Korean Relationship Phrases

Friends and your circle

친구 means 'friend' — but classically a friend your own age. Everyone older or younger gets a different label, which is half the fun of Korean social life.

1. 1 친구 chingu — Friend
2. 2 절친 jeolchin — Best friend
3. 3 동료 dongnyo — Coworker
4. 4 이웃 iut — Neighbor
5. 5 친구가 많아요. chinguga manayo — I have many friends

Dating and partners

남자친구 and 여자친구 mean strictly romantic partners — a platonic male friend needs the longer 남자 사람 친구, a distinction K-dramas mine endlessly.

1. 6 남자친구 namjachingu — Boyfriend

   In texts Koreans shorten these: 남친 (boyfriend), 여친 (girlfriend).

2. 7 여자친구 yeojachingu — Girlfriend
3. 8 약혼자 yakonja — Fiancé
4. 9 저는 싱글이에요. jeoneun singgeurieyo — I'm single
5. 10 남자친구가 있어요. namjachinguga isseoyo — I have a boyfriend

Saying how you feel

From liking to loving to missing someone — the three verbs every K-drama runs on, plus the confessions built from them.

1. 11 좋아하다 joahada — To like
2. 12 사랑하다 saranghada — To love
3. 13 그리워하다 geuriwohada — To miss someone
4. 14 그 사람을 좋아해요. geu sarameul joahaeyo — I like that person
5. 15 나는 너를 사랑해. naneun neoreul saranghae — I love you

   Casual 반말 — for someone you're truly close to.

In real life: catching up with an old friend