and it really bugs me.

haha i guess people today are too addicted fanatics that they overuse these terms ((:

i don't hear or see much people say that actually ..
more like dramas

yeahh i wouldn't call a random krn person "oppa" or anything
but i have a really close korean friend and ii call him oppa and only him
he's like my korean tutor

i hate it when people just overuse it =_= i hate it when girls always go "OPPA~! OPPPAAAAAA~" =_= gyahhhh.

IDK why it's so bad for non-koreans to use these terms ... I mean it's like learning another language
basically, it's a word in that language so ... who cares? I'm not Korean but sometimes I have Korean
friends who ask me to call them Oppa & such ... ?? so they don't seem to mind, haha ...

i mean i wouldn't call a random person this but ... i don't think it's an off limits word that only koreans can use.
it's like the people in korea/japan who use random english words .. should i tell them "thats my word, stop using it"!!

oh yea...its annoying when non-korean over use the word
also agree with the fact tht there isn't really any limit or restiriction...
my little sis has korean frens..so she say ~omo~ n sometimes behaves like old korean woman..(holding their neck, like in drama)...i find it super funny....

i m not korean.. but asian (nepali)

i use unnie/dongseang on net...with only two ppl..tht i know....n none of them r korean...but still
other than tht i really don't say it in person.....sumtime...i just fooling around

either learn/know the language or don't speak at all.
ths y i m gonna take Korean classes...

I second to that! I am not Korean and it DEFINETLY annoys me as well. I have a friend who is non Korean and she is always saying 'Really' *korean* when she is pissed and calling her guy friend 'oppa' even when there are of the same age!!! . So what when she took up basic korean class for a semester? I have been learning Korean for 2 years now and dont even speak a word like that. Few days ago when we're having dinner, two Korean women sat next to us and she said 'Korean people' *korean* I was like '????' and so? is that all you can say? so what if there are Koreans? Can you speak anything else?

aren't koreans a little sensitive?

it is funny that in korea they all try to practice english on any foreigner or person from america. it is obvious they are into American lifestyle and want to be American.

but i agree it is kind of stupid for these kids to try to be korean though. they don't know there are millions of koreans want to be in their place in america. korean dramas are just fantasy, even for most koreans.

i don't really hear it in person.

its kinda strange when i see two non-koreans speak it verbally to each other

if you don't like it then just tell her to stop calling you that
people like different things
idk

but sometimes it sound really annoying too
but we can't really do anything about it
rite?

---

yea I know people call like for an example, Sungmin from Super Junior and that girl would just call him 'oppa' like he doesn't even know her!!!!!

Yeah, it bugs me a bit, but thank goodness I don't have to hear it all the time. I have a cousin who is pretty much a Korean-wannabe, and she uses Korean terms all the time .

Hm, okay -I'll be honest.
I'm viet and I do use those terms.
Maybe a few times in a year -towards k-celebs on their birthdays.
But only those who are my absolute favourite singer/actress.
And there's only like...two or three of them.
On any other day, I just call them by their names.

I have to admit, when it's over-used by other ethnics, it's annoying.
I know a few friends who used to do that.
Sometimes they'll even call each 'unnie' or something and they're not even Korean.

Bleh. It's just a bit too much.
There's always a line, you know? But I always avoid it.

Using those terms are respectful but some people do use it VERY ANNOYINGLY.
There isn't anything wrong with using "오빠" or "언니" but i don't like it when people use "애교" with it.
Like "OPPAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

I kind of find it annoying, especially when they're just saying it to sound like they're Korean.
I know this girl who practically calls every Korean guy oppa

yea. it's kinda weird to hear non-Koreans saying it.
online sometimes i use 'unnie' to the Korean unnies just to be polite
but offline i never use it
even though i'm like surroubded by Koreans
that are like way older then me.

The term in general for me is getting really annoying because I hear it almost everywhere I go.

^That's different, some celebs get angry if you DON'T use it.

I'm not Korean, and I only use it when I'm joking with someone.
I used "oppa" when I made something for Big Bang, though xD

It annoys the heck out of me when girls try and act all cute with it and use high-pitched voices, Korean or not. Geesh...
I wish English had respectful terms. I just go with the Cambodian respectful terms ^^

lmfao. i never use those words
but the younger grades do that a lot..

i hate people who bag asians for being themselves with their normal 'aiyahs' and stuff, then they turn around and use the phrase >_>
i dont mind people using unne, hyung etc as long as rhey one overuse it and try to act cute

ahhh oppa!! nah dukbokki sajo!!!

Oh my goodness, yes! It may be harsh and I should probably just let it go because they're only showing an appreciation of the culture (either that or they're pathetic), but it really bothers me. I have friends who LOVE the Japanese culture, mainly because of anime *roll eyes*, and they eat pocky and try to pronounce "pocky" the way the Japanese do and try to pronounce "Godzilla" the way the Japanese do and even though I'm not Japanese (I'm Korean), it's just so awkward to hear.

Obviously, if they're genuinely interested, fine, whatever. But when they try WAY too hard and solely on the basis of watching anime... there's more to life than cartoons.