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 in Korean culture 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 in traditional usage. |
| my friend | 내 친구 | nae chingu | 내 (nae) = my — straightforward possessive for talking about a friend. |
| close friend | 절친 | jeolchin | Short for 절친한 친구 (jeolchinhan chingu) — best friend or very close friend, slang. |
| friend group | 친구들 | chingudeul | 친구 + plural marker 들 (deul) — friends (plural). |
How it changes by relationship
우리 친구 맞잖아!
Uri chingu matjanha!
talking to a same-age friend: We are friends, right? — asserting closeness.
얘는 내 친구야.
Yaeneun nae chinguya.
introducing a same-age friend: This is my friend — 얘는 is a casual pronoun for 'this person.'
제 절친이에요.
Je jeolchinieyo.
close / best friend: My best friend — 절친 is casual slang, widely understood.
친한 선배예요.
Chinhan seonbaeyeyo.
older friend (awkward case): If they're older, Koreans say 선배 (sunbae, senior) or 언니/오빠 — not 친구, which implies same age.
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
In Korean, calling someone your 친구 (chingu) implies you're the same age — Koreans generally don't use 친구 for people older or younger than them, even if they're close. For an older friend, they'll use an honorific title like 언니, 오빠, or 선배 instead.
Mini quiz
What is the primary Korean phrase for "friend" here?
FAQ
Can 친구 mean a person of a different age?
Technically you can say 친한 형 (chinhan hyung, close older brother) or 친한 언니, but the word 친구 itself typically implies same-age peers in Korean culture.
What is 절친?
절친 (jeolchin) is slang for best friend or extremely close friend — short for 절친한 친구.
How do I say 'let's be friends'?
친구 하자 (chingu haja) or 친구 하실래요? (chingu hasilleyo?) politely — very direct and warm.