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In Korean, there are several ways to refer to a boyfriend, and the choice of word can sometimes depend on the context and the level of formality.
Here are 7 common ways to say “boyfriend” in Korean: 남자친구, 남친, 남자 사람 친구, 남사친, 남성 친구, 애인, and 오빠.
Table of Contents
How to say “BOYFRIEND” in Korean
1. 남자친구 (Namja Chingu)
남자친구 (Namja Chingu) is the most common and general term for a boyfriend in Korean. It can be used in various situations and is suitable for both casual and formal conversations.
- 남자 (Nam-ja): This word means “man” or “male.” It’s the first part of “남자친구” and is used to refer to the male gender in various contexts.
- 친구 (Chin-gu): “친구” is a versatile word in Korean that means “friend.” When combined with “남자,” it becomes “boyfriend.” In other contexts, “친구” can refer to a friend of any gender.
2. 남친 (Nam-Chin) – (slang)
Teenagers and young people in Korea often use the abbreviation “남친” (Nam-Chin) as a shortened form of “남자친구” (Namja-Chingu) to refer to a boyfriend.
This abbreviation is commonly used in informal conversations and text messages for convenience and brevity. It’s a casual way to talk about a boyfriend among friends.
3. 남자사람친구 (Namja-Saram-Chingu)
In Korean, “남자 사람 친구” (Namja Saram Chingu) refers to a “male friend” or a “friend who is a boy or man.”
While “친구” (Chingu) can generally mean “friend,” adding “남자 사람” (Namja Saram) clarifies that you are referring to a male friend. It is a straightforward and clear way to indicate that the male in question is only a friend.
- 남자 (Nam-ja) is the first part of “남자사람친구” and is used to refer to the male gender.
- 사람 (Sa-ram) means “person.” In the term “남자사람친구,” it emphasizes that you’re talking about a person of the male gender who you’re not dating.
- 친구 (Chin-gu) means “friend.” When combined with “남자사람,” it becomes “남자사람친구,” which specifically refers to a “male friend”. In other contexts, “친구” can refer to a friend of any gender.
4. 남사친 (Nam-Sa-Chin) – (slang)
남사친 (Nam-Sa-Chin) is a shorter and more casual way of saying “남자사람친구” (Namja Saram Chingu). It’s commonly used in informal conversations among friends.
- 남 (Nam) refers 남자 (Nam-ja) which means “male” or “man.”
- 사친 (Sa-Chin) is a shortened form of “사람 친구” (Saram Chingu), which means “person friend” or simply “friend.” So, “남사친” is a colloquial way of saying “boyfriend” in a literal sense and is used informally to refer to a male friend.
5. 남성친구 (Namseong Chingu)
“남성 친구” (Namseong Chingu) in Korean means “male friend.” It’s another term used to specifically refer to a friend who is male. It is commonly used to specify that the person is a friend and not a romantic partner.
6. 애인 (Ae-in)
애인 (Ae-in) is a Korean term that is slightly more intimate and affectionate. It can refer to a boyfriend or a girlfriend and is often used when talking about a romantic partner in a committed relationship.
7. 오빠 (Oppa)
오빠 (Oppa) is a term used by females to address an older brother or an older male friend. It is also used to refer to a boyfriend or a man they are close to and feel affection for. 오빠 (Oppa) is a term of endearment.
Now that you know how to say “boyfriend” in Korean, here are a few related phrases and expressions:
- 내 남자친구 (Nae Namja Chingu)
“내” (Nae) means “My,” so “내 남자친구” translates to “My boyfriend.”
- 사랑 (Sa-rang)
사랑 (Sa-rang) means “love” in Korean. You can use it to express your feelings for your boyfriend by saying “난 너를 사랑해” (Nan Neoreul Saranghae), which means “I love you.”
- “난” (Nan) means “I.”
- “너를” (Neo-reul) means “You.”
- “사랑해” (Sa-rang-hae) means “Love.”
Together, “난 너를 사랑해” translates to “I love you” in English.
- 데이트 (De-i-teu)
데이트 (De-i-teu) means “date” in Korean. If you want to suggest going on a date with your boyfriend, you can use this borrowed word from English. Simply say, “데이트하자” (De-i-teu Ha-ja), which means “Let’s go on a date!”
Boyfriend Questions in Korean
How to ask “Do you have a boyfriend?” in Korean (Formal)
In a formal context or when speaking to someone significantly older or in authority, you can ask “Do you have a boyfriend?” in Korean as follows:
“남자친구 있으세요?” (Namja chingu isseuseyo?)
Here’s the breakdown:
- “남자친구” (namja chingu) means “boyfriend.”
- 있으세요? (isseuseyo?) is a polite and formal way of asking if someone has something, in this case, a boyfriend. It is the polite present tense form of the verb “있다” (itda), which means “to have” or “to exist.” 요 (yo) is a polite sentence-ending particle that adds formality.
So, in Korean, “남자친구 있으세요?” (Namja chingu isseuseyo?) is a formal and polite way of asking, “Do you have a boyfriend?” It’s used when showing respect or formality is important, such as when speaking to someone older or in a professional or formal setting.
How to answer the question “Do you have a boyfriend?” in Korean (Formal)
To answer the formal question “남자친구 있으세요?” (Namja chingu isseuseyo?), which means “Do you have a boyfriend?” formally, you can respond as follows:
If you do have a boyfriend, you can say:
“네, 남자친구가 있습니다.” (Ne, namja chingu-ga itsseumnida.)
Here’s the breakdown:
- “네” (Ne) means “Yes” politely.
- “남자친구가” (namja chingu-ga) means “boyfriend.”
- The particle “가” (ga) is used in Korean as the subject marker. It indicates that “남자친구” (namja chingu), which means “boyfriend,” is the subject of the sentence or the topic being discussed. In this context, it’s specifying that you are referring to your boyfriend when answering the question “남자친구 있으세요?”
- “있습니다” (itsseumnida) is the formal way of saying “have” or “there is.” It is the present tense form of the verb “있다” (itda), which means “to have” or “to exist.”
So, in Korean, “네, 남자친구가 있습니다.” (Ne, namja chingu-ga itsseumnida.) means “Yes, I have a boyfriend.“
This response conveys that you do have a boyfriend while using formal language to show respect in the conversation.
If you don’t have a boyfriend, you can say:
“아니요, 남자친구가 없습니다.” (Aniyo, namja chingu-ga eopseumnida.)
Here’s the breakdown:
- “아니요” (Aniyo) means “No” politely.
- “남자친구가” (namja chingu-ga) means “boyfriend.”
- “가” (ga) is used in Korean as the subject marker. It indicates that “남자친구” (namja chingu), which means “boyfriend,” is the subject of the sentence or the topic being discussed.
- “없습니다” (eopseumnida) is the formal way of saying “don’t have” or “there isn’t.” It is the present tense form of the verb “없다” (eopda), which means “to not have” or “to be absent” in Korean.
So, in Korean, “아니요, 남자친구가 없습니다.” (Aniyo, namja chingu eopseumnida.) means “No, I don’t have a boyfriend.“
This response conveys that you do not have a boyfriend while using formal language to show respect in the conversation.
How to ask “Do you have a boyfriend?” in Korean (Casual or Formal)
“남자친구 있어요?” (namja chingu isseoyo?)
Here’s the breakdown:
- “남자친구” (namja chingu) means “boyfriend.”
- “있어요?” (isseoyo?) is a polite way of asking if someone has something, in this case, a boyfriend. It means “do you have?” As mentioned earlier, the 요 (yo) ending adds formality.
So, in Korean, you can ask “Do you have a boyfriend?” as “남자친구 있어요?“
How to answer the question “Do you have a boyfriend?” in Korean (Casual or Formal)
To answer the question “Do you have a boyfriend?” in Korean, you can respond as follows:
If you do have a boyfriend, you can say:
“네, 남자친구 있어요.” (Ne, namja chingu isseoyo.)
Here’s the breakdown:
- “네” (Ne) means “Yes” in Korean.
- “남자친구” (namja chingu) means “boyfriend” in Korean.
- “있어요” (isseoyo) means “have” or “there is” in Korean.
So, in Korean, “네, 남자친구 있어요.” (Ne, namja chingu isseoyo.) means “Yes, I have a boyfriend.“
If you don’t have a boyfriend, you can say:
“아니요, 남자친구 없어요.” (Aniyo, namja chingu eopseoyo.)
Here’s the breakdown:
- “아니요” (Aniyo) means “No” in Korean.
- “남자친구” (namja chingu) means “boyfriend” in Korean.
- “없어요” (eopseoyo) means “don’t have” or “there isn’t” in Korean.
So, in Korean, “아니요, 남자친구 없어요.” (Aniyo, namja chingu eopseoyo.) means “No, I don’t have a boyfriend.“
How to ask “Do you have a boyfriend?” in Korean (Informal)
In informal Korean, you can ask the question “Do you have a boyfriend?” as follows:
“남자친구 있어?” (Namja chingu isseo?)
Here’s the breakdown:
- “남자친구” (namja chingu) means “boyfriend” in Korean.
- “있어?” (isseo?) is an informal way of asking if someone has something, in this case, a boyfriend.
So, in Korean, the informal question “남자친구 있어?” (Namja chingu isseo?) means “Do you have a boyfriend?“
You can use the informal question “남자친구 있어?” (Namja chingu isseo?) in casual and informal settings when you’re talking to friends or people you have a close relationship with. It’s a relaxed and familiar way of asking if someone has a boyfriend.
How to answer the question “Do you have a boyfriend?” in Korean (Informal)
In informal Korean, you can respond to the question “Do you have a boyfriend?” as follows:
If you do have a boyfriend, you can say:
“응, 남자친구 있어.” (Eung, namja chingu isseo.)
Here’s the breakdown:
- “응” (Eung) is an informal way of saying “Yes” or “Yeah.”
- “남자친구” (namja chingu) means “boyfriend.”
- “있어” (isseo) is an informal way of saying “have” or “there is” in Korean.
So, in Korean, your response “응, 남자친구 있어.” (Eung, namja chingu isseo.) means “Yeah, I have a boyfriend.“
If you don’t have a boyfriend, you can say:
“아니, 남자친구 없어.” (Ani, namja chingu eopseo.)
Here’s the breakdown:
- “아니” (Ani) is a casual way of saying “No” or “Not” in Korean. “아니” (Ani) is a shortened and informal version of the more formal negative response “아니요” (Aniyo).
- 남자친구 (namja chingu): As mentioned earlier, this means “boyfriend” in Korean.
- 없어 (eopseo) is a contraction of “없어요” (eopseoyo). It is the informal or casual way of saying “don’t have” or “there isn’t” in Korean. 요 (yo) is a polite ending often added in formal or polite speech. In this case, it’s dropped to make the sentence informal.
So, in Korean, your response “아니, 남자친구 없어.” (Ani, namja chingu eopseo.) means ““No, I don’t have a boyfriend.“
You should answer informally when someone asks you the informal question “남자친구 있어?” (Namja chingu isseo?), but it’s important to consider the context and your relationship with the person asking.
Here’s when it’s appropriate to answer informally:
- Casual Conversations with Friends: If a close friend or someone you have a relaxed and informal relationship with asks you about your boyfriend, it’s perfectly fine to respond informally.
- Informal Social Settings: In casual social settings like gatherings with friends, parties, or informal get-togethers, you can respond informally.
- Similar Age Group: If the person asking is around your age and you’re comfortable using informal language with them, you can answer informally.
- When You Want to Be Relaxed: If you want to maintain a friendly and informal tone in the conversation, an informal response is appropriate.
However, if the person asking is significantly older or in a more formal or professional context, it’s better to respond formally.
Remember that using the appropriate level of formality is a sign of respect in Korean culture, so it’s essential to gauge the situation and your relationship with the person before deciding whether to answer informally or formally.
Conclusion
Learning basic terms like “남자친구,” “남친,” “남자사람친구,” “남사친,” “남성친구,” “애인,” and “오빠,” can be a fun and practical way to enhance your Korean language skills, especially if you’re in a romantic relationship with someone who speaks Korean.
It’s a great way to show your appreciation for their culture and make your interactions more meaningful.
So, there you have it!
Now you can confidently say “boyfriend” in Korean and even express your feelings to your significant other in this beautiful language. Happy learning!
| HOW TO SAY “GIRLFRIEND” IN KOREAN
BOYFRIEND in Korean Vocabulary
Here’s a list of the Korean terms related to male relationships with English translations and Romanization:
- 남자친구 (namja-chin-gu) – Boyfriend
- 남친 (nam-chin) – Shortened form of “남자친구,” also means Boyfriend
- 남자 사람 친구 (nam-ja sa-ram chin-gu) – Male Friend
- 남사친 (nam-sa-chin) – Shortened form of “남자 사람 친구,” also means Male Friend
- 남성 친구 (nam-seong chin-gu) – Male Friend
- 애인 (ae-in) – Significant Other or Lover
- 오빠 (o-ppa) – Older Brother or Boyfriend (used by females to address an older male, including a romantic partner)
These terms are used to describe different types of relationships with males in various contexts, including friendship and romance.
