In Korean slang, the number 18 has taken on some unique meanings that are often confusing for non-Korean speakers. 18 is pronounced as “ship-pal” in Korean and has become shorthand for a few different slang terms and cultural concepts.
What Does “Ship-Pal” Literally Mean in Korean?
The term “ship-pal” directly translates to the number 18 in Korean. The syllables break down as:
- Ship – 10
- Pal – 8
When put together, these syllables form the number 18. The term does not have any particular significance by itself and is only used to directly denote the number 18.
Ship-Pal as Slang for Male Genitalia
In modern Korean slang, the term “ship-pal” has taken on an additional slang meaning to refer to male genitalia. This slang usage is considered vulgar and mostly used in impolite contexts.
The reasoning behind this slang term is unclear, but there are a few theories behind its origins:
- The numbers 1 and 8 together resemble the shape of male genitalia
- “Ship” rhymes with the Korean word for penis
- The numbers 1 and 8 look like an exaggerated drawing of male genitalia
Regardless of how the terminology came about, using “ship-pal” to refer to male genitals is considered rude and vulgar. It is commonly used in crude jokes or insults, but not appropriate to use publicly. The slang meaning often causes embarrassment or confusion when used unintentionally.
Ship-Pal as the “Legal” Adult Age
In addition to its vulgar slang usage, “ship-pal” has also come to signify the age of 18 more broadly. This is because 18 is considered the legal age for adulthood in South Korea.
Some key ages of adulthood that coincide with 18 in Korean law include:
- The legal age to vote
- The legal age to purchase and consume alcohol
- The age of consent for sexual activity
- The age that one can legally enter binding contracts and agreements
So the term “ship-pal” is often used to signify that one has reached the age to be considered a legal adult and take on adult responsibilities. Saying someone “became ship-pal” indicates they came of age and became 18.
Ship-Pal Used to Show Maturity
Beyond just legal definitions, Koreans associate the age 18 with maturity and coming of age. Using “ship-pal” can signify that one has moved past childhood and into adulthood.
Some contexts where you may hear 18 used to represent maturity include:
- “I feel like I finally became an adult when I turned ship-pal.”
- “Don’t treat me like a child, I’m already ship-pal!”
- “Now that you’re ship-pal, it’s time to act responsibly.”
So while 18 is not any sort of official milestone, it takes on cultural significance for Koreans transitioning from adolescent to adult. Describing someone as “ship-pal” can be a shorthand way to indicate they have become a mature individual.
Ship-Pal Used for Voting & Drinking Age
As mentioned earlier, 18 is the legal voting and drinking age in South Korea. As a result, the term “ship-pal” gets used specifically in reference to being able to vote and drink alcohol legally.
Some examples include:
- “Once you’re ship-pal, we’ll go out drinking together.”
- “Make sure to go vote this year now that you’re finally ship-pal.”
- “Can I see your ID? I need to check you’re ship-pal before I can serve you alcohol.”
Contexts where legal age verification is required will often use the “ship-pal” term rather than just saying the number 18. It has become the common slang for indicating you have reached voting and drinking age.
Ship-Pal Used for Other Milestones
While voting, drinking, and coming of age are the most common associations, “ship-pal” can also be used to indicate hitting other milestones around 18.
For example, some other ways the term is used include:
- “I can finally get my full driver’s license now that I’m ship-pal!”
- “Once you graduate high school and are ship-pal, it’s time to start planning your career.”
- “Now that I’m ship-pal, my parents said I need to start paying for my own phone bill.”
So in general, “ship-pal” can be used as a benchmark to signify coming of age and being old enough to do new things.
Ship-Pal to Reference High School Seniors
In Korea, 17-18 years old corresponds to 12th grade, or the final year of high school. As a result, ship-pal is often used to refer to high school seniors who are approaching this age.
For example:
- “There’s a big party for all the ship-pal students once final exams are over.”
- “She’s a senior this year, so she’ll graduate once she’s ship-pal.”
- “Make sure you enjoy your final year before you’re ship-pal and have to start preparing for college.”
It is a common slang term used on high school campuses when referring to the senior class who will soon be graduating and moving on to adulthood.
College Freshmen Called “19ers”
Building off this slang for high school seniors, college freshmen are similarly referred to as “19ers” using the Korean word for the number 19 (“ah-hope”). This comes from freshmen entering college at age 18-19 in Korea.
How is Ship-Pal Used in Conversation?
In daily conversation, “ship-pal” can be used in several ways when referring to one’s age or coming of age:
- “I’m ship-pal already so I’m considered an adult now.”
- “She’s still 17, but will become ship-pal soon.”
- “Did you hear Jimin is ship-pal now? Let’s invite her to go drinking.”
- “We can see that movie since we’re both ship-pal already.”
It’s a flexible slang term that can both denote one’s current age or reference a future milestone that’s approaching. Young Koreans look forward to becoming ship-pal as an exciting rite of passage.
Is Ship-Pal Only Used for Age 18?
Ship-pal is most strongly associated with the age 18 and coming of age. However, it’s not uncommon for people to use the “pal” syllable to denote other ages ending in 8 as well.
For example:
- 38 – “seh-pal”
- 28 – “ee-pal”
- 48 – “mah-pal”
However, this is less systematic and only used occasionally. The main slang usage and cultural significance is specifically for 18/ship-pal.
Why is the Slang So Significant in Korea?
There are a few reasons why “ship-pal” as slang for 18 and coming of age is so widely used and culturally significant in Korea:
- Legal adulthood – Gaining legal rights at 18 makes it a major milestone
- High academic pressure – Transition from intensive education system to university is significant shift
- Mandatory military service – All men must enlist by age 28, so 18 is milestone before this obligation
- Drinking culture – Drinking age coincides with adulthood, frequent drinking rituals
- Confucian tradition – Heavy focus on filial piety and familial roles that shift at adulthood
In combination, these factors make the transition to 18 uniquely important in Korean society. Ship-pal is tied to so many social expectations and transitions to adulthood.
Does Ship-Pal Have Any Other Related Slang?
There are a few other slang terms derived from ship-pal and its associations with coming of age in Korea:
- Ship-pal day – One’s 18th birthday
- Pre-ship-pal – A 17 year old who has not yet turned 18
- Post-ship-pal – An adult past age 18
- Ship-pal party – A birthday party celebrating one turning 18
These related slang terms emphasize that the transition to becoming ship-pal is seen as a distinct before and after with major cultural significance and celebration.
Considerations for Using Ship-Pal
When using the term “ship-pal,” it’s important to keep in mind:
- Use caution before saying it directly to Korean teens, as not all consider themselves mature adults at 18.
- Avoid using the vulgar slang meaning in polite company.
- Recognize it signifies more than just a simple age – there are cultural connotations of maturity and social standing.
- Clarify if you mean exact age 18 or just coming of age more broadly.
- Remember it mainly applies to high school seniors, not all older adolescents.
With an appreciation for its cultural nuances, ship-pal can be used appropriately to discuss maturity and adulthood in Korean age-based hierarchy.
Examples of Using Ship-Pal in Korean Sentences
To help understand the use of ship-pal in Korean, here are some examples of sentences using the slang term:
- 한국에는 18살이 되는 나이가 큰 의미가 있지. (In Korea, turning 18 is a big milestone.)
- 내 동생은 내년에 습팔이 된다. (My younger sibling will become ship-pal next year.)
- 야, 우리 습팔이 다 된 것 같은데 술 마시러 가지 않을래? (Hey, looks like we’re all ship-pal now, wanna go out drinking?)
- 대학생이 되면 습팔이 되는 것이 보통이지. (It’s common to be ship-pal when you start university.)
Conclusion
In Korean culture, the age 18 takes on unique significance as the age of maturity and adulthood. The slang term “ship-pal” has emerged to specifically signify turning 18 and the social expectations around coming of age. Beyond just an age, it represents a shift to legal adulthood and newfound responsibilities.
While the vulgar slang usage should be avoided, the term ship-pal itself allows efficient communication about this culturally important milestone. With awareness of its nuances, the slang term ship-pal allows unique insight into Korean culture surrounding adulthood.