Korean · People & Family
"Friend" in Korean: 친구
친구chingu
Friend in Korean is 친구 (chingu). 친구 is not gendered; 남자 친구 and 여자 친구 can mean boyfriend and girlfriend in context.
A simple sentence
제 친구예요.je chinguyeyo.
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How to pronounce 친구
Say it
chin-goo
/tɕʰin.ɡu/
친구 begins with an aspirated ch-like sound. Keep gu short, with a u vowel rather than an English go vowel.
"Friend" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 친구chingu | friend A friend, often a peer. | A friend, often a peer. |
| 친한 친구chinhan chingu | close friend 친한 describes a close relationship. | 친한 describes a close relationship. |
| 남자 친구namja chingu | boyfriend / male friend Meaning depends on context. | Meaning depends on context. |
How to use 친구 in real life
- 1A simple sentence
제 친구예요.
je chinguyeyo.
This is my friend.
After a vowel, the polite identifying ending is 예요.
- 2An everyday situation
친구와 커피를 마셔요.
chinguwa keopireul masyeoyo.
I drink coffee with a friend.
와 follows the vowel-ending 친구.
- 3A useful question
친구가 여기 있어요?
chinguga yeogi isseoyo?
Is your friend here?
가 marks the noun as subject.
Mistakes English speakers make with 친구
Incorrect: 친구과 커피를 마셔요.
Correct: 친구와 커피를 마셔요.
Use 와 after the vowel at the end of 친구.
Incorrect: 친구이예요.
Correct: 친구예요.
The polite copula after a vowel is 예요, not 이예요.
Good to know
Age and social relationship shape how friends address each other. 친구 often suggests a peer; with older acquaintances, titles or kinship-style address can be more natural.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Introduce a friend
Partner
이분은 누구예요?
ibuneun nuguyeyo?
Who is this person?
You
제 친구예요.
je chinguyeyo.
This is my friend.
Partner
친구분도 한국어를 배워요?
chingubundo hangugeoreul baewoyo?
Is your friend learning Korean too?
You
네, 같이 공부해요.
ne, gachi gongbuhaeyo.
Yes, we study together.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Friend" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Friend" in Korean
Is chingu masculine or feminine?
친구 has no grammatical gender and can refer to a friend of any gender.
Does namja chingu always mean boyfriend?
It often means boyfriend, but can refer to a male friend if the context makes that clear.
How do I say close friend?
친한 친구, chinhan chingu, means a close friend.
Why is it chinguwa rather than chingugwa?
친구 ends in a vowel, so it takes 와 for with; a consonant-final noun takes 과.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
