[leejunkified]

I�m not Korean... the only times I�ve used "oppa" or "unnie" was when I was in Seoul and was trying to get the waiter/waitress attention (or the DJs). You do need to call them something to get their attention after all, don�t you? I also used "Here!" for attention, but really, I suppose the context is different than using it outside of Korea because there everyone�s so used to it that it just doesn�t matter. Also, saying "oppa" and then everything else in English or a language other than Korean is a bit weird than just saying the whole thing in Korean. I do find it a bit annoying at times when people call artists "oppa" and then everything else is in English at times, just like I think that saying "oh, you�re so kawaii" is a bit stupid. I am guilty of doing this with my friends, but they do know it�s for humor purposes XD
It depends on the person really. I don�t like it when people are trying to use it be be smart or show others how much they know about Korean culture or whatever (and I�m not saying I know a lot, because I do not). Showing off is not something I appreciate.

[Nathalie]

I think its totally werid for girls calling "oppa" to anyone who she doesn't know like a celeb..or something. Its okay sometimes I guess cause I go wild a times.
"Oppa" should be used within a person you are close to and a someone older blood realated.

[mizer_unmei]

This is kind of off topic, but because I was reminded of this by the thread I don't think it's too far off topic.

I was wondering, is agashi the female equivalent of ajusshi? In "My Sassy Girl" there was one time the main character was calling the girl agasshi (trying to pick her up), and then she got [really] offended by it. But I'm not sure if it's the connotation of word or just the way he was saying it.

Also because there's this Lee Mi Ja song called "Balgan Kudu Agasshi." (Red Shoes Lady) But depending on the way "agasshi" can be taken, the image one can bring up of the red shoes and the sound of the overall song could be hinting at a prostitute or something. (Which would make the song even more interesting. And give some cool depth to 60s Korea. :D)

[Sweevil]

A girl at school called me unnie once.
It was strange...
because I barely knew her,
and I'm not Korean!
Guys probably don't mind if the girl's cute.

[baoi]

^ yeah i bet they wouldn't mind.. i feel like if i was a guy, and some girl called me oppa, i'd feel young and loved, but the wide use of it is deteriorating the meaning.

WHen i first heard it, a long time ago in the dramas, it meant more than there mere oppa these days.



I know a lot of Korean girls, and they use the word "oppa" like i use the F word, I swear!!
At school, or at Starbucks, i'd hear them girls saying "oppa, oppa, Oppa!!!" SOmetimes,
that's all i hear out of their mouths..

[vc1188]

As a non-Korean, I never thought it was weird, because I assumed it was a very loosely defined word.

But my gripe with this word is that I can't even look at it without hearing a whiney girl's voice saying it in my head! like.... "oooopppaaaaaaaaa!" ugh haha

[PiffleSprite]

when i think of the term oppa, i think of the kmovie, 'my wife is a gangster'
lol.. the part where the cute/annoying girl is trying to teach the main girl how to be 'girly, cute and sexy'
and she teaches her how to shake her boobs and say ooooooppppaaaa *in a whiny tone*

[XlYesterdaYlX]

i think calling someone oppa in general that isn't their actual brother is weird. As far as i know chinese do the same. like "name here" gaw gaw. I've never caught on with the trend i guess haha.

[addicted2kdrama]

^ yeah i bet they wouldn't mind.. i feel like if i was a guy, and some girl called me oppa, i'd feel young and loved, but the wide use of it is deteriorating the meaning.

WHen i first heard it, a long time ago in the dramas, it meant more than there mere oppa these days.



I know a lot of Korean girls, and they use the word "oppa" like i use the F word, I swear!!
At school, or at Starbucks, i'd hear them girls saying "oppa, oppa, Oppa!!!" SOmetimes,
that's all i hear out of their mouths..

I do mind... This girl that's 3 years younger than me keeps calling me Oppa and it's like dude, get away from me. It's cute the first couple of times but after that it gets annoying.

[erure]

Well, I wouldn't like seeing someone call a stranger "oppa" or "unnie" or whatever but I don't really care when I see it on the internet. I'd rather see a girl say SE7EN oppa compared to SE7EN nim or SE7EN shi - that's just weird =,.= And it may annoy you when you see girls call older friends oppa but that's pretty standard in Korean culture nowadays so it's not really something to be bugged out about.

[klx13]

I'm Korean and the only people I ever call "oppa" are my older male cousins and family friends. That's it. Calling anyone else oppa is just weird to me personally. But if you're in Korea, or around Korean people (straight from Korea) then it's the polite/expected thing to do. Calling a celebrity "oppa" might be kinda weird, but I suppose it's kind of like a sign of respect if they are older than you.

[beckii]

i just get annoyed when the girls arent korean, and they call guys older than them 'oppa'...seriously.wtf.

[uKnow__Love]

oh god.. the word "oppa".. words cannot express my biased hatred for girls who tend to use this word compusively.

when i was in high school i knew this girl (who's name will remain anonymous), she's CHINESE, not even korean, and she would literally go around screaming OPPA at literally every korean guy she'd meet/attempt to flirt with but obviously get denied... SO IRRITATING.

the issue really isn't whether or not the user of the word is korean or not... i have a close korean friend who calls me unni all the time and i'm not korean, but it's cool cus we're so close that she doesn't care. but if you don't even really know the person.. and are just using it to 'flirt' or whatever, ugh i can't stand seeing it ..

[ekwenndy]

erm okay hating the word? isn't that like hating a random word? i mean you can't get angry at "banana" can you?
just chill. [:

[TAEJUN]

If the girl isn't Korean, but I know her for a long time and given permission for her to call me 'Oppa' than I won't say anything.
But if a random non-korean comes up and she goes OPPA this or OPPA that.... That's just please stoppped!

Overall, I won't let anyone I don't know call me Oppa unless its approved by me.
the only one that calls me oppa is my little cousins (i don't have too many...) and cin.

[Yubumsuk]

It's much more fun to call a woman who looks about the same age or perhaps slightly younger than you 'nunaaa', giving her the impression that you assumed she must look older.

[DarkCatalest]

I think its more annoying when people overuse of the word, like using it 2 or 3 times in once sentence. I don't think there is nothing wrong with foreigners, such as myself, using the word "oppa" as long as hey use it delicately or only when necessary. Also there some people who are just getting into learning the Korean language and haven't exactly learned how to properly use it, or they are trying to get use to saying that term correctly. For example, I take words like "kawaii", started using it in English sentences, and then building my vocabulary until I am using more Japanese words then English when I speak. Yes, I admit I have been guilty myself with using one or two foreign words in an english sentence, but that was my own personal educational purposes and I know that not everyone thinks like I do.

Anyway before I get too off topic, I think its one of those things that people should grin and bear it while also trying to explain and help others understand the correct usage so they won't fumble around the language so much.

[celest1al]

I agree that it's annoying. I hate it when people demand me to call them that.
I also hate it when people call me unnie or nuna. It's weird.

[Shine]

I call my older korean guy friends 'oppa', with their consent of course.
I understand that you have to call guys 7 years older and above (your age) ajushi? they prefer 'oppa' anyway.

I think you can call someone 'oppa' if your close (if the person really knows you and vice versa), same goes with unnie.
I understand its a little awkward for a non-korean to use it though. I have one korean guy friend who still chuckles whenever I call him 'oppa'. fine. I call him by his name.

I'm irritated whenever girls use 'oppa' to flirt.
it's so overrated. -______-

[Afrosiyob]

When I first heard this word, I thought it means "darling" or something

Anyways, it is best if you don't let yourself get annoyed by it. Just for the sake of the precious brain cells that may die.

Let them call what they want, it is not harmful. Actually, it is about a warm relationship with someone. If they have right to say it or not, just let them decide. It is what I think.

V