A friend a few years older

Also common: Casual (banmal) (-아 / -어)

Why

You start in haeyo with an older friend. Once you're close, the older one often says “speak comfortably” (mal pyeonhage hae), and you switch to banmal. It's their call to make, not yours.

Say it like this

• 언니, 이거 먹어 볼래요?eonni, igeo meogeo bollaeyo? · Polite (haeyo-che)(to an older woman, from a woman) Want to try this?
• 형, 오늘 시간 돼요?hyeong, oneul sigan dwaeyo? · Polite (haeyo-che)(to an older man, from a man) Are you free today?
• 말 편하게 해.mal pyeonhage hae. · Casual (banmal)(the older friend) Talk to me casually.

Common mistake

Proposing banmal yourself to someone older. Let the older friend offer first.