How to say “best friend” in Korean

"Best friend" in Korean is 절친 (jeolchin), short for 절친한 친구 (a very close friend). Younger people also say 베프 (bepeu), from the English "best friend."

Ways to say it

Korean	Level	When to use it
절친 jeolchin	Any	The most common word for a best friend or very close friend.
베프 bepeu	Casual	Short for 베스트 프렌드 (best friend). Popular with teens and young adults.
단짝 danjjak	Any	A close pal you are always with, often a friend from school days.
찐친 jjinchin	Casual	Slang for a "real friend," someone so close you can be completely yourself.
소꿉친구 sokkupchingu	Any	A childhood friend, someone you played with when you were little.

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Introducing your best friend

This is my best friend.

Reminding a friend how close you are

We're best friends, you know.

Talking about a trip

I went on a trip with my best friend.

절친 is a safe, natural choice in any situation. 베프 and 찐친 sound younger and more playful.

Korean friendships are often tied to age and school year, so a best friend is usually someone born in the same year.

Koreans often say 친한 친구 (chinhan chingu), "close friend," when they mean a good friend but not necessarily the very best one.

What does jeolchin mean?

절친 is short for 절친한 친구, meaning a very close friend or best friend.

Do Koreans say BFF?

Not usually. They say 베프 (bepeu) for best friend, or 절친 (jeolchin).

What is the difference between 절친 and 친한 친구?

친한 친구 means a close friend. 절친 is stronger and is closer to "best friend."