friend in korean
How to Say "Friend" in Korean (친구): What It Really Means
친구
chingu
Quick answer
The word for friend in Korean is 친구 (chingu), but it specifically refers to someone the same age — not just anyone you're close to.
Common forms
| Register | Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| standard | 친구 | chingu | Friend — strictly between people of the same age (same birth year) in traditional Korean usage. Using it for people of different ages is technically possible in casual speech but can sound slightly off to Koreans. |
| my friend | 내 친구 | nae chingu | 내 (nae) = my — the straightforward possessive for a same-age friend. 우리 친구 (uri chingu, our friend) also works in a group context. |
| best friend / very close friend | 절친 | jeolchin | Short for 절친한 친구 (jeolchinhan chingu, very close friend) — widely used slang for best friend. More emotionally charged than 친구 alone. |
| friend group / friends (plural) | 친구들 | chingudeul | 친구 + the plural marker 들 (deul) — used when talking about multiple friends. 친구들이랑 (with friends) is a very common phrase. |
How it changes by relationship
우리 친구 맞잖아!
Uri chingu matjanha!
talking to a same-age friend: We are friends, right? — asserting closeness or warmth between same-age peers. 맞잖아 (matjanha) is a rhetorical confirmation tag.
얘는 내 친구야.
Yaeneun nae chinguya.
introducing a same-age friend: This is my friend — 얘는 is a casual pronoun for 'this person (near me).' Natural in any casual introduction.
제 절친이에요.
Je jeolchinieyo.
best friend: My best friend — 절친 is widely understood slang. Using 절친 instead of 친구 signals a significantly deeper bond.
친한 선배예요.
Chinhan seonbaeyeyo.
older friend (awkward case): If they're older, Koreans say 선배 (sunbae, senior) or use a family-style title like 언니/오빠 — calling an older person your 친구 can feel presumptuous or even rude.
Examples
걔는 내 절친이야.
Gyaeneun nae jeolchiniya.
She's my best friend.
친구들이랑 밥 먹었어.
Chingudeulrang bap meogeosseo.
I ate with my friends.
우리 친구 하자!
Uri chingu haja!
Let's be friends!
Usage note
Korean friendship language is built around age hierarchy in a way that has no parallel in English. 친구 (chingu) strictly implies same-age (Korean age, same birth year) — it's not just about closeness. For someone a year or more older, Koreans naturally shift to an honorific title: 오빠, 언니, 선배, depending on context. This means the simple question 'how close are you two?' in English doesn't capture the right information — in Korean, you'd first need to know who is older. Understanding this prevents the common mistake of over-applying 친구 to people of different ages.
Mini quiz
What is the primary Korean phrase for "friend" here?
FAQ
Can 친구 mean a person of a different age?
Not traditionally — 친구 implies same age (same birth year) in Korean culture. For an older close friend, you'd use 선배 (sunbae), 언니, 오빠, or another appropriate title instead.
What is 절친?
절친 (jeolchin) is slang for best friend or extremely close friend — short for 절친한 친구. It signals a deeper, more trusted bond than just 친구.
How do I say 'let's be friends' in Korean?
친구 하자 (chingu haja) casually, or 친구 하실래요? (chingu hasilleyo?) politely — very direct and warm. You'll hear this in K-dramas when characters decide to drop formalities.
What's the difference between 친구 and 친한 친구?
친구 is just friend; 친한 친구 (chinhan chingu) means close friend, with 친하다 meaning to be close or intimate. 절친 is the slang shorthand for the same idea.
What do Koreans call a friend who is one year older?
In school/peer contexts: 선배 (sunbae, senior) or the gender-specific titles 오빠 (oppa, older brother figure) or 언니/누나 (unnie/noona, older sister figure). Outside school, first names or personal nicknames are common.
Is the Korean age system related to 친구?
Yes — whether two people are 친구 often comes down to Korean age (which can differ from international age). People born the same year are 친구 even if one celebrates their birthday months later.