How to Say Friend in Korean
Learn how to say friend in Korean. 'Chingu' (친구) means friend — but it specifically implies someone the same age. Pronunciation guide + the Korean age-and-friendship rules.
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Quick answer
To say friend in Korean, say 'Chingu' (친구, chin-gu). Importantly, in Korean culture 'chingu' specifically implies someone the SAME AGE as you — age is central to Korean relationships. People older or younger than you are addressed differently (oppa, unnie, hyung, noona, dongsaeng). For best friend, say 'Chin-han chingu' (친한 친구) or 'Jeolchin' (절친).
친구
/chin-gu/ — Korean
How to Say Friend in Korean
The Korean word for friend, Chingu, comes with a cultural lesson: in Korea, age shapes every relationship, and “friend” specifically means someone your own age.
The Word: Chingu
친구 — Chingu — pronounced chin-gu (chin-goo)
Copy the Phrase
The Korean word for “friend” is 친구 (Chingu, chin-gu).
The Age Rule (Important!)
Here’s the key cultural insight: in Korean, chingu specifically implies a SAME-AGE friend.
Age is central to Korean relationships — it determines:
- Which speech level you use (casual vs. polite)
- How you address each other
You generally only call someone chingu if you’re peers (same birth year). People older or younger than you are addressed with relationship terms, not chingu.
Age-Based Relationship Terms
Koreans often use these instead of names for people close to them:
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 오빠 | Oppa | Older male (said by a female) |
| 형 | Hyung | Older male (said by a male) |
| 언니 | Unnie | Older female (said by a female) |
| 누나 | Noona | Older female (said by a male) |
| 동생 | Dongsaeng | Younger person (sibling or junior) |
So even a close friend with an age gap is usually called oppa/hyung/unnie/noona (if older) or dongsaeng (if younger) — not chingu.
Best Friend
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 친한 친구 | Chinhan chingu | Close friend |
| 절친 | Jeolchin | Best friend (popular short form, “BFF”) |
| 베프 | Bepeu | Bestie (from “best friend,” slang) |
Jeolchin (절친) is the common modern way to say “best friend.”
Chingu vs. Dongsaeng
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 친구 | Chingu | Same-age friend (peer) |
| 동생 | Dongsaeng | Younger friend/sibling/junior |
If your friend is younger, you’d likely call them your dongsaeng, not chingu.
Friendship Phrases
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 우리 친구하자 | Uri chinguhaja | Let’s be friends |
| 우리는 친구예요 | Urineun chinguyeyo | We are friends |
| 친구 사귀다 | Chingu sagwida | To make friends |
| 너는 내 절친이야 | Neoneun nae jeolchiniya | You’re my best friend |
Pronunciation
- Chingu — chin-goo (ㄱ between ‘g’ and ‘k’)
- Jeolchin — juhl-chin
- Oppa — oh-ppa / Hyung — hyuhng / Unnie — uhn-nee / Noona — noo-nah
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce Chingu?
'Chingu' is pronounced chin-gu (친구). Two syllables: 'chin' (like the English 'chin') + 'gu' (goo). The Korean ㄱ in 'gu' is between 'g' and 'k.' Quick and easy: chin-goo. It's one of the simpler Korean words to say.
Does Chingu mean any friend or a same-age friend?
In Korean culture, 'chingu' (친구) specifically implies a friend who is the SAME AGE as you. Age is hugely important in Korean relationships — it determines speech levels and how you address each other. You generally only call someone 'chingu' if you're peers (same birth year). People older or younger than you are addressed with relationship terms (oppa/hyung for older, dongsaeng for younger) rather than 'chingu.'
What are oppa, unnie, hyung, and noona?
These are age-and-gender-based terms Koreans use instead of names for people close to them: 'Oppa' (오빠) = older brother/older male, said by a female; 'Hyung' (형) = older brother/older male, said by a male; 'Unnie' (언니) = older sister/older female, said by a female; 'Noona' (누나) = older sister/older female, said by a male. Younger friends are 'dongsaeng' (동생). These reflect Korea's age-based social structure — even close friends use them, not 'chingu,' if there's an age gap.
How do you say best friend in Korean?
'Chin-han chingu' (친한 친구, chin-han chin-gu) = close friend ('chinhan' = close/intimate). 'Jeolchin' (절친) = best friend (a popular shortened term, from 'jeolchinhan chingu' = very close friend). 'Bestie/BFF'-style terms are also used by young people. 'Jeolchin' is the common modern way to say 'BFF/best friend.'
What is the difference between Chingu and Dongsaeng?
'Chingu' (친구) = a same-age friend (peer). 'Dongsaeng' (동생) = a younger person — a younger sibling OR a younger friend/junior. So if your friend is younger than you, you might refer to them as your 'dongsaeng' rather than 'chingu.' Korean's age-consciousness means the term you use depends on the relative ages, not just the friendship.