How to say “Boyfriend” in Korean
- 남자 친구namja chingu
Boyfriend
"Boyfriend" in Korean is 남자 친구 (namja chingu), literally "male friend". Online it is usually written without the space, 남자친구, and shortened to 남친 (namchin) in casual talk.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 남자 친구 namja chingu | Any | The standard word. Fine in any situation. |
| 남친 namchin | Casual | The short, casual form. Very common among friends and online. |
| 애인 aein | Any | "Lover" or "partner". Works for a boyfriend or girlfriend and sounds a bit more serious. |
| 오빠 oppa | Casual | What a woman often calls a boyfriend who is older than her. It also means "older brother". |
Examples
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Introducing a boyfriend to a friend's parents
A friend asking
Texting her boyfriend
Tips
남자 친구 always means a romantic boyfriend. For a male friend who is just a friend, Koreans say 친구 (chingu), or jokingly 남사친 (namsachin), short for 남자 사람 친구, "a male human friend".
In dictionaries the word is spaced as 남자 친구, but you will see 남자친구 everywhere online. Both are understood.
Questions learners ask
What does namchin mean?
남친 (namchin) is the short, casual form of 남자 친구 (namja chingu), "boyfriend".
Why do Korean girls call their boyfriend oppa?
오빠 (oppa) is what a woman calls an older brother or an older man she is close to. Many women keep using it for an older boyfriend.