What does 최애 (choeae) mean?
- 최애choeae
My favorite / my bias
Casual: friends and people younger than you
최애 (choeae) is Korean slang for your number one favorite, most often your favorite member of a K-pop group. It is the Korean word for what English-speaking fans call a "bias". It also works for anything you love most, like a favorite song, food or drama.
Where it comes from
최 means "most" and 애 means "love", so it is literally "most loved". It is a short form of 최고로 애정하는 (the one I love the most).
How to use 최애
Fans ask each other 최애 누구야? ("Who's your bias?") all the time. You can also put 최애 in front of a noun: 최애 곡 (favorite song), 최애 음식 (favorite food), 최애 드라마 (favorite drama).
It is casual and playful, but it is so widespread that people of many ages use it, and you will hear it on Korean TV variety shows. With people you don't know well, 제일 좋아하는 (the one I like most) is the plain, neutral way to say it.
Your second favorite is your 차애 (chaeae). Saying someone is your 최애 is a fun way to show affection, even about a friend or a pet.
Examples
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Asking a new friend about their K-pop taste
Sharing a playlist with a friend
Telling a coworker about a show you love
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 최애 멤버 | Favorite member | Your bias in a group. |
| 최애 곡 | Favorite song | Also seen as 최애곡. |
| 최애캐 | Favorite character | Short for 최애 캐릭터, used for dramas, games and anime. |
| 차애 | Second favorite | The member you like after your 최애. |
| 제일 좋아하는 | The one I like most | Neutral, non-slang way to say it. |
Questions learners ask
What does choeae mean in K-pop?
It means your favorite member, the same as "bias" in English fan talk. 최애 누구야? means "Who's your bias?"
Can choeae be used for things other than idols?
Yes. You can say 최애 음식 (favorite food), 최애 카페 (favorite cafe) or 최애 드라마 (favorite drama).
What is the difference between choeae and chaeae?
최애 is your number one favorite. 차애 is your second favorite.