접미사 (jeobmisa) is the Korean word for suffix. It is the opposite of a prefix. A suffix usually can’t stand as its own word. Examples of suffixes in English include “-ish” (as in “foolish”) and “-able” (as in “laughable”).
The suffixes listed below are not always consistent in their meaning - context is important when deciding what the ending of a word actually means.
Several suffixes are specifically used to indicate the job or role of a person.
Suffix |
Meaning |
Example |
-둥이 (doong-i) |
-er, person |
바람둥이 (baramdoong-i) – womanizer |
-인 (in) |
-ese (person/native from) |
한국인 (han-googin) – Korean |
-가 (ga) |
-ist, -er |
예술가 (yesoolga) – artist |
-주 (joo) |
owner |
건물주 (geonmooljoo) – building owner |
-장 (jang) |
head, chief |
팀장 (timjang) – team leader |
When talking about numbers and totals, a suffix may be used after the number.
Suffix |
Meaning |
Example |
-째 (jjae) |
-th (ordinal number) |
둘째 (dooljjae) – the second kid |
-짜리 (jjari) |
worth, amount of |
천 원짜리 (cheon wonjjari) – 1000 (amount of) won |
Occasionally, a suffix is used after both common and proper nouns that represent certain locations or structures.
Suffix |
Meaning |
Example |
-서 (seo) |
station, office |
경찰서 (gyeongchalseo) – police station |
-촌 (chon) |
town, area, camp |
어촌 (eochon) – fishing town |
-관 (gwan) |
place (of) |
영화관 (yeonghwagwan) – movie theater |
Suffix |
Meaning |
Example |
-법 (beob) |
law |
노동법 (nodongbeob) – labor laws |
-서 (seo) |
book |
교과서 (gyogwaseo) – textbook |
-형 (hyeong) |
type |
혈액형 (hyeoraeghyeong) - blood type |
-류 (lyoo/ryoo) |
type, category |
낙농류 (nagnongryoo) – dairy products |