Dictionary — Entry No. 0863
아이
ai · noun
아이
ai
[ah-EE]
nounbeginner
Meaning
Means ‘child’ or ‘kid.’ Can refer to a male or female child up to early teens. Informal; formal option is ‘아이’ (children in general) or ‘자식’ (offspring).
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Frequently in K-drama titles: ‘My Love from the Star’ features child flashbacks. Stray Kids’ group name plays on ‘kids’ in their trainee concept.
Example Sentences
저 아이는 정말 예뻐.
jeo aineun jeongmal yeppeo.
That child is really pretty. (observation about youth)
우리 아이가 학교에 가요.
uri aiga hakgyoe gayo.
Our child goes to school. (parental context)
이 아이한테 물어봤어.
i aihante mura-bwasseo.
I asked that kid. (casual conversation)
⚠️ Don’t use ai when…
아이 is informal/casual; use 자녀 in formal contexts; age: typically 0-10 years; calling teenagers ‘아이’ may be considered patronizing
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: My Love from the Star — childhood aides pivotal emotional backstory
- K-Pop: Stray Kids — group name emphasizes ‘kids’ transitioning to adulthood in their narrative
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.