Discussion Question Concerning Names

In the Asian language (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.,) when younger people address older males as "uncle" is there a different word or symbol used when addressing your biological uncle? Also for the other titles they call each other, aunt, big-brother etc.

If not, how do you figure out if the girl flirting with the guy, but is still calling him "brother" is a love interest or a sibling?

 

No,
Context

 

I honestly don't know

I would be able to tell.

but first of all, during chinese new year, when visiting relatives and when relatives visited, I didnt know how to call them, so I just waved and said hi

if I see a relative remotely familiar, I call them 叔叔 or 姑姑, 舅舅，姨姨etc

 

Yeah you call it different with Uncle from Paternal (father's family) and Maternal (mother's family) side

 

@Cynge42 This was posted in another thread and might be helpful to you.

 

Better to watch it in the form of a video instead~
XD

It's so complicated I just simplify everything to Uncle and Auntie XD

 

Good idea it'd be much easier for sure.

 

When you see them secretly making out or sending each other furtive glances during the clan meeting.

 

Just to make it clear, in real life, no one will flirt with you by calling you oni-san. No one. It's pretty common in anime and stuff but if you're a woman and you call some guy "oni-san" he's gonna think that you are mentally disabled, probably. You only use it for real brothers.

 

shopkeepers may do that

 

I originally thought so, but it happened so often in light novels of girls calling boys they like big brother I started to question it.

Now I'm wondering if it was an Ancient society thing to do?

 

Thanks all for your help!

 

Everything is based on the intent and way it is said. You can call mid 20’s dude an old guy or a “middle age guy” as means to insult someone.

 

None. The girl's real brother and a guy who's older are both called the same thing in Asian languages from base of the Korean peninsular all the way to Indonesia. You just need to know the context. And if you're not sure, you may ask if they're their real brother or if it's just polite speech. In some cases, it's not even polite speech but of a sarcasm.