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sunbae
What does sunbae mean?
A person senior to you in experience within a field, such as an idol who debuted earlier. Juniors show them deference and respect.
"The rookies bowed deeply to their sunbae backstage."
Origin
Korean 선배 (sunbae), 'senior'.
Frequently asked questions
What does sunbae mean?
It refers to someone senior to you in experience within a field, such as an idol who debuted before you, and is treated with deference.
How is sunbae different from hoobae?
A sunbae is your senior in a field, while a hoobae is your junior; they're direct counterparts in the seniority hierarchy.
Where does 'sunbae' come from?
It comes from the Korean word 선배 (sunbae), meaning 'senior,' and is also romanized 'seonbae.'
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