Dictionary — Entry No. 0089
아빠
appa · noun
아빠
appa
[AH-ppa]
nounbeginner
Meaning
아빠 (appa) is the warm, informal Korean word for “dad” or “daddy” — the everyday term children and adults use when speaking directly to or about their father in a casual, affectionate way. Unlike the formal 아버지 (abeoji), 아빠 carries a tender, close-knit tone: the word you’d use at the breakfast table, in a late-night phone call, or in a tearful confession. It signals emotional closeness and the deep family bonds that sit at the heart of Korean culture.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
In the beloved drama Reply 1988 (응답하라 1988), the quietly sacrificial father-daughter relationship made 아빠 one of the most emotionally loaded words in K-Drama history — fans still cry rewatching those scenes decades later. K-Pop idols regularly bring audiences to tears by thanking their 아빠 mid-speech; BTS members have done exactly this at the Melon Music Awards and MAMA, turning a single syllable into a trending moment worldwide. On the variety show The Return of Superman (슈퍼맨이 돌아왔다), celebrity 아빠s raising their kids solo — including members of idol groups — reshaped how Korean pop culture portrays fatherhood as hands-on and deeply loving.
Example Sentences
아빠, 나 오늘 시험에서 100점 받았어!
Appa, na oneul siheomeseo baek jeom badasseo!
Dad, I got a perfect score on my test today! (the burst of pride you can’t wait to share)
우리 아빠는 항상 내 편이에요.
Uri appaneun hangsang nae pyeonieyo.
My dad is always on my side. (said with quiet, unshakeable gratitude)
아빠, 보고 싶어요.
Appa, bogo sipeoyo.
Dad, I miss you. (the line that ends a million tearful phone calls)
⚠️ Don’t use appa when…
- Referring to someone else’s father — use 아버지 (abeoji) or the even more respectful 아버님 (abeonim) to show proper courtesy.
- Meeting your partner’s parents for the first time — begin with 아버님 (abeonim) until they explicitly invite you to drop the formality.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Reply 1988 (응답하라 1988) — the scene where Deok-sun’s 아빠 silently gives up his own comfort so his children can have opportunities he never had is considered one of the most iconic “아빠” moments in all of Korean television.
- K-Pop: BTS — multiple members have thanked their 아빠 in emotional on-stage speeches at major award ceremonies, with RM and Jimin’s tearful words to their fathers becoming widely shared moments that moved both Korean and international fans (ARMY) deeply.
💡 Did You Know? The shift from 아버지 (abeoji) to 아빠 (appa) within a single conversation is a deliberate storytelling device in Korean dramas. A character who has always called their father 아버지 suddenly switching to 아빠 in an emotional moment signals a wall coming down — a return to childhood vulnerability and unconditional love. K-Drama writers use it like a cheat code for tears, and it almost always works.
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.