Key Facts
- Korean: 남자 친구, Revised Romanization namja chingu
- Part of speech: noun; origin: Sino-Korean
- Hanja: 男子親舊 (男 male + 子 child/person + 親 close + 舊 old)
- Register: Neutral everyday word; often shortened to 남친 in casual speech.
- Theme page: relationship vocabulary
Boyfriend in Korean: What 남자 친구 Means and When to Use It
남자 친구 has one sense, boyfriend: a male romantic partner. It is neutral, so it works in polite and casual speech alike, and friends often shorten it to 남친. It is two words, so the standard spelling has a space, 남자 친구; the closed form 남자친구 is common online, and both spellings mean boyfriend.
How to Pronounce 남자 친구
The Revised Romanization is namja chingu, and the phrase has four syllables, said as one unit: nam-ja chin-gu. The ㅊ of chin is aspirated, with a clear puff of air.
Examples with 남자 친구
저는 남자 친구가 있어요.
jeoneun namja chinguga isseoyo.
I have a boyfriend.
A simple statement. 있어요 expresses having, and 남자 친구가 is the subject.
남자 친구를 소개할게요.
namja chingureul sogaehalgeyo.
I will introduce my boyfriend.
An introduction. The ending 할게요 states a decision to do something, here introduce, and the object marker follows 남자 친구.
남자 친구와 영화를 봐요.
namja chinguwa yeonghwareul bwayo.
I watch a movie with my boyfriend.
A shared activity. 와 means 'with' after a noun that ends in a vowel, and 영화를 봐요 means watch a movie.
Collocations with 남자 친구
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 남자 친구가 생기다 | to get a boyfriend |
| 남자 친구와 헤어지다 | to break up with one's boyfriend |
| 남자 친구를 사귀다 | to date a boyfriend |
Relationship events use set verbs: 남자 친구가 생기다 (get a boyfriend), 남자 친구를 사귀다 (date) and 남자 친구와 헤어지다 (break up).
Origin and Background
In hanja the word is 男子親舊: 男 (male), 子 (child, person), 親 (close) and 舊 (old). The last two together give the idea of 'old, close friend', which is how the word 친구 itself is built.
A Common Mistake with 남자 친구
Mistake: translating 남자 친구 word by word as "male friend" and using it for any man you are friends with.
Right: 남자 친구 (often written 남자친구 online) means boyfriend. For a male friend who is not a partner, just say 친구; the jokey 남자 사람 친구 ("male-person friend") makes the point explicit.
남자 친구 Compared with 친구
Two words contrast with 남자 친구: 친구, any friend, and 애인, a gender-neutral romantic partner.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 남자 친구 | boyfriend | The word this page covers. |
| 친구 | friend | 친구 is any friend; 남자 친구 is romantic. |
| 애인 | lover/partner | 애인 is gender-neutral for a romantic partner. |
If you would rather not name a gender, 애인 works for a romantic partner of any gender. Plain 친구 on its own does not suggest romance.
Quick Recall for 남자 친구
- I have a boyfriend. (저는 남자 친구가 있어요.)
- I will introduce my boyfriend. (남자 친구를 소개할게요.)
- I watch a movie with my boyfriend. (남자 친구와 영화를 봐요.)
Clearing up a Question about a Photo
Two classmates are looking at a weekend photo. One asks about the man standing beside the other.
Jisu
이 사람이 남자 친구예요?
I sarami namja chinguyeyo?
Is this person your boyfriend?
Alex
아니요. 그냥 친구예요.
Aniyo. Geunyang chinguyeyo.
No. He’s just a friend.
Jisu
아, 같이 여행 갔어요?
A, gachi yeohaeng gasseoyo?
Oh, did you travel together?
Alex
네. 다른 친구들도 같이 갔어요.
Ne. Dareun chingudeuldo gachi gasseoyo.
Yes. Other friends came along too.
그냥 친구예요 is a natural way to clarify “just a friend”. The reply keeps the focus on the relationship rather than the person’s gender. The question uses polite 요 speech, but it still asks about private information. Polite grammar does not make a personal question suitable for every conversation.
Phrases for Changes in a Relationship
남자 친구가 생기다 means getting a boyfriend. 생기다 literally concerns something coming into existence or appearing; here, a new relationship has begun. The boyfriend takes 가 because he is the subject of 생기다. The phrase does not describe buying or obtaining a person.
남자 친구를 사귀다 means dating or having a boyfriend. 사귀다 can also concern making friends in other contexts, but the noun 남자 친구 makes the romantic meaning clear. 남자 친구와 헤어지다 means breaking up with one’s boyfriend. 헤어지다 can mean parting company, yet in a conversation about a relationship it usually means ending that relationship.
전 남자 친구 means an ex-boyfriend. 전 marks the relationship as former, so it changes how the listener understands a story about that person. 남자 친구가 있다 and 남자 친구가 없다 state whether you have a boyfriend. They use the same existence pattern as the first example, with the relationship understood from context.
Where Will You Hear 남친 and 남자 친구?
남자 친구 appears in introductions, personal stories and dialogue in dramas. 남친 is common in texts, social posts and casual chat. It is an abbreviation, rather than an affectionate name you automatically call your partner to his face. You normally use his name or a form of address that fits your relationship when speaking directly to him.
Some women call an older boyfriend 오빠, but 오빠 does not by itself mean boyfriend. It can refer to an older brother or an older male friend in a close relationship. Hearing 오빠 in a drama therefore does not establish that the two characters are dating. Look at the conversation and their relationship.
The question 남자 친구 있어요? asks whether someone has a boyfriend. It does not ask whether they have any male friends. If you mean a nonromantic friend, 친구 is the simplest choice. The expanded 남자 사람 친구 makes the distinction explicit and has a playful tone; it is not needed every time you mention a male friend.
Related Relationship Words
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 여자 친구 | girlfriend | The corresponding term for a female romantic partner. |
| 애인 | romantic partner | Does not specify gender. |
| 연인 | lovers / romantic partners | Common when describing a couple or romantic relationship. |
| 전 남자 친구 | ex-boyfriend | Marks a former relationship. |
The relationship vocabulary lesson places these terms beside family and friendship words. 남자 친구 names the relationship; it does not tell you how long the couple has been together or whether they plan to marry.
Quick Self-Test
- How can you clarify “just a friend” in the photo dialogue?
- Does hearing 오빠 prove that two people are dating?
- What does 전 add in 전 남자 친구?
Show answers
- 그냥 친구예요.
- No. 오빠 can also refer to an older brother or a close older male friend.
- It marks him as a former boyfriend: an ex-boyfriend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 남자 친구 Mean Male Friend?
No. It means boyfriend. A male friend is just 친구, or jokingly 남자 사람 친구.
Is It 남자 친구 or 남자친구?
Both mean boyfriend. The standard spelling is 남자 친구, with a space, because it is two words; the closed form 남자친구 is common online.
What Is the Short Form?
남친, used in casual speech.
What Word Covers a Partner of Any Gender?
애인.
Related Words and Next Steps
- Browse the full set of relationship vocabulary for neighbours of 남자 친구.
- Return to the Korean words A to Z index.
- Related page: friend in Korean.
- Related page: child in Korean.
- Add 남자 친구 to your vocabulary flashcard decks.