What does 애인 (aein) mean?
- 애인aein
Sweetheart / partner
Fine in most situations
애인 (aein) means "sweetheart," "lover" or "partner," the person you are dating. It works for a boyfriend or a girlfriend.
Where it comes from
애인 is Sino-Korean, made of characters meaning "love" and "person."
How to use 애인
애인 is gender neutral, so it is handy when you do not want to say boyfriend or girlfriend. 애인 있어요? is a common way to ask if someone is seeing anyone.
Younger people tend to say 남친 or 여친 in casual talk, so 애인 can sound a little more grown-up. It does not mean an affair partner in Korean, even though the same characters can mean that in Japanese.
For a couple seen from outside, as in "they are lovers," Koreans often use 연인 instead, which sounds more literary.
Examples
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A friend asking about your love life
Telling a close friend some sad news
Promising a friend something
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 연인 | lovers / a couple | More literary or formal. |
| 남친 | boyfriend | Casual. |
| 여친 | girlfriend | Casual. |
Questions learners ask
Does aein mean a secret lover?
No. In Korean 애인 simply means the person you are dating. It does not suggest an affair.
Is aein for boys or girls?
Both. 애인 works for any partner, which makes it a neutral word.