{{Short description|Korean word for a married or middle-aged woman}} {{About|the word|the film|Ajoomma (film)}} {{Wiktionary|1=아줌마|2=아주머니}} '''Ajumma''' ({{langx|ko|아줌마}}), sometimes spelled '''ahjumma''' or '''ajoomma''', is a Korean word for a married, or middle-aged woman. It comes from the Korean word ''ajumeoni'' ({{langx|ko|아주머니}}).<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ko:아주머니 |url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%EC%95%84%EC%A3%BC%EB%A8%B8%EB%8B%88 |website=Wiktionary |access-date=4 October 2023}}</ref> Although it is sometimes translated "aunt", it does not actually refer to a close family relationship. It is most often used to refer to a middle-aged or older woman since referring to an elder by name without a title in Korea is not socially acceptable.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Price |first1=Fiona Swee-Lin |title=Success with Asian Names: A Practical Guide for Business and Everyday Life |date=2007 |publisher=Nicholas Brealey |location=London |isbn=1857883780 |page=90}}</ref>
''''Ajumma'''' is a less polite term than ''''ajumeoni'''', which means the same thing but is more respectful.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20140211/60734193/1 |script-title=ko:기분 나쁜 "아줌마!" 대신 부드럽게 "아주머니" 해보세요 [Instead of Offensive "Ajumma!", Try "Ajumeoni"] |language=ko |publisher=Donga News |accessdate=2014-02-11}}</ref> In circumstances where the addressed person is not considerably older than the speaker, or is socially higher than the speaker, it is highly likely that the addressee will be offended when called ''ajumma''. Therefore it is better to use ''''ajumeoni'''', ''''eomonim'''' (a respectful term for someone else's mother), or ''''samonim''''.
== Discussion == An ''ajumma'' is neither a young unmarried woman (''agassi'') or grandmother (''halmoni''). Typically she would be a married woman with children, although not necessarily so. On the other hand, the Korean word '''samonim''' was originally interpreted as "wife of mentor" or "wife of superior"<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ko:사모님 |url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%EC%82%AC%EB%AA%A8%EB%8B%98 |website=Wiktionary |access-date=4 October 2023}}</ref> and describes a married woman of high social status.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yang |first1=Jin-Sung |title=Korean Way of Addressing People |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2008/04/162_11170.html |website=The Korea Times |access-date=4 October 2023}}</ref> The Lonely Planet guide to Seoul describes ''ajumma'' as a term of respect,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Robinson |first1=Martin |title=Seoul |date=2006 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=1740598466 |pages=181 |edition=5th}}</ref> but it can be used in a mildly pejorative sense as well.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ajumma Meaning – Definition of Ajumma 아줌마 In Korean |url=https://korealandscape.net/ajumma/ |website=Korealandscape |access-date=4 October 2023 |archive-date=30 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130234651/https://korealandscape.net/ajumma/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> An ''ajumma'' is often a restaurant worker, street vendor, or housewife.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Torchia |first1=Sang-Hun and Cristopher Choe |title=Looking for Mr, Kim in Seoul: A Guide to Korean Expressions |date=2006 |publisher=Infini Press |location=New York |isbn=1932457038 |page=55}}</ref>
However, when ''ajumma'' is used in the sense of "aunties", it does not refer to a family relationship, and aunts in the family are not called "''ajumma''" in the Korean language, instead being referred to as "''imo''" ({{Korean|hangul=이모|labels=no}}).<ref>{{cite web |title='''Ajumma''' no more: Housekeepers given new job title, 'house managers' |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230803000503 |website=The Korea Herald |access-date=4 October 2023}}</ref>
Korean feminists believe the low status of ''ajumma'' reflects widespread sexism and classism in Korean culture, particularly the idea that a woman's worth can be assessed mainly on the basis of her age, looks and docility. However, ''ajumma'' are Koreans' mothers, who despite their modest social status, ''ajumma'' are significant contributors to Korea's economy and society.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rowan |first1=Bernard |title=Ajumma--Engine for Korea's Social Progress |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2015/03/291_61092.html |website=The Korea Times |access-date=4 October 2023}}</ref>
==References==
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Category:Korean words and phrases Category:Women in Korea