This guide will provide you with all of the necessary information on the word oppa, including its definition and translation, origin, examples, and more!
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Kevin
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September 1, 2021
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What does the word oppa mean?
According to 90 Day Korean and Linguaholic, the word oppa means older brother. This word is used frequently in k-dramas (Korean dramas) as well as in normal Korean life. This word is used by females to refer to older males. While this can be used to refer to a female’s older brother, it can also indicate an older male friend, love interest or romantic interest. In Korean, the word oppa is written as 오빠. Some people mistakenly think the definition of oppa is daddy but this is not the case.
In Korea and Korean culture, oppa can be used to refer to someone’s own brother or their older boyfriend. There are a couple of related words that relate to age and gender, including hyung (형) or hyeong which also means older brother. However, this is used when men are talking to older males. Another word, noona (누나), is used to mean older sister. This is used by males speaking to older females. Unnie (언니) also means older sister and is used by younger females to address an older woman in the Korean language. A girl calls her older sister unnie. Dongsaeng is what the older person calls the younger person, regardless of gender. Sunbae (선배 or senior) is gender neutral to call an older male. Korean girls and Korean guys call each other honorifics just like the English word boss, bro, or other terms of endearment. Unique individuals use honorific titles out of respect, whether that is a young woman addressing Korean men, or someone she has a close relationship with like an older male cousin, colleague, or younger brothers.
For these terms, and older person who was born in an earlier year of birth to you. If someone is only a few months older than you and born in the same year, they are not oppa and you would not use the honorific form of oppa orabeoni (오라버니) or orabeonim (오라버님). There must be year differences – in Korean ages, the birth year is very important. If someone was born in December 2000 and someone else was bork in January 2001, she can call him oppa. This different word is used based on the superiority of the person. This used to be a family term, but now the usage is such that someone can call a guy oppa who is a stranger in a flirtatious way. Someone who is oppa has higher status.
What are the lyrics to the song “Oppa Gangnam Style”?
From K-International, below are the English translation lyrics to the song Oppa Gangnam Style by PSY.
Oppa is Gangnam style
Gangnam style
A girl who is warm and humanly during the day
A classy girl who know how to enjoy the freedom of a cup of coffee
A girl whose heart gets hotter when night comes
A girl with that kind of twist
I’m a guy
A guy who is as warm as you during the day
A guy who one-shots his coffee before it even cools down
A guy whose heart bursts when night comes
That kind of guy
Beautiful, loveable
Yes you, hey, yes you, hey
Beautiful, loveable
Yes you, hey, yes you, hey
Now let’s go until the end
Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style
Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style
Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh
A girl who looks quiet but plays when she plays
A girl who puts her hair down when the right time comes
A girl who covers herself but is more sexy than a girl who bares it all
A sensible girl like that
I’m a guy
A guy who seems calm but plays when he plays
A guy who goes completely crazy when the right time comes
A guy who has bulging ideas rather than muscles
That kind of guy
Beautiful, loveable
Yes you, hey, yes you, hey
Beautiful, loveable
Yes you, hey, yes you, hey
Now let’s go until the end
Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style
Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style
Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh
On top of the running man is the flying man, baby baby
I’m a man who knows a thing or two
On top of the running man is the flying man, baby baby
I’m a man who knows a thing or two
You know what I’m saying
Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh
Below are the lyrics in Korean from Genius.
Oppa Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style
Najelu dasun ono igajagi yoja
Kopi hanjanui yeoyureul aneun pumgyeok inneun yeoja
Bami om ya shimjangi bdeugeowojineun yeoja
Geureon banjeon inneun yeoja
Naneun zono hai
Najeneun loma kuftasano oncho zono hao
Keopi sikgido jeone woyshyat ttaerineun zono hai
Bami omyeon shimjangi oeojyeobeorineun zono hai
Oncho zono hai
Areumdawo sarangseureowo
Geurae neo hey geurae baro neo hey
Areumdawo sarangseureowo
Geurae neo hey geurae baro neo hey
Jigeumbuteo gal dekkaji gabolkka
Oppa Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Eh-eh-eh, eh-eh-eh
Jeongsukhae boijiman nol ttaen noneun yeoja
Ittaeda sipeumyeon mukkeotdeon meori puneun yeoja
Garyeotjiman wenmanhan nochulboda yahan yeoja
Geureon gamgakjeogin yeoja
Naneun sanai
Jeomjanha boijiman nol ttaen noneun sanai
Ttaega doemyeon wanjeon michyeobeorineun sanai
Geunyukboda sasangi ultungbultunghan sanai
Geureon sanai
Areumdawo sarangseureowo
Geurae neo, hey, geurae baro neo, hey
Areumdawo sarangseureowo
Geurae neo, hey, geurae baro neo, hey
Jigeumbuteo gal dekkaji gabolkka
Oppa Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Eh-eh-eh, eh-eh-eh
Ttwineun nom geu wie naneun nom
Baby, baby
Naneun mwol jom aneun nom
Ttwineun nom geu wie naneun nom
Baby, baby
Naneun mwol jom aneun nom
You know what I’m saying
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh-eh-eh, eh-eh-eh
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Eh-eh-eh, eh-eh-eh
Oppa Gangnam Style
Overall, the word oppa means older brother. This word is Korean in origin.
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