Korean Relationship Phrases
From making friends to meeting someone special, these 15 Korean relationship phrases cover the vocabulary of getting closer — each with romanization, a sounds-like hint and examples showing how it is really used.
Friends and your circle
친구 means 'friend' — but classically a friend your own age. Everyone older or younger gets a different label, which is half the fun of Korean social life.
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친구 chingu Friend
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절친 jeolchin Best friend
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동료 dongnyo Coworker
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이웃 iut Neighbor
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친구가 많아요. chinguga manayo I have many friends
Same age, instant friends
When a Korean asks your age early on, it isn't rude — they're working out what to call you. Same birth year? You can be 친구. Older friends become 형, 누나, 오빠 or 언니, and the friendship is no less close for it.
Dating and partners
남자친구 and 여자친구 mean strictly romantic partners — a platonic male friend needs the longer 남자 사람 친구, a distinction K-dramas mine endlessly.
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남자친구 namjachingu Boyfriend
In texts Koreans shorten these: 남친 (boyfriend), 여친 (girlfriend).
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여자친구 yeojachingu Girlfriend
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약혼자 yakonja Fiancé
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저는 싱글이에요. jeoneun singgeurieyo I'm single
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남자친구가 있어요. namjachinguga isseoyo I have a boyfriend
Saying how you feel
From liking to loving to missing someone — the three verbs every K-drama runs on, plus the confessions built from them.
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좋아하다 joahada To like
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사랑하다 saranghada To love
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그리워하다 geuriwohada To miss someone
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그 사람을 좋아해요. geu sarameul joahaeyo I like that person
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나는 너를 사랑해. naneun neoreul saranghae I love you
Casual 반말 — for someone you're truly close to.
Dropping the -yo
Couples and close friends speak 반말 (casual speech): 사랑해요 becomes 사랑해. That one dropped syllable signals real intimacy — hearing it from a Korean friend means you've been promoted.
In real life: catching up with an old friend
아직 싱글이야? ajik singgeuliya
Are you still single?
여자친구가 있어요. yeojachinguga isseoyo
I have a girlfriend.
여자친구를 부모님께 소개했어요. yeojachingureul bumonimkke sogaehaesseoyo
I introduced my girlfriend to my parents.
축하해요 chukahaeyo
Congratulations!
Test yourself
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Frequently asked questions
How do I talk about my boyfriend, girlfriend or partner in Korean?
The list above includes the everyday words for friend, boyfriend, girlfriend and partner, plus the verbs around dating. Watch the notes — some words carry formality or age nuances you will want to get right.
How do I pronounce these Korean phrases?
Every phrase comes with romanization — the phrase spelled out in Latin letters. Read it out loud slowly, then work up to the rhythm of the full phrase. Native speakers care far more about confidence and context than perfect pronunciation.
What is the best way to memorize these phrases?
Little and often beats cramming. Review a handful of phrases a day, say them out loud, and revisit them tomorrow. The Pretalk app turns lists like this one into bite-size lessons with spaced review, so the phrases actually stick.
More Korean phrases
Relationships phrases in other languages
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