How to say “Girlfriend” in Korean
- 여자 친구yeoja chingu
Girlfriend
"Girlfriend" in Korean is 여자 친구 (yeoja chingu), literally "female friend". Online it is usually written without the space, 여자친구, and shortened to 여친 (yeochin) in casual talk.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 여자 친구 yeoja chingu | Any | The standard word. Fine in any situation. |
| 여친 yeochin | Casual | The short, casual form. Very common among friends and online. |
| 애인 aein | Any | "Lover" or "partner". Works for a girlfriend or boyfriend and sounds a bit more serious. |
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
A friend asking politely
Telling a friend about weekend plans
Showing a photo to a close friend
Tips
In English, women often call their female friends "girlfriends". In Korean, 여자 친구 always means a romantic partner. For a friend, just say 친구 (chingu), or jokingly 여사친 (yeosachin), short for 여자 사람 친구, "a female human friend".
In dictionaries the word is spaced as 여자 친구, but you will see 여자친구 everywhere online. Both are understood.
Questions learners ask
What does yeochin mean?
여친 (yeochin) is the short, casual form of 여자 친구 (yeoja chingu), "girlfriend".
How do I say my female friend without meaning girlfriend?
Just say 친구 (chingu), "friend". 여자 친구 would be understood as a romantic girlfriend.