What Does 아저씨 (Ajusshi) Mean in Korean?
10-Second Answer
아저씨 (ajusshi) means a middle-aged man — roughly "mister." It's the standard way to refer to or address adult men you have no personal relationship with: taxi drivers, shopkeepers, repairmen. It's less loaded than 아줌마, but it still marks the man as older and as a stranger — so context matters.
Quick Examples
아저씨, 시청까지 가 주세요.
ajeossi, sicheong-kkaji ga juseyo.
Mister (driver), please take me to City Hall.
Classic taxi usage — completely normal.
옆집 아저씨는 친절해요.
yeopjip ajeossi-neun chinjeolhaeyo.
The man next door is kind.
저 아저씨 아니거든요?!
jeo ajeossi anigeodeunyo?!
Excuse me, I'm not an ajusshi!
A young man's joking protest at being called old.
When 아저씨 Is Fine — and When It Isn't
| Situation | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Taxi driver, repairman, street vendor | Fine — conventional |
| A man in his 20s–30s | Risky — he may not enjoy being aged up |
| A shop owner you want to flatter | 사장님 (boss) works better |
| Someone you're close to | Wrong — closeness upgrades him to 형/오빠 or a name/title |
K-drama fans may remember the film and drama titles using 아저씨 (the 2010 film was exported as "The Man from Nowhere") — the word carries a slightly distant, anonymous flavor: a grown man you don't really know.
The polite fuller form for a middle-aged man in formal speech is 아저씨 → (more politely) calling by role: 기사님 for drivers, 사장님 for owners, 선생님 for someone you respect. Role titles are the real politeness system for strangers in Korea.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Calling a young man 아저씨
Like 아줌마 for women, it ages the listener. Young men joke-protest, but it can genuinely land badly. 저기요 is the neutral call.
Mistake #2 — Using 아저씨 for someone you know
Once there's a relationship, Koreans switch to a name, a role title (기사님, 사장님), or a kinship word. Staying with 아저씨 keeps the person at stranger distance.
Mini Quiz
1. Which situation is the most natural use of 아저씨?
2. You want to flatter the middle-aged man who owns the shop. What do you call him?
3. What is the female counterpart of 아저씨?
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
The female counterpart — same logic, but with sharper sensitivities worth knowing before you use it.
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Start today's study →Last updated: 2026-08-10 · Written and reviewed by a native Korean speaker.