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친구

chingu
noun★Beginner
informal

A friend; someone with whom one has a bond of mutual affection and trust

나는 친구와 함께 영화 보러 갔다.

I went to watch a movie with my friend.

친구는 나를 이해해 준다.

My friend understands me.

💡

The term is commonly used to refer to close personal relationships, but can also be used in a broader sense for acquaintances.

Collocations

친구들과 함께with friends친구에게 전화하다to call a friend친구 사이between friends

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

친구 사귀다phrase
to make friends
친구 잃다phrase
to lose a friend

💡Pro Tip

Gender-Neutral Usage

'친구' is gender-neutral in Korean, unlike some languages that differentiate between male and female friends.

⚡Gold Rule

Common Usage

'친구' is one of the most frequently used words in Korean to refer to close personal relationships.

📖Word Origin

Derived from the Sino-Korean word '친구' (친 + 구), where '친' means 'close' and '구' means 'friend'.

📝Usage Notes

In Korean, '친구' is a gender-neutral term and can refer to both male and female friends. It is commonly used in informal contexts.

Word Breakdown

친
close
root
+
구
friend
root
✎ Noted on May 31, 2026KO → EN

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