친구
저는 좋은 친구가 있어요.
I have a good friend.
A person whom one knows and trusts; a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.
그는 나의 오랜 친구야.
He is my old friend.
우리는 친구 사이야.
We are friends.
Used broadly for any close acquaintance, regardless of age or relationship depth.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Casual vs. Formal
In Korean, '친구' is informal. For formal or respectful contexts, use '지인' (acquaintance) or add '-님' to the name (e.g., '민수님' instead of '민수').
Gold Rule
Friendship Terms by Age
Koreans often use different terms for friends based on age and social hierarchy. For example, '후배' (junior) and '선배' (senior) are used in school or workplace settings to denote relative age or experience.
Word Origin
From Middle Korean '친구' (chin·kwu), originally meaning 'close person' or 'intimate companion'. The first character '친' (친) means 'close' or 'intimate', and '구' (구) is an archaic suffix indicating a person. The term has been used in Korean since the Goryeo period (918–1392).
Usage Notes
In Korean culture, the concept of friendship is deeply valued, and the term '친구' is used universally across all ages. Unlike in some Western cultures, Korean friendships often emphasize loyalty and long-term commitment. The honorific suffix '-님' (e.g., '친구님') can be added to show respect in formal contexts, though it is uncommon in casual speech.