씨 vs 님: How to Address People by Name in Korean

Use 씨 after a name for peers or people junior to you, because outside formal or business settings it is hard to use with someone senior. 님 is the other common word after a name, and the sections below explain how the two differ. In English, adding "Mr." or "Ms." is a safe default. Korean has two common words that follow a name, 씨 [ssi] and 님 [nim], and they are not interchangeable. Use the wrong one and you can sound distant, or accidentally talk down to someone senior. The National Institute of Korean Language (NIKL) has explained both in its public Q&A, quoting the Standard Korean Dictionary. Here is what it says.

1. 씨: respectful, but not for seniors

According to the Standard Korean Dictionary, as NIKL quotes it, 씨 is used after an adult's surname, full name, or given name to address or refer to that person with respect or courtesy. The same entry carries an important limit: outside formal or business settings, or writing aimed at many readers, it is hard to use with someone senior to you, and it is generally used with peers or people junior to you.

In practice:

The dictionary entry allows all three patterns. For learners, the full name or given name with 씨 is the clearer choice, because it leaves no doubt about who you mean.

NIKL also adds that politeness is not fixed: it depends on the situation and the relationship between speakers. In July 2026 a reader asked whether calling a former colleague by surname + full name + 씨 on a work call was rude, after the colleague took offense. NIKL declined to call it right or wrong, and pointed back to the dictionary's description so people could judge for themselves.

2. 님: more respect than 씨

님 has two different uses, and NIKL distinguishes them carefully.

1. 님 after a name (a bound noun, written with a space). The Standard Korean Dictionary defines this 님 as a word used after a person's surname or name to refer to them with respect, and notes that it shows more respect than 씨. NIKL's examples:

• 길동 님
• 박철수 님, 들어오세요. "Mr. Park Cheol-su, please come in."

Because it is a separate word, it is written with a space: 김은지 님, 은지 님.

2. -님 after a title (a suffix, written without a space). Here -님 attaches to some nouns for positions or roles and adds respect: 사장님 (company president), 총장님 (university president). NIKL's answer on spacing is direct: titles like 질문자님 ("the person who asked") are written as one word, because -님 is a suffix there.

3. Where you will see each one

• Customer service and public offices. A NIKL guide quoted in one of these Q&As notes that public offices call visitors by name with ○○○ 님 or ○○○ 선생님, and that hospitals now often call patients ○○○ 님.
• Titles. Because -님 attaches to nouns for positions, any job title can carry it: 팀장님 (team leader), 부장님 (department head), 선생님 (teacher). Following the dictionary's note on 씨, a title + 님 is the respectful way to address a senior.

4. A simple decision guide

1. Do they have a title? Use the title + 님: 선생님, 사장님, 팀장님.
2. No title, and they are a customer, client, or stranger? Use their name + 님: 민지 님.
3. A peer or someone junior, in a polite setting? Name + 씨 is fine: 민지 씨.
4. Senior to you and no title? Avoid 씨, as the dictionary advises. Use 님, or ask what they would like to be called.

5. Don't use either for yourself

Both words show respect to someone else, so you never attach them to your own name. Introduce yourself plainly: 저는 민지예요 or 저는 김민지입니다, not 민지 씨예요.

6. Spacing cheat sheet

7. Key takeaways

• 씨 after a name shows respect, but the dictionary says it is hard to use with seniors outside formal settings.
• 님 after a name shows more respect than 씨 and is written with a space: 민지 님.
• -님 after a title is a suffix and attaches directly: 사장님, 선생님.
• Prefer full name or given name + 씨 over surname + 씨, and never use 씨 or 님 for yourself.
• When unsure, a title + 님 or name + 님 is the safer choice.