Key Facts
- Hangul: 친구; Revised Romanization: chingu
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean
- Register: Neutral. Between close peers the word 친구 also implies same-age, informal relations.
- Hanja: 親舊 (親 close + 舊 old)
Friend in Korean: What Does 친구 Mean?
친구 has one sense, friend. The register is neutral, but between close peers it also implies a same-age, informal relationship. That second layer is the cultural key.
How Do You Pronounce 친구?
Two syllables, chin and gu. In the examples the particle 와 or 가 attaches at the end, written chinguwa and chinguga in romanization.
Example Sentences with 친구
이 사람은 제 친구예요.
i sarameun je chinguyeyo.
This person is my friend.
제 means "my" and 이 사람 means "this person". 예요 follows the vowel-ending noun.
친구와 점심을 먹어요.
chinguwa jeomsimeul meogeoyo.
I eat lunch with a friend.
The particle 와 means "with", so the sentence reads "with a friend". 점심 is lunch.
친구가 많아요.
chinguga manayo.
I have many friends.
많아요 means "are many", so Korean says friends are many where English says I have many friends.
Common Phrases and Collocations
친구를 사귀다 is making friends and 친한 친구 is a close friend. 친구와 놀다 is hanging out with a friend.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 친구를 사귀다 | to make friends |
| 친한 친구 | close friend |
| 친구와 놀다 | to hang out with a friend |
The Mistake to Avoid
Mistake: calling a much older acquaintance your 친구, as you might in English.
Right: 친구 usually implies the same age or equal footing. For someone older, use 선배 (a senior at school or work), or 형, 누나, 오빠 or 언니 if you are close.
친구 Compared with Similar Words
동갑 means a person of the same age, which is the idea 친구 often carries. 벗 is an old literary word for a friend, and you will meet it in writing, not in speech.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 친구 | friend | This page's word |
| 동갑 | same-age person | 동갑 means the same age; Korean 친구 often implies equal age. |
| 벗 | friend (literary) | 벗 is a literary/archaic word for friend. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
親舊 combines 親 (close) and 舊 (old), so the word reads as an old, close companion.
Introducing a Friend at a Gathering
Jisu introduces Mina to Alex. Mina and Alex have just met, so they keep polite endings even though Jisu describes Mina as a friend.
Jisu
이쪽은 제 친구 민아예요.
Ijjogeun je chingu Minayeyo.
This is my friend Mina.
Alex
안녕하세요. 두 분은 어떻게 알게 됐어요?
Annyeonghaseyo. Du buneun eotteoke alge dwaesseoyo?
Hello. How did you two get to know each other?
Jisu
학교에서 만났어요.
Hakgyoeseo mannasseoyo.
We met at school.
Alex
아, 그렇군요. 반가워요, 민아 씨.
A, geureotgunyo. Bangawoyo, Mina ssi.
Oh, I see. Nice to meet you, Mina.
제 친구 introduces the relationship to Jisu. It does not make Alex and Mina close friends immediately. 이쪽은 is a natural introduction phrase, and 두 분 respectfully refers to the two people. The school answer explains how the friendship began rather than stating that they must still be students.
Making Friends and Becoming Close
친구를 사귀다 means to make friends or form a friendship. With 친구 as the object, the phrase describes friendship. 사귀다 can also describe dating when the surrounding words and situation point to a couple. The verb alone does not give you the same meaning in every sentence.
친한 친구 is a close friend. 친한 describes closeness; 오랜 친구 describes a friend you have known for a long time. These ideas often overlap, but one emphasizes the relationship now and the other its history. A childhood friend you rarely see can still be an 오랜 친구.
절친 is a casual word for a very close friend or best friend. You may meet it in messages, entertainment captions and conversation. 친한 친구 is a useful transparent phrase when you want to describe the relationship without a casual shorthand label.
Does 친구 Mean You Can Immediately Speak Casually?
A friendship label does not settle the speech level by itself. People who have just met may keep polite endings while learning about each other. 동갑 says they are the same age; it does not automatically mean they have already agreed to speak informally. Listen to how the other person speaks and follow the relationship as it develops.
The older-person terms above also depend on the relationship. 선배 means someone senior in a shared school, workplace or activity, rather than any older stranger. 형, 누나, 오빠 and 언니 can express closeness, but the appropriate choice depends on the speaker and the other person. A name with 씨 is often useful between adults of similar standing who have just met.
Where Will You See 친구 in Longer Labels?
학교 친구 is a school friend, and 고향 친구 is a friend from one’s hometown. The first word explains where the connection comes from. 친구 remains the main noun. In a story, these labels can establish shared history before you know anything about the characters’ present lives.
남자 친구 and 여자 친구 commonly mean boyfriend and girlfriend. If you need to make clear that someone is simply a male or female friend, 남자인 친구 and 여자인 친구 make that relationship explicit. Context helps, but a small wording change can prevent a different impression when introducing someone.
Related Relationship Words
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 동갑 | same age | Describes age, without proving a close friendship. |
| 동창 | schoolmate / fellow alumnus | Connects people through the school they attended. |
| 동료 | colleague | Describes working or participating together. |
| 지인 | acquaintance | Useful for someone you know without claiming close friendship. |
The people and relationships lesson puts these labels together. Choose a word that explains the actual connection when 친구 would leave the listener with the wrong impression.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 동갑 necessarily mean two people are close friends?
- Which phrase emphasizes a long friendship: 오랜 친구 or 친한 친구?
- What does 친구를 사귀다 mean?
Show answers
- No. It means they are the same age.
- 오랜 친구 emphasizes how long they have known each other.
- To make friends or form a friendship.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "friend" in Korean?
Say 친구 (chingu).
How do you say "I have many friends"?
Say 친구가 많아요.
Can I call an older person 친구?
Usually not. 친구 implies same age or equal footing.
What is a literary word for friend?
벗, which you will meet in older writing and poetry.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: People and relationships words. 친구 is a core entry in that list.
- Index: look up more words near "friend" in Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: the word for friend fits into the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in this list, see the page for girlfriend.
- Compare with the page for boyfriend.
- Also compare with the page for colleague.